This is an IDEA for a mod. (SORRY FOR THE WRONG TITLE :banghead:)

As title and description say, my idea is:
- Encumbrance increase slightly with strength (2.5 points x strength)
- Encumbrance mainly increase with backpacks and pockets
Don't stop read here thinking "this is like the 58 other backpacks mod".



PRELUDE
In this long description, I will talk about backpacks and pockets as "containers", but my idea is to use them as "encumbrance enhancer" items:
They won't add a separated inventory where you put your items, like other containers.
They will stay in your inventory (a backpack is also an item, so it must show in your inventory) so you can see/drop/sell them, but their presence is purely symbolic.
By simply staying in your inventory, they increase your maximum encumbrance, thus giving you the sensation that you have more space in your inventory (not so far from truth).

In other words: if you pick a backpack, it will simply increase your encumbrance (Or gives you more carry capacity). Nothing else, no additional containers. By picking another one your encumbrance further increase. By dropping/selling them, you simply lost the encumbrance bonus they gave you (You have no more that extra carry capacity).



BACKPACKS
Backpacks increase your encumbrance by 100 points.
You can find backpacks among merchants, citizens, bandits and travelers.
A backpack is a standalone "container" and can be upgraded by attaching pockets. Up to 5 pockets can be attached to a backpack.

When you find a backpack, you only have to pick it. Your encumbrance will automatically increase.
The number of backpack you can benefit from depends on your strength. Every 20 strength will allows you to benefit from 1 backpack. The first backpack is always allowed, even if your strength is less than 20 (by drain/damage).
If you reach the limit and pick another backpack, it will be ineffective.
(EXAMPLE: You have 50 strength and 2 backpacks. If you pick a third one, it will be ineffective until your strength reach 60.)



POCKETS
Pockets increase your encumbrance by 20 points.
You can find pockets among merchants and in containers/barrels/crates.
You can't benefit from a pocket directly, because a pocket isn't a standalone container.
In order to receive it's benefits, it must be attached to a backpack.
When you attach a pocket, it will merge with the backpack (so you can't remove it anymore), and the backpack get upgraded.
(EXAMPLE: "Backpack" upgrade to "Backpack+1", then to "Backpack+2", etc...; the +n indicate the number of pockets in that backpack)

How to attach a pocket:

• You need a pocket (is implied :deal: )
  
• You need a backpack with less than 5 pockets (Do you remember the pockets limit? look at "BACKPACK" section above)
  
• You need a unit of "Yarn" (to sew the pocket)

If you have all the requirements, then all you have to do is activate the pocket in your inventory.
The game will attach the pocket to an available backpack. Higher priority is given to backpacks with more pockets, near to be completed. A unit of yarn get used in the work.



ITEMS AND LOCATIONS
There are 6 backpack: the base one + the 5 upgrades. The numbers indicate the number of pockets (1 pockets = 20 more encumbrance):

• Backpack = 100 points Very common. Merchants always have one or two. Very common among citizens and travelers.
  
• Backpack+1 = 120 points Common. Often merchant, citizens or travelers have one.
  
• Backpack+2 = 140 points Not common. Sometimes merchant or travelers have one.
  
• Backpack+3 = 160 points Rare. Only guild merchants and travelers can rarely have one.
  
• Backpack+4 = 180 points N/A. Only obtainable by upgrade.
  
• Backpack+5 = 200 points N/A. Only obtainable by upgrade.

ADDITIONAL INFO
Since strength barely increase your encumbrance (2 x strength), when you start a new game you should have 2.5x ~40 = ~100 encumbrance points (how much you can carry without a backpack?).
To remove this disadvantage, at the beginning, when the emperor leaves you alone and the wall break, you will find a Backpack in the loot of the dead skeleton (So ~100 Base + 100 Backpack = ~200).
While you start the game with about the same encumbrance, this system will allows you to reach higher encumbrance than before.

Backpacks and pockets are inventory items:

• When you find/buy a backpack or a pocket, it is added to your inventory.
  
• They are not quest items. You can drop/sell them.
  
• REMEMBER: these items aren't real containers. They only increase your encumbrance, giving you the sensation that you have more space for your items.
  
• Their effect is cumulative but not permanent. If you drop/sell a backpack, it's benefits will cease.
  
• When you get arrested, they get confiscated/returned like all other inventory items.

Everytime you will find/buy a backpack, the next one will be more rare/expensive.
(EXAMPLE You will pay 500 to buy the first backpack, 700 for a second one, 1000 for a third one ...)
Pockets will cost much less than a backpack, and their cost will increase less.



COMPARISON WITH OTHER MODS
Other mods add backpacks as real containers, separated from the normal inventory.
I don't agree with this concept:

• If you need an item you have to manually cycle through all your backpacks, because there isn't a "Search" function.
  
