Backpacks: how to make them unique?

[DocWolf 146]

With the introduction of weather and body temperature systems the usefulness of many items have been redefined. Previously, having a raincoat in the inventory was basically a waste of space; dow jackets or wool coats were useless, and hoodies were used only to craft rags. Wearing them was a cosmetic choice...now they're useful items - without them there's hypotermia and then death. Rain coats are the only items that let you navigate the countryside of Chernarus with (almost) no problem from rain and cold.

But what about the backpacks?

At the moment the backpacks are in the same situation jackets were prior to weather/body temperature introduction: you choose them according to inventory space or, for the more tactical minded, according to their high/low profile and colour. What about an overhaul of those items?

Suggestions:

Improvised courier bag/improvised backpack/leather sack

Those items are haphazardly crafted with burlap or untreated leather, rope and sticks. They're useful because you can create them easily, have a low profile and subdued colours. But they should be easy to damage and they should offer very low protection against elements - rain should soak them quickly, and damage them accordingly. Items stored inside them should take damage from rain/prolonged exposure to humidity.

Child briefcase

Easily found around Chernarus, with low profile and sometimes dull colours - they're some kind of stopgap until you find or craft something bigger; should be easily to damage, and offer minimal protection against the elements. Inventory space should be decreased.

Taloon backpack

It's the most basic version of a professional backpack, used often thanks to a good amount of storage space - the drawback is a poor color choice, all of them are very bright and flashy. Should come with an integrated "raincoat" for the backpack: there should be an option to deploy it and cover the Taloon, in order to offer moderate-to-good protection against rain...much like the option "close lid" you find on a compass. Should be moderately difficult to damage, considering it seems to be a 24h hiking backpack

Hunting backpack

Favoured by players because it offers good item storage, good camouflage and low profile. It should be sturdy and very difficult to damage, but it shouldn't offer protection against rain - seems to have a very old design and use old school materials (leather and canvas), without integrated raincoat for it.

Mountain backpack

The go-to choice if you want to carry around everything. The drawbacks are, as for the Talon, extremely bright and flashy colours and something extremely important: an high profile. Its shilouette is easily spotted even from afar and if you play of first person servers it impairs your vision when looking behind you. It should offer exceptional protection against rain - as for the Taloon, there should be an integrated raincoat that covers the backpack and shoul be sturdy enough to avoid easy damage. Seems to be a professional mountaineering backpack, after all.

Edited October 8, 2014 by DocWolf

[stielhandgranate 480]

Decrease the child backback? Why? It carries as much as a high cap vest, doesn't seem broken.

[scrubbie_mcnoob 136]

Hunting backpack

Favoured by players because it offers good item storage, good camouflage and low profile. It should be sturdy and very difficult to damage, but it shouldn't offer protection against rain - seems to have a very old design and use old school materials (leather and canvas), without integrated raincoat for it.

 

 

Whats the point of a non waterproof backpack for hunting? Maybe it doesn't rain much where you are, but I would dream of hunting with a backpack made of paper, canvas is tough and waterproof.

[qwer4790 26]

Just don't make backpack stack, I hate backpack-ception, which blows up the server.

[DocWolf 146]

Decrease the child backback? Why? It carries as much as a high cap vest, doesn't seem broken.

It's not broken indeed, the slight inventory reduction was intended as a possible way to further individualize the various backpacks. The core of my proposal is not, however, about item storage: it's about a better interaction with weather, exactly like clothes.

 

Whats the point of a non waterproof backpack for hunting? Maybe it doesn't rain much where you are, but I would dream of hunting with a backpack made of paper, canvas is tough and waterproof.

As I said, according to the in-game representation, the hunting backpacks seems to be an old model. Not a vintage-looking backpack, simply an old eastern european backpack made of leather and (maybe waxed, maybe not) canvas. If you think those kind of stuff is waterproof in heavy rain you're mistaken - they're not. And that's what the core of the proposal is: interaction with elements. A light drizzle shouldn't soak such a backpack, but rain or a storm should.

Edited October 8, 2014 by DocWolf

[pale1776 375]

It's not broken indeed, the slight inventory reduction was intended as a possible way to further individualize the various backpacks. The core of my proposal is not, however, about item storage: it's about a better interaction with weather, exactly like clothes.

As I said, according to the in-game representation, the hunting backpacks seems to be an old model. Not a vintage-looking backpack, simply an old eastern european backpack made of leather and (maybe waxed, maybe not) canvas. If you think those kind of stuff is waterproof in heavy rain you're mistaken - they're not. And that's what the core of the proposal is: interaction with elements. A light drizzle shouldn't soak such a backpack, but rain or a storm should.

Really? Thats why Army tents were canvas, the canvas tarp I have covering my deerstand roof is canvas, and canvas is used in boating and fishing products because its waterproof?

Anything meant for hunting, or tthe military is waterproof, and canvas is still waterproof, it never stopped. Oh, and the bags not that old. I still buy those at my gunstore, they come in black too.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canvas

Im just sayin, we should be able to put a raincoat on our bags with a roll of tape

[Sleeves 98]

Since when did leather become hydrophilic (water can pass through it)?

[DocWolf 146]

Improvised leather sacks, messenger bags and backpacks are, as the name suggest it, improvised. That means their manifacture is far away form even the most basic quality standards and, therefore, there are probably ill-fitting links/stitches and whatnot on them. Holes, maybe, considering that in game you skin animals with kitchen knives. Canvas itself is not waterproof - Using canvas that is already waterproofed for hunting and other things is normal nowadays, but old-style backpacks like that need to be waxed in order to keep water out. Anyway, just to cut off the argument I agree with you: the hunting backpack should be waterproof.

 

 

Also, I love how basically everyone is gleefully nitpicking on easily modifiable examples instead of commenting on the general idea of creating an interaction between backpacks and weather system, similar to the weather-jackets relation. Seriously, WTF <_<

[Yano (DayZ) 102]

Ive used the same large Northface pack for 15 years ,, its sturdy , water proof and holds an apartment worth of gear ,, yeah real life hunter and camper. Nothing in your pack should be damaged from a rain shower the concept is silly , whats next having to find parafin to waterproof your matches ? gotta find talcum powder cus you dont wanna chaffe from running too much? a little realism is good , too much makes the game ridiculous to play and takes the fun out of it. only thing that bugs me about backpacks ,, you cant paint them ,, which is just plain dumb its the endo of the world , you can bet if i needed to id paint what ever i could find camo and get into the woods.

[Sleeves 98]

We should also get in depth with character health as well, not just item health.

Make toothpaste a consumable that prevents cavities. If teeth are not brushed for extended periods of time cavities form which can not be cured and kills the player. Cancer, malaria, and various other diseases should be implemented as well for no other reason other than to make the game realistic.

Realism > Fun