Sneaking

Sneaking is a feature introduced in the 1st Seecret Saturday update on September 18th, 2010 (Alpha 1.1.1). While holding the Shift key, the player enters sneaking mode. Sneaking was originally called crouching; however, the player's hitbox doesn't change from the normal standing height. Mobs will still notice the player no matter what.

Sneaking prevents players from falling off ledges, making it primarily useful for building horizontally outwards from high ledges by looking over the lip.

On a Macintosh computer, the hotkey can be changed from Shift to CapsLock to sneak without having to hold down a key. On a Windows the hotkey must be changed to CapsLock, and then pressing ALT while holding it. This will release the mouse, but make the sneaking permanent until the CapsLock key is pressed again. Just click the game window again to regain focus. Bringing up the inventory or menu will revert the status to walking. This method only works when playing in window mode, not fullscreen, however.

When you walk too far towards the edge of the block while sneaking, you will not fall down but your character will be outside the block you are standing on. Therefore if you release Shift, you will fall down. This is useful however for making bridges, since being outside the block allows you to see it's edge, which you may easily click.

Effects

 * The character moves slower.
 * The character appears to be bending over.
 * No sound is made when walking.
 * Players cannot fall off ledges.
 * Stairs and steps cannot be walked up but can be walked down.
 * Players cannot sneak from Soul Sand to any other material at the same level.
 * Crops won't be trampled. (NOTE: Wet soil will be trampled to dirt. Unknown if this is a bug. Noticed it in 1.2.2)
 * The camera angle slightly lowers.
 * Pressing the F key to change the fog level will reverse the fog level order while sneaking.
 * Other players in Survival Multiplayer cannot see your name through walls.
 * Other players in Survival Multiplayer cannot see your name when you are closer than when standing up.

Bugs

 * Players can still fall off half-steps.
 * If you are sneaking and you exit to the menu and then go back into your map, your character sinks into the block you're standing on.