Oh fuck yes this is literally one of the best things I've ever heard. I can just imagine a dwarf, face against the cave floor, both arms and feet high in the air as he practically handstands - without the hands - sliding along the ground at high speed and leaving a trail of blood and bits of skull.
Now, the real question:
If a creature is struck by a minecart, can they be struck by another minecart? In particular, I want to play pingpong...
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Launch carts from both sides, delayed slightly from each other. A cart arrives from the right, strikes the goblin, sends the goblin flying to the left. The cart continues to the drop and falls down to the next Z level. Another cart is already arriving from the left, and strikes the flying goblin, sending the goblin flying back to the right. By the time the goblin arrives on the right, a third cart has begun traveling down, striking the goblin and sending it back to the left...
Tennis anyone?
Also an idea, how would this design work?
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That's 3 carts on either side with a walkway down the middle. The walkway has a track on the floor, but no cart. On either side the carts are sitting at rest. When triggered, a cart arrives from the upper left, striking the cart in the far left and causing a newton's cradle effect.
Would:
A) The goblin is run over as the 3rd cart crosses the gap and hits the 4th cart?
B) The goblin is integrated into the machinery and the cradle moves through the goblin, sending the 6th cart flying while also turning all the goblin's bones into jello?