Backpacks; why bother? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Backpacks; why bother? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The GOP Dragon
08-26-05, 03:19 PM Do containers such as backpacks and sacks grant any benifte such as an increased carrying capacity or are they just there to show what your character has his equipment in?
Vanigo
08-26-05, 03:28 PM They're so your DM doesn't ask, "What are you carrying all this stuff in?"

BTW, wouldn't a GOP dragon be red?
q'afuu
08-26-05, 03:28 PM They're used so you don't have to carry everything you own by hand, or hanging from your belt. ;)
Thievingrouge
08-26-05, 03:34 PM They exist so you can make bags of holding and heward's handy haversack...
Donraj
08-26-05, 03:39 PM If you don't have a backpack or sack you don't really have a carrying capacity, unless its just one thing and you don't have to do anything with your hands.
MysterYvil
08-26-05, 03:45 PM In cases where a character's encumbrance slows him down, "dropping the backpack" is easy way to unload multiple items with a single move action.
Ilmryn, Master Artificer
08-26-05, 03:49 PM In D20 Modern, backpacks actually have a tangible impact on gameplay. They increase the weight that a character can carry.
cmrscorpio
08-26-05, 04:02 PM In D20 Modern, backpacks actually have a tangible impact on gameplay. They increase the weight that a character can carry.

where does it say that those items increase wieght that a character can carry?
Hylianbunny
08-26-05, 04:09 PM A backpack gives you a +1 equipment bonus to Strength for the purpose of determining your carrying capacity. In the item description. :)
solbergb
08-26-05, 04:11 PM Interestingly, Backpacks, Saddlebags and Pack Saddles have no capacity in D&D 3.x

They hold pretty much whatever you can carry based on your strength, size and body type (saddlebags being "everything the horse can carry other than the rider/bit/bridle/saddle).

They're abstract. And anything in them is harder to retrieve than something explicitly stored in an "accessible" location.
tarkin
08-26-05, 04:13 PM That is a d20 Modern rule, not a d20 fantasy rule.

Makes sense, with more advanced backpack design.

Backpacks vs. nothing: allow you to carry things while still reading a weapon and a shield.

If you don't have a backpack, then you can only carry things with your hands, which means you can't have both a shield and a one handed weapon, or use a two handed weapon.

Backpack vs. other carrying containers that don't use your hands (pockets/belt pouches, etc.). Here backpacks provide you with two capabilities:

1) greater carrying capacity than just your pockets/belt pouches which are fairly limited and

2) The ability to quickly drop everything, increasing your movement rate.
obrysii
08-26-05, 04:14 PM And it's part of role playing.

Not everything has to have a statistical advantage or some mechanic to it. It's imagination: how do you picture your character carrying all of their things without a backpack?

Of course, most people seem to ignore that problem with gold, though...which gets heavy very quickly (50gp = 1 pound, after all).
Yue Ryong
08-26-05, 06:00 PM Tell me about it. My character had to spend EVERYTHING, because she was an 85-year old halfling who couldn't carry all her gold. She couldn't even carry a bag of holding.
Tyler Do'Urden
08-26-05, 06:21 PM Anybody here do their own laundry?

Do you carry it from the washer to the dryer by hand? Not usually. Why? Because it's very difficult to keep your arms around that many objects and much easier to put them in a container (i.e. laundry basket).

Carrying your stuff in-character without a backpack is like hobbling to the dryer with an armful of wet garments. Only they aren't wet, might not be garments, and they don't have to be washed again if they touch that filthy, filthy floor.
Cindre2000
08-26-05, 07:29 PM Interestingly, Backpacks, Saddlebags and Pack Saddles have no capacity in D&D 3.x

Somehow I figured that the capacity for items that store stuff is 10 * their weight. So a cheap backpack holds 20 lbs of items and a belt pouch holds 5 lbs. I cannot remember how I came up with this, maybe it was in a previous edition; however, thats the rule in my game.
StormCrow42
08-26-05, 07:42 PM The bottom link of my sig has carrying capacities for all sorts of containers.
Cindre2000
08-26-05, 08:43 PM Interesting. A very informative article that i never read completly.
The GOP Dragon
08-26-05, 09:44 PM Thanks for the input. I actually have another question about the subject. Couldn't a smart character use rope and a hammock (or something similar) to make a temporary backpack. I know that the stats for the canvas tarp says it has metal eyelets on the side. I've seen minimalist campers do this and only unload their backpack when they set up camp, but would that be a feasible option in a fantasy setting and how would it work?

