Inventory sorting and in-game bags.

[Zukero]

Hello,

I was re-reading the results of the 2013 priority survey, and noticed that sortable inventory was #1 of that list.

I had a few ideas on this subject recently. My point would be adding a new slot in the player's gear: the bag.
The player's default bag would let the inventory as it currently is: a mess.
The player could then buy new bags at different merchants, each enabling a different UI for the inventory:
- The Grid Bag, that shows items as a grid rather than as a list
- The Alpha bag, that automatically sorts items alphabetically
- The Categorized Bag, that packs items in foldable categories.
- The Custom Bag, that let you define your own foldable categories, and place items in them manually.

You couldn't unequip your bag, only replace it by another one (like when you equip a new sword, it sends the previous back in the inventory).

I'll try to make some mockups soon for this.

What do you think of this ?
Do you have any ideas for other bags ?
What does your dream bag look like ?

[Raner]

Combinations!!

I want my inventory in categories (junk, animal parts, quest items, etc.); in a grid not a list; in alphabetical order.... or am I getting picky now?

Regarding alphabetical sorting, it would be nice to be able to hit a button to sort, however then to also do something like move potions... or your alternate weapon, to the top of the list. If it constantly auto-sorts alphabetically, switching between dual wield weapons would become a pain, as example.

I would also like the option to sort by rarity (legendary, extraordinary, rare, etc.), though this is more for my own staring pleasure, rather than functionality.

[Moerit]

I really appreciate a new bag-system!
And i really like the idea of merchants/tailors who gives you the "upgrade" of your back;
i would not do the changesystem with bags, instead i would prefer that you could upgrade your bag with the mentioned functions - so there is one tailor who could give your bag the possibility to sort by type, alphabetical order...and so on. this way you could collect all bag-properties and adjust it for your needs.

Furthermore i think that the "auto-sort"-function should be possible but not neccesary...Well i guess that would lead to a "relativ" huge submenu of the bag just to configure your bag as you want (this submenu growes while proceeding).

When all the possibilities above are possible to use after visiting the related merchant/tailor -> that would be my dreambag

Maybe it would be to hard to code; but what about a "autosort-by-need" bag. It could check your heros stats (like HP/AP or ActorCond.) and check if you carry a potion which it useful at the moment and brings it up to the first place in inventory or even to the quickslot.
Example: When the hero has 90% Hp->minor health-boosts, When 50% ->medium potion, when 20%-> strongest healthpotions
Or: Hero gets inflicted with foodpoison -> Antidote, ....actually i dont know if there are any more potions that remove ACond., but i hope i made it clear.

[Medullan]

I love bags. My favorite way that bags have been implemented in games is in the infinity engine games like baldurs gate. There was the basic catch all bag that would hold almost everything but was still limited by a set number of slots although items would stack in single slots even if they wouldn't normally stack in your inventory. There was also a specific bag for potions, scrolls, and my all time favorite the gem bag. Don't have enough gold for that awesome new "blank" let's see how much we can get for all those gems I have been saving.
Each of these bags was difficult to obtain if there was one in a shop it was one of the specific bags and there was only one all the rest you had to find via questing. The most valuable thing about these bags though wasn't organization but rather encumbrance. Adding encumbrance rules to any game gives it an aspect of realism while introducing a frustration for the player which is relieved by putting points in strength or acquiring a bag.
So I think for now if organization is the primary motivation for introducing bags the best option would actually be to simply write UI code that sets the inventory like a file tree separated into weapons, armor, potions, food, monster parts, and quest items. Right off the bat though however bags might be implemented be sure that quest items will be recognized by the game even if inside a bag.
Simply upgrading the UI to show our inventory in a grid format rather than list format would really improve the aesthetics. Rpg's have been showing us our inventory in grid format since Nintendo, although there is something to be said for the nostalgic feel of an inventory shown in a list like the old games I used to play on the Commodore.
I wouldn't have the first clue where to start when it comes to implementing any of these changes in the actual code, but I would really like to. So if you would be willing to take the extra time to show your work by referencing where in the code you are adding or changing lines with comments explaining how and why each line is implementing the changes you are making that would be awesome.

A sort by need function bringing appropriate potions to the top would pretty awesome!

[rijackson741]

I would be happy with something that just made it easier to find what I was looking for. A top level that can contain either items or categories. The categories can contain items, but not sub-categories (I don't think there are enough types of item to justify it). Alphabetical sorting of the top level and categories can be turned on or off independently for each. There is no list of categories that will satisfy everyone, so make them user definable. Any new item, or an item that is unequipped, is allocated to the top level, unless an identical item is in a category, in which case it is allocated to that category. That's it really

My ideal bag? One into which I can drop small rocks, and they are changed into a random nice-to-have item