Confused by Inventory management in Arena mode

[turkey2002]

So, is it just me or is it kind of really confusing and clunky?

I get that for each rank (Inept, Adept, etc.) you can assign a specific set of equipment.

However, I don't understand the two inventory boxes on the left panel:

It seems that equipped items go into the "Other Items" by default.

If I want them to show up in the shop, or equip them in the Arena Lobby, I have to put them in the "Inventory" box.

When I'm in the Arena Lobby, none of my assigned equipment sets apply, and I am naked, until I mess around with the items per the inventory boxes above, and re-equip everything while in the Arena Lobby.

While trying to rank up in the arena, it seems I have to maintain different sets of equipment per rank, so I can participate in a variety of battles.

Between the different Rank-equipment sets, the Arena Lobby equipment, what I'm wearing in specific situations, and what's in the left panel inventory boxes, it's really hard to keep track of all the layered clothing that I'm wearing, especially if I'm trying to compare stats in the Shop, or testing different equipment combinations per Rank.

With the way the items are represented in the inventory screen and on the character portrait, it's quite a challenge to keep track of it all or swap items out, especially the ones under multiple layers.

How do you all mange it without going crazy?

[Arthur]

As far as I understood from your post there are two main things that confuse you: inventory boxes and determining what character is wearing (how many layers), right? I'll try to explain both for you.

As you already pointed out correctly, each rank has to be equipped separately so that you (manager), your recruits or hirelings won't come to a fight naked and with no weapons. Now, those two boxes only make a difference when you're on your manager screen. Put items you want to sell or wear in arena hub in the "inventory" box, that's pretty much it. If you're gearing up your fighter for a specific rank those boxes have same purpose and items can be freely moved from one to another and vice versa. Use them for storage and better organisation of itmes your fighter has.

Currently there is no way to see how much gear character is wearing under his outer layer if it covers body part completely as well as inner layer, so you have to either memorise what did you equip or take off some clothing or armour to see what else you have underneath it.

I hope I answered your questions, but if there is still some misunderstanding please let me know and I'll try to explain it further.

[gribelo]

Yes, this system is confusing and clunky no doubt. Not really gamebreaking but somewhat frustrating. Not the best inventory I saw in 30 years of gaming.

[turkey2002]

Alternative ways I think that might help, if the devs are open to suggestions:

1) Visual indicator if an item in the inventory box is equipped or not. Like a check mark or highlight or something.

2) Alternatively, have a different inventory box for equipped items only. Items that are not equipped should not be mixed with equipped items in the same inventory box. (this goes for every character inventory screen for the different ranks/modes)

3) Alternatively, remove equipped items from the inventory panels (e.g. only show them on the character portrait). That way, the player can distinguish which items are unequipped, and equipped items are intuitively on the character portrait only. (I don't like this option as much, since it'll be hard to find or examine layers of armor underneath, though)


Any of these approaches or some hybrid thereof I think would significantly improve the current inventory UI experience.

Anyway, looking forward to the next update!

[Cake for Mumm-Ra]

I could be wrong, but I think this part of the game is a bit buggy. I haven't been able to consistently reproduce errors, so I haven't reported it, but I've shown up to novice level fights with no weapons, totally naked, and with the wrong weapon equipped. I've made sure to equip the right weapons/armor for the tier I intend to fight in.

Recently, for example, I sent a Novice out with a shield and a dagger. This character also had a warhammer (whatever the novice tier 1h hammer is) in one of the inventory boxes because I use it sometimes. In the first fight, he used the hammer but a low tier shield. Back to lobby, no changes to equipment, select another novice level duel. This time he comes out with a dagger but with the novice level shield. And the other weapon is not in the inventory box while in the arena.

It's possible that I mistakenly selected a challenger fight instead one of those duels, but I don't think I did. But even then why would my equipment change?

[gribelo]

Originally posted by Serenity'01:

Alternative ways I think that might help, if the devs are open to suggestions:

1) Visual indicator if an item in the inventory box is equipped or not. Like a check mark or highlight or something.

2) Alternatively, have a different inventory box for equipped items only. Items that are not equipped should not be mixed with equipped items in the same inventory box. (this goes for every character inventory screen for the different ranks/modes)

3) Alternatively, remove equipped items from the inventory panels (e.g. only show them on the character portrait). That way, the player can distinguish which items are unequipped, and equipped items are intuitively on the character portrait only. (I don't like this option as much, since it'll be hard to find or examine layers of armor underneath, though)


Any of these approaches or some hybrid thereof I think would significantly improve the current inventory UI experience.

Anyway, looking forward to the next update!

Yes, first and third ideas might help. Developers should really look into this.