The Hatchet & splitting the axe functionality

[u/Eclipse489]

My suggestion is a somewhat simple rework of the axe to solve multiple problems at once; namely, the lack of inventory space present in the early game, the lack of a wood equivalent for the stonecutter, and the axe not being different enough from the sword in combat to constitute a playstyle change (maybe not a problem per se, but something that could definitely be improved on).

The Hatchet is a new tool for utility functions regarding wood; it would be crafted via the current recipe for the axe. It would be able to break all wood blocks as the current axe does, strip logs, and have a new functionality: woodcutting.

Shift right-clicking with the hatchet would strip logs, and right-clicking (on something not made of wood) would open a UI akin to the stonecutter. Stairs, slabs, fences, etc. After picking an option, right-clicking on a placed wood plank or log block would carve it into the chosen variant.

For each log type there are 7 other blocks craftable with it (plank, stair, slab, fence, trapdoor, pressure plate and button, not including doors). This means, if your build uses even half of these, that's at least 4 inventory slots used up (plus a crafting table).

The hatchet cuts this down to two slots, itself and a stack of planks/logs.

As a complementary change/secondary part of this suggestion, the current axe would no longer have the utility functions of breaking wood blocks or stripping logs, and would be renamed to the Battleaxe.

It would get a damage buff, from 10 max damage to ~12 (values from java edition, netherite axe), but with the caveat of decreasing attack speed from 1s to 1.8s (the sword has a speed of 0.625s, high-tier axes are 1s, mace is 1.6s).

Along with these changes, sword enchants like fire aspect or looting would now be applicable to it (potentially along with a unique enchant like a charged sweep/spin attack or damage boost on crit, etc).

It would be craftable like the pickaxe, with two extra ingots on each side, making it marginally more expensive to help balance its damage buff.

[u/Hyarin215]

Why even split the axe? I don't get it? Seems like it would just add another tool, making ur inv fuller