Hello all,
So my PF group is going to try the playtest AP pretty soon, and I decided to build an Alchemist for my first character. It was during character creation that I realized that the game doesn't seem to address how things like backpacks work. So it reads, "A backpack can hold up to 4 Bulk worth of items. If you are carrying or stowing a backpack rather than wearing it on your back, it has light Bulk instead of negligible." After checking the forums, most people agree that it doesn't increase your bulk, but merely acts as a means to hold your gear. But the question I have is whether there is anything in the game that requires it? Now one could argue that it's common sense that you'd need a container to carry your things, but I suppose my question is at what point? Like, one presumably has pockets, right? How much could those hold?
If I wanted to build a character (who is carrying an adventurer's worth of gear) but didn't have a backpack, belt pouch, satchel, etc. is there any actual mechanical effect? And frankly speaking, using a backpack is an objectively worse option than just storing your things in your "pockets" since "Retrieving an item stowed in your own backpack requires detaching the backpack first with a separate Interact action." So unless your GM is houseruling it for common sense sake, why would anyone wear a backpack?