I don't know about you, but I love a game that lets me go on an adventure. No matter if it's raiding a tomb, exploring a dungeon, or traversing an open world, I'm a sucker for a good quest. Give me a mission and I'm on it. Rescue the princess, defeat the enemies, save the world... you name it. There's only one thing better than the journey, and that's the stuff you collect along the way.
Most adventure games and RPGs come with an inventory system, allowing you to collect useful items and store them in some kind of backpack. As you explore the world you can find and stash a huge array of items: potions, weapons, jewellery, money, ore, tools, crystals and so much more. The sheer range of items is immense and this is my problem. I often run out of places to stash it all. For those of you crying out "just throw things away!" or "sell it all!" it's not that simple. You see there are some very good reasons why my bags are always full.
4 Looting Is Just Too Much Fun
Back when I used to play MMORPGs I'd occasionally come across a species of player I never understood; the loot leaver. These gamers will go around ruthlessly slaughtering everything in sight, pick up any quest items they may need and then - here's the weird part... LEAVE THE OTHER LOOT.
If you're one of these people please tell me, why do you do this? Don't you enjoy the thrill of looting? Of clicking those corpses you piled up and seeing all the shiny things spill into your bag? Even if they aren't useful they are always worth something. Leaving it all is like literally throwing money away. Tell me why would you do that? WHY?
Even if you don't care about the money, surely it must make your brain itch to leave those bodies with the golden glow still around them? Don't you feel uncomfortably anxious if you haven't cleared every single marker that displays the loot locations? What do you mean no? It can't just be me who absolutely cannot leave a corpse unlooted, right?
3 I Might Need Those Random Items Later
Another feature of this kind of game that goes hand in hand with looting is of course crafting. Now, the thing about crafting is that it's very useful. Often you can make weapons, tools, armor and all kinds of enhancements and for this of course you need materials. So, yes, you've guessed it, that means collecting them.
Every piece of shiny ore, that plant by the path, the fruit on the tree, a stone, that nail, the candle you stole from a kobold... anything and everything you pick up could be used in a crafting recipe. Since the recipes themselves are often learned over time even if they can't be used now it doesn't mean they won't be useful soon.
So, I fill my bags to the brim with all these trinkets, hoping to one day forge them into some master weapon. Before you tell me that I won't need that pocket lint I've carried around since the tutorial zone... are you REALLY sure? Do you have every crafting recipe that exists in the game? I know I rarely get that far, and I just can't take the chance. What if the weapon upgrade I desperately need requires a broken tooth and I can't find one because I sold it for one copper? Or worse still, I THREW IT AWAY.
It's just not worth the risk. By the way, this game doesn't have an encumbrance mechanic, right?
2 You Never Know When There Will Be An Emergency
Adventuring is unpredictable and emergencies can occur at any time. This is why it's best to always be prepared by having a stash of emergency items on hand. Spare armor, some potions, a one-use talisman of power, enchantment materials, food that provides a range of buffs, etc...
You can never be too prepared. What if suddenly a huge and powerful enemy blocks your path? You'll need those health potions then.
Well, maybe. I mean it depends on the kind of powerful monster you face. What if it's only a kind of amber level emergency? I mean this enemy is pretty formidable, but my sword has 27 durability, and I've still got a sliver of health. If I can just down him in the next two seconds I won't need that potion and I can keep it for a REAL emergency.
See, he's dead now. I'm so glad I didn't use my emergency potion stash on this boss. I've got a whole two percent health left and everything. I'll just sit here and leisurely drink this water. Wait, why hasn't the music stopped? What do you mean phase two? How was I to...
1 Because I Like Having Stuff
I'm like a human magpie, ok? Or maybe just a terrible hoarder. Anyway, I don't care what you say. I like having stuff, and you can't take it from me. I TAKE Candle!