Collapsable gains you room?

[Dunthor Warsmith]

Its a sentiment that seems repeated often - most reciently notable in the CE-related fix threads, with sentiments such as

Originally posted by Remi
Can't really afford to give up another bag and its inventory to keep doing all this at one sitting.

Originally posted by Kytelae
I don't have room for another container and need to be able to make CEs on the fly.

I've always stayed away from the collapsable containers *because* I don't have enough room for them. To use their no-rent containers, you have to permanently sacrifice a base slot - that base slot could instead be holding a permanent 10-slot bag, so that's 10 lost slots for medium- and long-term storage (and short-term storage too, if you're among the "never ever put something of value in a no rent container - if you do and it gets lost, don't look for sympathy" crowd).

For example, look at the mortar&pestle (ignoring the new UI for a moment).

-)If you have a collapsable M&P, you have 70 long term storage slots on your body (7*10slotContainers + 1item in base slot - 1 for collapsed kit). To use the collapsable M&P, you have to reduce the number of other items to 69 (70 - 1 for collapsed kit) (freeing the base slot), and then can use the kit as normal.

-)If you have a Black Marble M&P (10 giant slot, rentable), you have 80 long term storage slots on your body (8*10slotContainers). To use the Black Marble M&P, you have to reduce the number of items to 70 (clearing out the BMMP), then can use the kit as normal.

To me, it seems like the Black Marble puts you in an overall better situation than the collapsable - you have 9 more permanent storage slots, and one more variable slot for being able to use the M&P.

And if the new UI winds up eventually working for M&Ps for everyone, then you don't even need to clear out the BMMP to use it, letting you stay at 80full slots while tradeskilling - just like a world container.

The same argument can be made for collapsable vs deluxe sewing kits (although that one's far weaker since deluxe sewing kits can be very difficult to come by).

For the containers without a 10-slot equivalent (Mixing Bowl, Spit, Tacklebox, Fletching, JC) the argument is more muddled, since the losses of having them *all* on your person (-6 for mixing bowl, -4 spit, -4 tacklebox, -2 Fletching, -4 JC (planar)) outweigh the 10 lost slots of using the collapsable. However, some combinations do not (noticablely any two of the -4s, or the mixing bowl and one of the -4s, or the fletching kit and any one other), which presumably would be all that is needed on a frequent basis by a decent number of people.

I have enough space troubles that anything less than 80 slots seems to be too high of a cost. Yet a lot of people seem to love collapsable containers, even more than 10 slot permanent versions. So my question is, if you are very fond of the collapsable containers, what is it about them that appeals to you and makes them superior for you?

[Alectrys]

If you do more than one tradeskill on a regular basis, collapsibles are the only way to go.

Let's use just your personal inventory for example, saying that all your bank slots are completely full.

You have 8 available slots for a container. You can use 7 10 slots containers for storage, leaving one container space.

Now you want to fletch. You drag out your collapsible fletching kit, unfold it and it fits in that 8th slot.

Now you want to bake.

You destroy your collapsible fletching kit (this does NOT destroy the collapsed item which allows you to unfold another when needed) and you unfold your spit which now fits in that 8th slot.

Your recipe now needs a mixing bowl. Again, you destroy the collapsible spit, unfold a mixing bowl and use that same 8th slot.

If you didn't have the collapsed items, you'd have to buy a fletching kit, then sell it then buy a spit then sell it then buy a mixing bowl and sell it.

Alectrys

[keribubba]

First off, the collapsed conainers are no drop, not no rent. The whole point to having collapsible containers is so you can create the container on the fly, only when you need it. The other day I was making halas 10 lb meat pies. I needed a mixing bowl, but didn't have a collapsible one at the time. So I had to buy a mixing bowl every time I needed to make more of the fennel cream stuff. This tied me down to having to run back to the vendor to buy it every time I needed to use a mixing bowl. I have maybe 4 empty backpacks in the bank, and those fill up quickly when prepping a bunch of tradeskill combines, so there's no way I could afford the space of another container. I did just make a surefall fletching kit, and that's going to hurt in the space department. If you store a bunch of stuff in a container, and you need the container, then we're are you going to put the stuff? I'm not going to have room for a bag full of crap since I;m going to be prepping 200 halas 10 lb combines, no point to do comibines unless in bulk.

