Class-Based Inventory System

Class-Based Inventory System

Hey everyone!

Thank you for all the feedback since launch! A week ago we added chest swapping to let you store and retrieve items from chests and shops. Today, we're building on that foundation with a class-based inventory system that adds strategic depth while keeping Petmancer streamlined and accessible.

What's New: Limited Inventory Slots

Each character class now has up to 4 total slots per equipment type (weapons, armor, shields, and spells). That's your equipped item plus stored items. The number of slots depends on your class and reflects their strengths:

• Barbarians get 3 weapon slots: carry multiple weapons and switch between different combat styles

• Mages get 3 spell slots: build a versatile arsenal of magic

• Rangers get balanced slots across all equipment types: swap between ranged and melee as the situation demands

• And each of the other 14 classes has its own unique allocation

Classes can only carry equipment they can actually use, so some classes have 0 slots for certain types (Barbarians can't carry spells, Shapeshifters can't wear armor, etc.).

This design also provides a gradual ramp up. Players can pretty much ignore the inventory system and play the same as before, and add more depth to gameplay when they choose to engage with inventory.

How It Works

When you find new equipment, you'll see three options:

• Keep: stick with what you have equipped

• AddedEquipuse the new item right away, and store the current item in your inventory

• Store: save it in your inventory for later

You can swap between equipped and stored items anytime from the character screen. For quick access, you can also:

• Touchscreen/Gamepad: Long-press the weapon/spell/armor buttons

• Keyboard: Use hotkeys (default: 1, 2, 3. Configurable in Settings)

When your inventory is full, you'll be prompted to choose which item to discard, sell, or place in a chest to make room for the new one.

New: Tavern Chest

Between dungeons, you can now use the Tavern Chest to transfer physical equipment (weapons, armor, shields) between your different characters. Found a great sword on your Mage? Store it in the Tavern Chest and pick it up with your Barbarian on the next run!

Gameplay Impact & Balance Changes

This update significantly changes how some classes play, and I'd love your feedback on the balance:

Spellcasters (e.g. Mage, Summoner, Djinn) get the biggest boost. With multiple spell slots, you can now:

• Switch between spells and use them while waiting for cooldowns

• Keep your spellcaster contributing almost every turn from the back line

• Make interesting strategic choices about which spells to carry

Versatile classes (Ranger, Mercenary) can now adapt mid-dungeon:

• Carry both ranged and melee weapons

• Switch tactics when your front line goes down

• Respond to different enemy types more effectively

Specialized classes still excel at what they do best, but now with more tactical options within their niche.

This is a significant power increase for some classes, especially spellcasters, but it also adds meaningful strategic decisions and reduces downtime waiting for cooldowns. Let me know how it feels in practice!

Why Limited Slots?

Petmancer is designed around meaningful choices: we want every decision to matter. Unlimited inventory could turn the game into a hoarding simulator and remove focus on the primary gameplay.

With up to 4 slots per type, you get flexibility to experiment and swap between favorite items, but you still need to make strategic decisions about what's worth carrying. It's the best of both worlds: casual-friendly simplicity with room for tactical depth.