Iron Backpacks Best Backpacks

Note: In this section I am going to make a case for why Iron Backpacks is superior. However, you make the final decision; nobody's going to force you to download my mod, ultimately you can use whatever mod you like. I want to make it clear that plenty of other similar mod (e.g. Bagginses) are fantastic creations, and I am grateful they have been made and others have found enjoyment with them. Relatedly, if you want an alternative to Iron Backpacks, I’d recommend Wearable Backpacks; it’s a great and unique take on the concept. With all that being said, here's why I still think Iron Backpacks is currently the best backpack style mod around. :)

• Has way more functionality than simple pouches.

  • Yet can also still be used as basic pouches, as the entire upgrade system is optional, eclipsing the usefulness of other smaller backpacks-type mods.

• Accomplishes the basic tasks every portable storage mod must in a uniquely refined manner:

  • The ability to equip backpacks (further reducing inventory clutter, as well as looking nice and increasing immersion) is not present in many other similar mods.
  • More performance friendly. For example, consider the common restocking effect (you place down a torch and it is resupplied from torches in a backpack).
    • Every other mod I know of that has this effect (e.g. Bagginses and Forestry) uses a tick handler to do this. I opted to do it on an event based mechanism, so instead of every 1/20 of a second the game checking for a restock ability, my mod only tries to restock when an appropriate action occurs, such as you placing a block, eating a piece of food, or firing a bow. The admittable downside is that there are some corner cases I miss (such as the [semi-recently fixed][bbwintegration] integration with Better Builder's Wands), but the overall gain in reducing any performance drops is worth it (in my opinion).
  • Unified aesthetic theme. With help from others (which I am very grateful for) I'm extremely pleased to say that the mod looks great now; it has its own style while still fitting into vanilla aesthetics.

• Doesn't introduce feature creep, stays inside of its scope (portable inventory storage and item manipulation).

  • If you want to use something like Adventure Backpacks, feel free, but I personally feel that it is a bloated mod. Iron Backpacks will stay where it is in terms of power, so that it can be easily added to any modpack.

• Inherently modular, and at least somewhat balanced because of that (players have to pick and choose instead of getting it all).

  • For example, you must choose between more upgrade points or more raw storage when upgrading to iron tier, and then have to further choose which upgrades to apply on each pack.
  • Extremely configurable as well, to suit anyone's tastes.
    • For example, you can change the size of every backpack to be anywhere in the range of 1-9 rows of 9 or 11 slots (normal chest is 4 rows of 9 slots). I tried to include "fair" defaults, but that's super subjective, so I simply included extensive configurability (something you won't necessarily find in other backpack mods).
    • You can also disable the crafting recipe of any upgrade, and change the cost (and minimum tier of backpack) needed to apply them, or even minetweak their recipes if you want extra fine-tuned customization.

• Many nifty quality of life features

  • Ability to right click to directly open the backpacks. This sounds like a small tweak, but it is extremely useful.
  • Renaming ability by default.
  • Minor polish such as backpack opening sounds.

And vitally:

• Active development!
  • I'm hard at work trying to make the mod great for your enjoyment; I listen to your input.
  • In almost every case I close bug reports extremely quickly.
    • Necessary disclaimer: I am a busy human, and life gets in the way, so I cannot always work on the mod. However, when I have freetime and the option of working on the mod I typically do so.