How to Handle Large Objects

[PhilB 230]

An idea to add more realism but also more flexibility to inventory storage and movement.

 

Folks already wondering about the engine block fits in a backpack problem in regard to vehicles/parts in SA.

 

Similar to the concept that every item is defined by a required number of slots to store, every object also might be defined by the minimum and maximum number of players that can simultaneously hold in hand. 

 

I could foresee, for example, certain car parts that could be carried by one individual with both hands with some difficulty but also carried by two individuals much more easily. So sharing the work means the player walks faster, expends less energy and has potentially a free hand for a pistol.

 

Certain items like an engine block might require a minimum of 6 hands (3 players all lifting) to carry said object.

 

All this is countered by wheeled carts, wheelbarrows, kid wagons like radio flyer, etc. How bout human and horse powered wheeled carts. These are options for lone players who need some way to transport large items that won't fit in a backpack or in some cases are simply too heavy to carry. 

 

Further example on this idea. Dean showed in a vid the beginnings of storage with refrigerator. Well what if you desired to relocate that fridge from let's say one house to another one in town? Well you'd have to drag that thing over there. You couldn't put that in your backpack.

 

So in this case a large refrigerator might require a minimum of four hands and a max of eight. Now players have almost irl options for transport. Two players could carry using all their hands. They might walk slowly. Or four players could carry with only hand so all four can remained armed in free hand. They might walk almost full speed. Another combo is four players carrying with all their hands. A refrigerator being carried in this last way would allow players to walk at full speed.

 

I think it would be neat if somehow the left and right hand were separated, from a functionality standpoint, so that multiple players can carry a large item while having a free hand. The idea came to me from an image I had of two survivors carrying, one on each side, an Igloo brand cooler full of meat and soda while brandishing pistols in their free hands.

 

I also thought this could work well if craftable stretcher/gurneys get done. Stretcher=3 shirts, duct tape, sewing kit and wood? But then we come back to the question of how exactly do players carry the stretcher. Once again, this is a minimum of four hands and a max of four hands. However 2, 3 and 4 people can carry a stretcher. 2 people using all their hands. 3 people where one player uses both hands and two players use one hand. And finally four players all using one hand so that pistol, etc. can be equipped in free hand.

[Ramzzzeee 17]

Some really great ideals,

I would also like independent "slots" for hands which i think go's along with your suggestion very well, what i mean by that is being able to hold multiple small items (one in each hand , or maybe more than one if they are small enough like bullets or pills) while larger items would require two hands

And as you said very large items should require multiple people or mechanical advantage (like hand trucks, dollys or what ever you want to call them)

I think this would also encourage team work, i mean even if you had a car you would have to have a buddy (or group of buddies) to help load very big objects.