You can also just summon a sewing kit if you need another container when hunting or what not, since the collapsed conatiners are not no rent.

PS Deluxe sewing kits are worhless IMO, just use a collapsible sewing kit for 99% of the time, then use a loom for the very rare time when you need 10 slots.

[Arghargh]

I'm a fan of collapsible containers because it gives me a more flexibility. I can summon those smaller containers when I need them. If I really need another 10 slot bag in that slot, I'll summon a weight reducing one with a tradeskill trophy. Sure, its no rent, but that is a minor problem at most.

Arghargh Grumble, Darkblood
65 Ogre Shaman of Rallos Zek

200 Alchemy
250 Baking
250 Blacksmithing
250 Brewing
200 Fishing
200 Fletching
200 Jewelry
200 Pottery
184 Tailoring

[Moraganth]

I almost never carry 8 conatiners anyway. I carry 7... 2 lemmings (for food, drink, components, misc specialty items), 4 tinks, and my gm satchel. I acctually do this because that leaves me a slot open for any misc containers i might happen to need for some reason.

As far as space, the only time i fill all that up (other than vendor mining /sigh) is when i'm farming some non-stackable items (like acrylia for example). In those times, i can simply summon a no-rent gm bag, and be gtg with the extra 10 slots. The 2 bag slots take um by my collapsible sewing kit and mortar don't really add up to a problem, as i usually get so bored farming before i fill up that i don't get to the point of needing those 2 slots.

Conversly (going with the acrylia exampl), i can have a summoned mortar in that 1 open slot to convert all the stuff into ce's i get, until i absolutly need more acrylia room.

I use those 2 containers much much more often than i fill 100% of my slots out in the field... so it's pure convinience

[Arrica]

As a ranger, I actually made the decision to sacrifice one of my bank slots for the purpose of Collapsibles, as I already have one base inventory slot devoted to my Quiver (and, no, I won't EVER get rid of it: go-go bow haste). While I lose the potential of 10 slots of storage in my bank, when I want to use one of my collapsibles, I simply place my quiver in that empty bank slot, thus freeing an inventory space, as well as I can put the collapsed version back in the bank.

[Ixiola]

Even better, when you get a trophy for your chosen tradeskill, this will be even more useful. Keep one free slot on your person. Summon whatever collapsable container you need. Keep that on you if you need a bag that you don't want to worry about poofing when you log, or leave the slot empty for ease of drinking a potion or using a mod rod. When you need extra space or the weight reduction, summon an extra 100% no rent bag in place of your collapsable. It's extremely flexible.

Of course, I make the things, so I AM biased.

Oddly, the only collapsible I don't make for myself is a toolbox (for tinkering), because I want to be able to make clockwork observer armor without a lot of fuss (need those extra slots).

[Krazick]

If you practice only one tradeskill (exclude smithing, brewing and pottery which can only use STATIONARY Containers... provided we ignore the glazes from the glaze mortar which is a pottery skill).. then collapsible containers are NOT for you.

If you do Baking, Fletching, Jewelcrafting, Tailoring, Poison Making (Rogues), Fishing, Alchemy (Shamans), Tinkering (Gnomes) - and you do more than one of these... Tradeskill containers save you space for the reasons already described.

What I have recently found annoying with GoD is the Breakdown of Communications Quest. Found the guy that starts of the quest... chatted with him... and he hands me a quest container. OK... I take a look at it... it is only 4 Slot, (either SMALL or TINY not sure). And it weighs 10.0!. For a Monk might as well anchor him to the ground.

Sigh...Part of the conversation he mentions other folks to talk to... I found one... chatted that that NPC... and recieved ANOTHER quest container...

I personally don't mind Quest Containers... but when one quest chains starts dumping 2+ containers that are too small... and weigh too much... I start to question why even try to do the quest?

