Does this backpack look medieval?

[talysman]

I do a lot of my own illustrations for PDFs and RPG resources I release on my blog. Since I'm not the greatest at freehand drawing but I'm better at 3d modeling, I do some of the elements in my illustrations as models first, then export the image and retouch it in Inkscape and/or GIMP.

So lately, I've been making a bunch of props. Just did a backpack and belt pouch, but I'm worried that the backpack may look a bit too modern. Does this look medieval enough?

[Desparil]

Neat! I think if you could apply some sort of texture that makes it appear rough and/or wrinkly that would go a long way toward making it look more like a real old-fashioned backpack. Also, I imagine the most likely means of opening/closing it would be a loose flap with buttons or clasps, so adding something like that might help too.

[angantyr]

Looks semi-medieval. The only references I was able to find to non-modern or near modern back packs was for the one found with Ötzi, the 5300 year old mummy found in the Alps. Attached are some pix of reconstructions based on the remains

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[countingwizard]

I think the pack portion has too much rigid structure to it (especially the top part), and the way it bulges out makes it look like a carry-on.

[captainjapan]

A backpack like we think of would have been uncommon in medieval times. You might try to model a backpack frame, instead. Anything and everything could be lashed to it( a bedroll, a stool, a chest, a basket. Here is cosplay from Monty Python:

images.app.goo.gl/RHebby843EGRNGby6

What we would think of as a messenger bag may have been even more common.

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[DungeonDevil]

A backpack isn't complete without coconuts!

[rsdean]

Sept 4, 2019 11:39:24 GMT -6 captainjapan said:

What we would think of as a messenger bag may have been even more common.

+1 on that; the OP might google medieval pilgrims, or medieval pilgrim scrips ...

[aldarron]

No, and generally speaking backpacks are an anachronism in D&D. Typically in a medieval setting you would have baskets with straps, sacks, bindles and such. The closest to a backpack is a pannier - basically a bag with a flap closure attached to a frame - like the pics angantyr showed.

But is it really important to you to have an authentic medieval look? D&D is fantasy so anachronism abound.

[DungeonDevil]

I was always puzzled by backpacks (rucksacks as we used to call them) in D&D, frankly. I'm surprised that fannypacks haven't made their way into the fantasy genre. I wonder if anyone has published a humorous RPG where the name of the game is outrageous anachronisms:

"I send a text message to Thor asking for divine powerz!....Blast! His inbox is full!"
"Do the Caverns of Chaos have a Starbucks?"

[Desparil]

Sept 7, 2019 18:54:33 GMT -6 DungeonDevil said:

I was always puzzled by backpacks (rucksacks as we used to call them) in D&D, frankly. I'm surprised that fannypacks haven't made their way into the fantasy genre. I wonder if anyone has published a humorous RPG where the name of the game is outrageous anachronisms:

"I send a text message to Thor asking for divine powerz!....Blast! His inbox is full!"
"Do the Caverns of Chaos have a Starbucks?"

I mean, a fanny pack is just a large belt pouch that comes with its own mini-belt. I bet Thor would drive a Tesla, he's his very own supercharger station.

[talysman]

Sept 4, 2019 11:18:36 GMT -6 countingwizard said:

I think the pack portion has too much rigid structure to it (especially the top part), and the way it bulges out makes it look like a carry-on.

This is the main thing I was worried about. This is supposed to be a wooden frame with a large sack secured within it, but making realistic-looking soft bodied objects like sacks in SketchUp is very hard.

Changing the texture (as Desparil suggests) is not hard. I have several custom textures I've made already to maintain a sketchy feel, included a couple speckled textures in various shades. You can see an example on the the ends of the haybales in this pic.



Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions. Some other friends have suggested that the poles that make up the frame should be more prominent and should be tied together, with leather straps, for example. This would be very hard to model, but I may have some ideas on how to do it. Or I could just add it in by hand later in Inkscape.

[talysman]

Update: Here's another bag. As you can see, it still looks very rigid. But I did get some practice in on carrying straps.



One option would be to add a "lip" to the "bag" and switch the texture to the one I use for thatch, to make it look like a woven basket. Good idea?

[Punkrabbitt]

This, I believe, is pretty much the end of the discussion o.0

Sept 4, 2019 10:29:05 GMT -6 angantyr said:

Looks semi-medieval. The only references I was able to find to non-modern or near modern back packs was for the one found with Ötzi, the 5300 year old mummy found in the Alps. Attached are some pix of reconstructions based on the remains

[Punkrabbitt]

Piper, I was meaning to be slightly humorous there

[Punkrabbitt]

Sept 17, 2019 19:08:46 GMT -6 Piper said:

I was, too. Sorry if that didn't come through on my post. It's hard to type in a jocular tone!

Truly, no offense was offered and I took none from your post.

I thought it was all good I just wanted to make sure lol