Java Edition 12w17a

12w17a is the third snapshot released for Java Edition 1.3.1.

Blocks

 * Slabs
 * Wooden slabs for each of the four shades of wood added.
 * New block IDs 125 for double wooden slabs and 126 for single wooden slabs.
 * These new slabs no longer act like stone.
 * An axe should be used to break them.
 * They are no longer immune to fire and lava.
 * Wooden slabs created in older versions of Minecraft are still stone-like and fireproof and will not change to the new slabs when placed or mined.

Items

 * Book and quills
 * Editable Books – Book and quill, crafted using a book, feather, and ink sac
 * When a book and quill is made, it can be right-clicked to open a screen that allows you to type the book.
 * Pressing "Done" will save whatever was typed and allow you to edit the book again later, yet will not “sign" it.
 * When "signing" a book, it will allow you to choose a title up to 16 characters long and disable editing of the book, the Book and quill then become a written book, with the icon changing along with the label.


 * Written book
 * Looks the same as a regular book, but has a shine like an enchantment.
 * After being finished, the written book cannot be edited again.

Commands

 * General
 * added.

General

 * Options
 * Added 'Chat Options'.
 * Added chat opacity, letting the chat be semi-transparent.
 * Added chat disabling, removing the chat for Multiplayer servers.
 * Added chat colors option.
 * Added “Only Commands" mode to chat.

Blocks

 * Ice
 * Ice no longer turns into Water in the Nether.


 * Saplings
 * Saplings now have their proper names (e.g. Spruce Sapling).

Items

 * Books
 * Leather is now required to craft books.


 * Tools
 * Now have infinite durability in Creative mode.

Mobs

 * Animals
 * Livestock, such as chickens, can now be “walked through" instead of pushing the player around in crowded pens.

Non-mob entities

 * Boats
 * Can now be destroyed in one hit in Creative mode.


 * Minecarts
 * Can now be destroyed in one hit in Creative mode.

Gameplay

 * Bonus chest.
 * The player can no longer have a bonus chest in Hardcore mode.


 * Creative mode
 * Flying through water in Creative mode is no longer slow.


 * Enchantments
 * Silk touch can now retrieve ice and glass panes.

Command format

 * General
 * Server Commands now appear in italics in multiplayer.

Fixes
3 bugs fixed


 * Fixed entity collision errors.
 * Fixed the pick block function.
 * Fixed chat issues.