FOSS gamedev and creative worlds

I'm working on a texture pack and would like to make some objects with parts that are slightly translucent, for example adding a soft glow around torches and mese lamps via the alpha channel. I've noticed that this seems to be possible at least for some mods like bobblocks, but what about plain texture packs?

Can't be done without modification of the default mod, eg this: http://minetest.net/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1165

What about water? Well try it and show me. I'm pretty sure it only works where all 6 sides are the same, I tried to make the bed transparent underneath.

I think you can do it with Water

Translucency is only possible with water, unless you modify the mods you texture.

Alpha blending is not supported because Minetest doesn't do any transparency sorting for nodes. And it is far from easy to add.

Bummer! Oh well, maybe some time in the future. :-)

There is a misuse of the ALPHA setting that can be done as I do in my BobBLocks Mod, but there is a consequence:

http://minetest.net/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=16710#p16710