• Surely a backpack can contain more items than your underpants (About the underpants, do you ever ask yourself: "When he/she is naked, where did he/she put those 6 weapons, 4 armors, 68 rings, 122 torches and all the other items?"), but the backpacks from these mods can contain an unlimited amount of items :shocking: :sweat: :blink:. I don't think this is possible (assume these backpack aren't like Eega Beeva trousers...).
  
• Usually, you have to do complex procedures to open your backpack(s):
  - drop it on the ground like garbage, open it as a container, then activate it in sneak mode to put it back in the inventory, then run from the guards because they think you stole from your backpack.
  - cast a spell and it will summon near you. Note: if you've been silenced you cannot summon your backpack!
  - tap key T while keep pressing key M, while looking at a dancing guard at midnight :hehe:
  - kill and revive 3 times the adoring fan... :hehe: :hehe: :hehe:

My idea is keep the game simple and solve all the above problems:

• all your the items are shown in a single inventory (Otherwise, why it's called "inventory"? The inventory must show ALL your items. Search what "inventory" means, before answering the question), so whatever you need, is there, sorted by name, value, damage etc...
  
• the more backpack (and pockets) you have, the more you can carry, but a backpack cannot contain the whole world. Every backpack gives you a LIMITED amount of space, you can have a LIMITED amount of backpacks (Strength limit: look at "BACKPACK" section), and every backpacks has a LIMITED amount of pockets.
  
• there're no complex procedures to access the backpacks, because you don't have to: items are not stored in a separated place, everything you have is in your inventory (I hope you know how to open your inventory. Not so difficult, right?).

I hope you agree with my point of view.



SUMMARIZE
This is and IDEA for a mod.
In real life, we can't bring with us tons of items without a backpack/bag.
No matter if you go 5 hours per day to the gym: it's not a problem of strength.
It's a problem of "Where you put all those items?".
Normally you can't carry more than 2-3 weapons, a quiver with 20-30 arrows, a full armor and 2-3 little items.
This is why strength become secondary (but not useless), while backpacks become essential.

My question is: There's somebody able and disposable to realize this idea? Thanks in advance

I use a combination of http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=21721 and http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=12074 Together they match quite closely your overall concept if not the actual means of achieving it. Both mods are configurable via ini and work together nicely.

I will try that. Thanks! :thumbsup:

It only differ for 1 thing (but I don't care): there's only 1 bag
The reason I would prefer a multiple backpacks system, is because (in my mind) I have the concept of backpacks as "Power-ups" of your encumbrance.

P.S. Maybe I could try to adapt this mod for my personal use... :lightbulb: :hubbahubba:

Actually, although you are citing real life as an example, unless I am missing something, the description of the mod you want is really the equivalent of having a bunch of feather spells cast on you. The backpack mods that already exist are much more realistic. If you have ever gone backpacking, you would know this. When you put something in a backpack, it is easier to carry, but not easier to access. You have to take it off, set it down, open it, search it, etc. And that's an appropriate trade off for the advantages of reduced encumbrance and being able to drop it (and the contents) before getting into a fight. Which is especially important if you have mods like realistic fatigue installed.

That said, there's nothing wrong with the idea of a *magic* backpack, which is basically what you are asking for. A magic backpack would be a container that not only holds stuff, but has feather enchantments on it, and the ability for the wearer to instantly call forth anything in it to his hand or wish anything held to instantly go back into it. That's a little closer to what you describe. And it's a nice idea, but I wouldn't make these things common to find or cheap to buy.

http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=25012 provides up to 10 sacks, each of which can have their name and encumbrance (weight of contents times your chosen multiplier) individually adjusted via ini. I imagine that this could be edited to have them for sale at different prices and with different multipliers as well as the all important name change to 'pockets'

Wait, my idea isn't like real life. Look at my first post (I know: it's huge!):
I said:

why it's called "inventory"? The inventory must show ALL your items. Search what "inventory" means, before answering the question

My idea is keep the game simple and solve all the above problems

Having different containers is more realistic, but I want something faster (after all, it's always a game).
So I'd like to see all (pants pockets, other pockets, inside your shoes or hat, bags, backpacks, underpants etc...) in a single list.
Where you put that items (any one of the above places) is a different problem.
Many games (like Oblivion) can group the items by categories, but I don't know about any RPG where you have a different inventory for each one of your pockets.
Of course, I respect your opinions, and I don't dislike it.


Bingo! Magic backpacks acting like "encumbrance power-ups". This is what I'm searching for.


So it create 10 separated containers: this is exactly what I don't like.
The first mod you suggest is much better, not so far from what I'm searching for.

Ah, I misunderstood. So you want something like Kuertee's mod but with some sort of upgrade path with ever-increasing encumberance buffs (the backpacks/pockets)? Are you familiar with the 'Scales of Pitiless Justice' from the Dark Brotherhood questline? This object gives you buffs just from being in your inventory (it's a misc. item). This mechanic could be easily copied to provide the system you are after I think and would work fine with Kuertee's mod.

Right.

Well, thanks everyone for your time.
I will try to create this mod by taking inspiration from Kuertee's mod (though I'm not very skilled...)

Good luck