Creepers tend to start their fuse mid fall when dropping from above the player. In almost every case you cannot hear/see the creeper coming and explodes just as it hits the ground resulting in an almost inescapable blast. Ravines are the most likely areas this happens.
This is very much annoying and it would be much better if the creeper had to be standing on solid ground before it could begin arming (however not to cancel).
Linked issues
is duplicated by 15
MC-8477
Creeper doesn't make sound when Kamakazi-ing
Resolved
MC-104585
Creepers explode instantly while falling
Resolved
MC-105431
Creepers not making a fuse sound when exploding
Resolved
MC-130260
Creepers jumping off cliffs explode near instantly.
Resolved
MC-135145
Creepers will sometimes not sizzle before exploding or will explode prematurely
Resolved
Comments 7
I think they should not need to be on solid ground to arm (think following in water, or hopping up/down while following along hillside, or a creeper and player falling on the same height creeper approaching the player, etc.), but certainly starting up prematurely (by vertical distance) isn't intended.
EDIT: looking at the source code, creepers do not ignite too early, but they do ignite (and "burn" some of the "fuse") by the fall damage. Thus, if they happen to be near a player when they hit the ground, it can be almost instant explosion.
So, the apparent effect is intended.
I think this is a bad "feature"/"bug" that should be removed.
1) If the player sees a ravine with, for example, diamonds on the bottom, they go for it. But if a creeper the comes from a cave above you and insta-detonates on top of you, that is a game-breaker. You can never clear out ALL the caves above you, so creepers could fall on top of you. But if they do, you should get at least a few moments to either switch to your sword and block or hit it to push it away.
2) As Vechs said: "If the player dies, it should be because he/she did something wrong him/herself."
For feature suggestions/changes please use the MineCraft Forums: Suggestions.
Wim: if the player sees diamonds and goes for it with the blind greed without making environment safe first, it is the player's fault/problem/lesson. And death in this game isn't a game-breaker. And yes, you can clear out all the caves above. Been there done that in more ravines than I care to publicly admit. But it sure takes time and patience.
It can sometimes be very very slow and requires lots of work, but it can be done. For example, in order to make one double-ravine completely safe, it took me about 3 evenings of work, first building paths up, then safe platforms, then spamming torches, then slowly downwards etc. etc. Eventually, the whole place was fully "torched" and any unsecured side-caves closed, safe.
The most difficult situation is when a tunnel ends into a ravine at higher than bottom (or other similar arrangement) where it is not possible add blocks from the safety few steps back in the tunnel, and where a creeper can jump down on the player's ledge from the opposite direction. In such case the player can not build the necessary safety without first getting fully on the edge, to which the creeper could jump and detonate on. But even in that case, player can dig a tunnel to get different (and safe) approach.
Kamikaze creepers! I think this works as intended.