Post/Author/DateTime	Post
LeeAlucard 01-08-08, 04:11 PM	How much should the backpack be able to contain? Obviously it shouldn't be able to hold objects that are physically larger than them, such as a 10-ft. pole, IMO, but I wasn't able to find anything in the PHB about the backpack, other than what it is. In addition, how much liquid does a barrel hold? The only thing I could find about the barrel is that when empty, it weighs 30 pounds. If there aren't any actual rules on this sort of thing, does anyone have any useful houserules about this sort of junk? I've been having my NPC's act a bit odd towards the players when they're carrying things that obviously won't fit into a backpack... Ranger PC: (making a Gather Information check) "So, heard anything about the cargo warehouse in the south part of town?" NPC: "...Why is a ladder tied to your back?"
DyloniusFunk 01-08-08, 04:36 PM	For the ladder i would just tell the PC that if he wants to carry it on his abck he cna as loing as he had rope on his character sheet or borrows it from someone else. Fopr ther backpack it would be a common sense thing, yes a 10 foot pole could fit in there but it would stick out of the top and would probably make movement very cumbersome. I don't think a negative to Dex or movement based skills or a speed reduction would be inn apropriate since the PC is basically moving with a large piece of air resistance sticking out his back. Same thing with ladderman. As for barrels... The barrel is the name of several units of volume: * Oil barrel: 42 US gallons, 158.9873 litres,[1] or 34.9723 Imperial (UK) gallons. * UK beer barrel: 36 UK gallons (163.7 litres). * US beer barrel: 31 US gallons (117.3 litres), the result of tax law definitions. * US non-beer liquid barrel: 31½ US gallons (119.2 litres), or half a hogshead. * US dry barrel: 105 dry quarts (115.6 litres). * Somali water barrel: 200 litres - used in Horn of Africa to measure water and diesel.
Mysteria 01-08-08, 04:39 PM	Use common sense? ;)
toucanbuzz 01-08-08, 04:43 PM	This is unofficial material based on someone elses calculations of volume of your average container. If you're getting THAT technical to need this info...: Backpack (for 2g, these are small packs), 10 lb. capacity, 1'x1' dimensions. These are not your school backpacks. Barrel: 30 lb. weight, 10 cubic feet space, 100 lb. capacity
HARLEYDUDE 01-08-08, 05:15 PM	I've been having my NPC's act a bit odd towards the players when they're carrying things that obviously won't fit into a backpack... Ranger PC: (making a Gather Information check) "So, heard anything about the cargo warehouse in the south part of town?" NPC: "...Why is a ladder tied to your back?" This is great LOL!!!!! I can sure see this happening in one of my games!
celloshane 01-08-08, 05:16 PM	I'm guessing that your players are fairly low level and are buying anything that might be remotely usefull out of the PHB. You might find it helpful to go over the encumberance rules and check that your players have calculated weight properly. If they are all carrying heavy loads, they'll wise up when you throw an easy combat at them with the penalties assigned to carrying a full load. I've heard plenty of people say that calculating weight and encuberance is a PITA and should just be thrown out, but this is a prime example of why it's included. If they are higher level, you might consider getting them some treasure that helps alleviate storage problems; Bags of Holding, Hewards Handy Haversacks, Robe of Useful Items...
LeeAlucard 01-08-08, 05:28 PM	Believe it or not, nobody's got higher than a Medium load. The reason I asked about the barrel is because the players bought a wagon (pulled by 2 Light Horses) and included a barrel with it (to contain drinking water). However, the bit about the ranger carrying the ladder on his back is absolutely true. :D Obviously, if the players are going to survive on that water, it might be vital to know how much liquid that the barrel can hold. Likewise, if the players are going to haul the treasure out of a dungeon in one trip, they'd better make sure they can carry it all.
CryoSilver 01-08-08, 05:32 PM	A good hiking pack can hold about 80 lbs of stuff, if you include somethings lashed to the outside, like pots, pans and a bedroll. My old pack was about 1'x x1' x 2' and I could load enough stuff into it for 5 days.
PenderGrass 01-08-08, 05:40 PM	Here's a decent review of the ALICE packs I used in the military - LINK (http://www.hikepa.com/gear/reviews/USGI_alice_pack.htm). I could carry a ton of stuff with this plus the web gear (i.e., ammo belt, canteens, etc.) and utility outfit (with cargo pockets). I always imagine the packs in-game as being similar to the military design. Considering I could strap a M60 tripod on the outside with a sleeping bag underneath, plus tons of ammo and so forth - typically upwards of 80 to just over 100 pounds of stuff (depending on the needs of the terrain we were in) - this pack was a blessing (and a curse). :dragon: *****
sblaxman 01-08-08, 07:10 PM	For a middle-ages technology non-magical backpack, I might half the numbers that PendarGrass gave... the materials/workmanship was a lot shoddier back then... However, if you make em pay extra for some very high quality bags then maybe. LMAO about the ladder... You "could" tie it off I guess, but you're going to have a problem getting through a doorway or inside any building
LeeAlucard 01-08-08, 07:25 PM	Well, since it's 2gp for the thing, I'm assuming it's high-quality. After all, the amount of money your average villager makes is measured in sp, yes?
PenderGrass 01-08-08, 07:42 PM	Well, since it's 2gp for the thing, I'm assuming it's high-quality. After all, the amount of money your average villager makes is measured in sp, yes? I would also point out that in most games that I have seen or participated in, the "civilizations" have been around for thousands of years - a 2gp pack should be pretty awesome. I have let masterwork packs be virtual exact duplicates of the ALICE pack - complete with quick-release systems (handy for those that are encumbered and need mobility in combat situations). Nothing on the ALICE pack is really that far advanced for a world that has had people manufacturing stuff for thousands of years. :dragon: *****
wizarddog 01-09-08, 02:14 AM	Here's a decent review of the ALICE packs I used in the military - LINK (http://www.hikepa.com/gear/reviews/USGI_alice_pack.htm). I could carry a ton of stuff with this plus the web gear (i.e., ammo belt, canteens, etc.) and utility outfit (with cargo pockets). I always imagine the packs in-game as being similar to the military design. Considering I could strap a M60 tripod on the outside with a sleeping bag underneath, plus tons of ammo and so forth - typically upwards of 80 to just over 100 pounds of stuff (depending on the needs of the terrain we were in) - this pack was a blessing (and a curse). :dragon: ***** Did you have to learn to fight/shoot with the backpack on? Was their a procedure to drop the weight? Just curious. :detect:
nlentz88 01-09-08, 02:22 AM	I have let masterwork packs be virtual exact duplicates of the ALICE pack - complete with quick-release systems (handy for those that are encumbered and need mobility in combat situations). Would you count using the pack's quick-release system as a free action? Move action?
PenderGrass 01-09-08, 02:07 PM	Did you have to learn to fight/shoot with the backpack on? Was their a procedure to drop the weight? Just curious. :detect: Typically, all live fire exercises were done sans backpack. But most of the maneuvers were done with the backpack carried. :dragon: *****
PenderGrass 01-09-08, 02:33 PM	Would you count using the pack's quick-release system as a free action? Move action? I allow it as a free action if the character has the quick draw feat. It can also be combined as a free action with a move action if the character has a BAB of +1 or more (see drawing a weapon with a move action in the PHB). Otherwise, it is a move action. :dragon: *****