BTW, wouldn't a GOP dragon be red?

OH! :embarrass Glad you caught that. I will change it immediately.
Salabasha
08-26-05, 09:48 PM I say by a bag o' holdin and be on ur merry way
BlackRaven
08-28-05, 05:26 AM Don't remember where it is located at, but WotC actually listed all the actual holding capicities of pouches, backpacks, chests, saddlebags, etc. Wish I remembered where it is located at to link to it. :(
Vaelan
08-28-05, 07:29 AM If you don't have a backpack, then you can only carry things with your hands, which means you can't have both a shield and a one handed weapon, or use a two handed weapon.
Unless you... drop the stuff you carry around.
The WarOverlord
08-28-05, 08:55 AM Do containers such as backpacks and sacks grant any benifte such as an increased carrying capacity or are they just there to show what your character has his equipment in?

Realistically they carry stuff but are usually dropped to the ground when entering battle to allow for mobility then recovered after the fight.

It is possible to fight with the backpack still on the back but mobility is limited and trying to access your backpack main opening and most of it's pockets require taking the backpack off the back first.

Can you equipt without backpacks? sure.

My PC usually carry 1 pole arm or Great Weapon on their back via leather harnest,bow on criss-cross of harnest, bedroll on top of Criss-cross of harness holding pole arm and Bow, quiver on bottom of criss-cross on harnest. 1 hand mace on left side of special belt with 2 pouches left and right front, canteen in pouch that is large enough to store potions, money, and jerky also, shield in hand or over shoulder and longsword in hand or in sheath with leather band that can be thrown over shoulder...
NeueRegel
08-28-05, 10:06 AM Don't remember where it is located at, but WotC actually listed all the actual holding capicities of pouches, backpacks, chests, saddlebags, etc. Wish I remembered where it is located at to link to it. :(
Weaps/Armor/Equip (http://www.crystalkeep.com/d20/rules/DnD3.5Index-Equipment.pdf) , compliments of ChrystalKeep.

