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Porcupines

I feel like the jungle is a very lacking biome, for being one of the most biodiverse environments in the world.

Porcupines could be the beginning of the solution. Let me start by saying that these would be more like tree porcupines, rather than Old World ones.

They could climb trees by using vines maybe, or like how the crab would've climbed.

You can find porcupines by locating stripped wood, since they eat bark. They could also eat leaves, and you could breed and tempt them with saplings. You can't tame them, but if you you lead them to say, your tree farm, you could use them to auto-strip wood for you. They could also have an animation where their quills lift up when they feel in danger, since in reality porcupines keep their quills low unless threatened. They're not hostile, but perhaps they can be neutral, and they can lift up their quills when you get near them. They could retreat to a nearby tree if they feel threatened, or they could attack once and then retreat. When you hit them with your hand, you take damage from the quills, maybe only when they're in their raised state, to make that an effective defense for the porcupine. Maybe ocelots could try to attack once, but then quickly leave once they realize what the porcupine is capable of (or wolves, like the Rusty Wolf variant of the Sparse Jungle).

You can use the quills (obtained from regular shedding) to craft a more dangerous arrow, not OP, but a bit better. Just put the quill in the place of the stick.

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    For anyone still reading, here's a bit more clarification for stuff I couldn't fit in the post. New World porcupines are different from Old World porcupines (IRL), and many New World ones climb trees. Most of Minecraft's trees aren't too complex, maybe if they update them porcupines could clamber all over them. But I think climbing up vines is enough if they live in the jungle, and they could sit at the top or middle of the vine, like a sneaking player or a spider. Alternatively, tree porcupines do spend some of their lives on the ground, so they could just stay like that for most or all of their time in Minecraft. Taming is cool, but I don't think it's fit for a wild animal like this, that doesn't have a history of domestication. Instead, you can lead them with a lead or a sapling (and/or melon slices) and use them for tree stripping or quill farming. They'd drop their quills like how armadillos regularly drop scutes, since in real life porcupines do shed quills. Maybe they'd drop as damaged quills and you'd have to combine them together. You put the quill in place of the stick and you get a quill-enhanced arrow that does more damage than a regular arrow, not OP though. This could be useful early to mid game, or if you just want a more effective arrow. Once you get a farm set up, you should be able to continuously use them for your entire playthrough on that world. Porcupines would strip wood like an axe, and maybe eat leaves, and possibly destroy them looking for saplings.

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    Registered User commented
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    (comment pt 2) Maybe you could use this mechanic for an auto sapling collection, with hoppers below the tree. There might be some losses though. They could also eat melons. I really like wild animal interactions in Minecraft, like chickens and ocelots, wolves and sheep. They bring the game to life. Maybe ocelots or Rusty Wolves in the Sparse Jungle could attack porcupines, but retreat once they get damaged and realize it's not worth it, like so many animals in real life. Maybe when porcupines are eating, they could have a little animation like how pandas do, but with melon slices, since they often hold food with their little hands. That could be cute. And while I don't like the idea of taming, maybe you could feed porcupines to get them to trust you and not run away or attack, like ocelots. That way, you could have them wander around if you really like them, and not worry about them hurting you, or despawning. Also good if you're using them for farms. Thank you for reading!

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    Registered User commented
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    What balance should be struck between the porcupines' defensive mechanics and their utility as a resource for players, and how can developers ensure that these features are both fun and fair without making them overpowered or frustrating?