OK... ok... they want to cut down on the MQing... fine... Give me a TOKEN when I start the quest. That when I examine gives me the discussion back (in book form or something). It can list the items I need to be seeking...or the NPCs I am seeking. Maybe even have it keep a running tally of what steps I have completed. When I get ready to complete a step of the quest, give the token back to the NPC, he/she gives me the quest container. I put the items into it... do the combine... and return it.

This helps me by documenting what I need to do, what I have done so far (or items I have collected so far), and prevents MQing. It doesn't load me down with stuff.

[Dunthor Warsmith]

Originally posted by keribubba
First off, the collapsed conainers are no drop, not no rent.

I would've sworn they were No Rent ... but doing a quick search, you're right, they are Rentable. That certainly does help a bit and change a bit of the math around ... hmm

[Kytelae]

it's all about flexibility. You can summon a M&P to make CEs, kill it and summon a tacklebox to make Blessed Fishing Rods, kill that and summon a mixing bowl to do a bit of baking... that's how I spend my game time...

Like many here I carry seven containers (haversacks, deluxe sewing kit, vale kit, rallic pack), and keep one upper inventory spot open to use for potions, eating forages, and for dropping in whatever tradeskill kit I need at the moment. And if I need a few extra slots, I can always summon a box to hold a few things (don't have my needle yet ). So it might not be obvious, but it's a huge convenience for tradeskillers.

[Zyrtryx Conjureblade]

They especially come in handy when doing Baking.

I'm a Magician, so I have to keep one slot open for right-click summoned items, anyway, so its no big deal to me.

But let me put it this way:

If you bake on the fly, and not just when you're in a city, which would you rather do: Waste two spaces on a regular mixing bowl and spit, or use collapsed versions of both?

Having collapsed versions of both also frees up bank space for more bags, since you don't have to sock a regular spit and mixing bowl away when they're not being used.

(I also have a collapsed tacklebox)

[Drawde]

One thing to consider, if you're using the new UI. if you're actually USING that, instead of the old UI, you can have the container you're combining with full of whatever you want, and still do the combine. The new UI only checks your inventory for the items for the combine, not where any items are, including in itself.

[eqNichola]

As a night-blind human, I have made it a policy since oooh about level 13 (which believe me was a Looooong time ago ) to always have 1 general inventory slot devoted to a Greater Lightstone. Even after I acquired a clicky (and later a permanent) Ultravision item, I find that EQ's delightful lighting engine means it's still useful to carry a strong point-source of light on me. Plus it means I have a handy place to put clickies. And collapsible containers. And temporary quest containers. And so on.

[ColdHeart]

Personally I have 4 bags and 4 free slots on me at the start of the day.

A bag for food, stodge food, misc utility items (like a Thurg Gate potion).
A bearskin Bag (Yes I know I don't need it, but I made it all those years ago that it's become part of the furniture so to speak). In which I keep small random items I pick up.
GM Bag which I keep spare weapons (Am I tanking, DPS, Stunning, Practising 2HB...).
Rallos Pack in which I keep 5 Collapsables.

Now, if I am not looting, I can keep my stodge food outside a bag for easy eating.
If I am about to do some TSing, I can summon as many GM Satchels as I need and summon what ever containers I need.

I have options because I have 4 free slots on me. My bank is near enough full and definately no more room for containers. Using Collapsables are the way forward.

[Tinile]

If you are carrying around 8 bags normally, I would seriously rethink that. There used to be very nice loot that would only fit in normal inventory (remember that weapon guys, I can't think of the name), if they did that faux pau again, you wouldn't be able to loot the item.

During raids my open slot is for mod rods or other quick clickies. Same for exp grouping. I love my phylactery, and when I exp, it sits in my 8th slot. There have been times I've had 8 bags and couldn't use my clicky fast enough, hunting it down each time was a pain.

When I tradeskill, I use the needed container for the skill or I click my trophy for extra room, if smithing.

7 bags, IMO is plenty. Flexibility of the 8th slot is essential. Ever have a friend ask you to hold a bag for a bit??