NeueRegel

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The GOP Dragon 08-26-05, 03:19 PM	Do containers such as backpacks and sacks grant any benifte such as an increased carrying capacity or are they just there to show what your character has his equipment in?
Vanigo 08-26-05, 03:28 PM	They're so your DM doesn't ask, "What are you carrying all this stuff in?" BTW, wouldn't a GOP dragon be red?
q'afuu 08-26-05, 03:28 PM	They're used so you don't have to carry everything you own by hand, or hanging from your belt. ;)
Thievingrouge 08-26-05, 03:34 PM	They exist so you can make bags of holding and heward's handy haversack...
Donraj 08-26-05, 03:39 PM	If you don't have a backpack or sack you don't really have a carrying capacity, unless its just one thing and you don't have to do anything with your hands.
MysterYvil 08-26-05, 03:45 PM	In cases where a character's encumbrance slows him down, "dropping the backpack" is easy way to unload multiple items with a single move action.
Ilmryn, Master Artificer 08-26-05, 03:49 PM	In D20 Modern, backpacks actually have a tangible impact on gameplay. They increase the weight that a character can carry.
cmrscorpio 08-26-05, 04:02 PM	In D20 Modern, backpacks actually have a tangible impact on gameplay. They increase the weight that a character can carry. where does it say that those items increase wieght that a character can carry?
Hylianbunny 08-26-05, 04:09 PM	A backpack gives you a +1 equipment bonus to Strength for the purpose of determining your carrying capacity. In the item description. :)
solbergb 08-26-05, 04:11 PM	Interestingly, Backpacks, Saddlebags and Pack Saddles have no capacity in D&D 3.x They hold pretty much whatever you can carry based on your strength, size and body type (saddlebags being "everything the horse can carry other than the rider/bit/bridle/saddle). They're abstract. And anything in them is harder to retrieve than something explicitly stored in an "accessible" location.
tarkin 08-26-05, 04:13 PM	That is a d20 Modern rule, not a d20 fantasy rule. Makes sense, with more advanced backpack design. Backpacks vs. nothing: allow you to carry things while still reading a weapon and a shield. If you don't have a backpack, then you can only carry things with your hands, which means you can't have both a shield and a one handed weapon, or use a two handed weapon. Backpack vs. other carrying containers that don't use your hands (pockets/belt pouches, etc.). Here backpacks provide you with two capabilities: 1) greater carrying capacity than just your pockets/belt pouches which are fairly limited and 2) The ability to quickly drop everything, increasing your movement rate.
obrysii 08-26-05, 04:14 PM	And it's part of role playing. Not everything has to have a statistical advantage or some mechanic to it. It's imagination: how do you picture your character carrying all of their things without a backpack? Of course, most people seem to ignore that problem with gold, though...which gets heavy very quickly (50gp = 1 pound, after all).
Yue Ryong 08-26-05, 06:00 PM	Tell me about it. My character had to spend EVERYTHING, because she was an 85-year old halfling who couldn't carry all her gold. She couldn't even carry a bag of holding.
Tyler Do'Urden 08-26-05, 06:21 PM	Anybody here do their own laundry? Do you carry it from the washer to the dryer by hand? Not usually. Why? Because it's very difficult to keep your arms around that many objects and much easier to put them in a container (i.e. laundry basket). Carrying your stuff in-character without a backpack is like hobbling to the dryer with an armful of wet garments. Only they aren't wet, might not be garments, and they don't have to be washed again if they touch that filthy, filthy floor.
Cindre2000 08-26-05, 07:29 PM	Interestingly, Backpacks, Saddlebags and Pack Saddles have no capacity in D&D 3.x Somehow I figured that the capacity for items that store stuff is 10 * their weight. So a cheap backpack holds 20 lbs of items and a belt pouch holds 5 lbs. I cannot remember how I came up with this, maybe it was in a previous edition; however, thats the rule in my game.
StormCrow42 08-26-05, 07:42 PM	The bottom link of my sig has carrying capacities for all sorts of containers.
Cindre2000 08-26-05, 08:43 PM	Interesting. A very informative article that i never read completly.
The GOP Dragon 08-26-05, 09:44 PM	Thanks for the input. I actually have another question about the subject. Couldn't a smart character use rope and a hammock (or something similar) to make a temporary backpack. I know that the stats for the canvas tarp says it has metal eyelets on the side. I've seen minimalist campers do this and only unload their backpack when they set up camp, but would that be a feasible option in a fantasy setting and how would it work? BTW, wouldn't a GOP dragon be red? OH! :embarrass Glad you caught that. I will change it immediately.
Salabasha 08-26-05, 09:48 PM	I say by a bag o' holdin and be on ur merry way
BlackRaven 08-28-05, 05:26 AM	Don't remember where it is located at, but WotC actually listed all the actual holding capicities of pouches, backpacks, chests, saddlebags, etc. Wish I remembered where it is located at to link to it. :(
Vaelan 08-28-05, 07:29 AM	If you don't have a backpack, then you can only carry things with your hands, which means you can't have both a shield and a one handed weapon, or use a two handed weapon. Unless you... drop the stuff you carry around.
The WarOverlord 08-28-05, 08:55 AM	Do containers such as backpacks and sacks grant any benifte such as an increased carrying capacity or are they just there to show what your character has his equipment in? Realistically they carry stuff but are usually dropped to the ground when entering battle to allow for mobility then recovered after the fight. It is possible to fight with the backpack still on the back but mobility is limited and trying to access your backpack main opening and most of it's pockets require taking the backpack off the back first. Can you equipt without backpacks? sure. My PC usually carry 1 pole arm or Great Weapon on their back via leather harnest,bow on criss-cross of harnest, bedroll on top of Criss-cross of harness holding pole arm and Bow, quiver on bottom of criss-cross on harnest. 1 hand mace on left side of special belt with 2 pouches left and right front, canteen in pouch that is large enough to store potions, money, and jerky also, shield in hand or over shoulder and longsword in hand or in sheath with leather band that can be thrown over shoulder...
NeueRegel 08-28-05, 10:06 AM	Don't remember where it is located at, but WotC actually listed all the actual holding capicities of pouches, backpacks, chests, saddlebags, etc. Wish I remembered where it is located at to link to it. :( Weaps/Armor/Equip (http://www.crystalkeep.com/d20/rules/DnD3.5Index-Equipment.pdf) , compliments of ChrystalKeep. NeueRegel