D&D 5E (2014) Haversack is rare?

Yardiff · Mar 26, 2020

Why is the Handy Haversack a rare magic item in 5e? It takes the same action to retrieve an item from the Bag of Holding, which is an uncommon magic item, as it does from the Haversack and the Bag holds a lot more.

Dausuul · Mar 26, 2020

I suppose it's because the Haversack puts the wanted item on top? Maybe the intent is that when you retrieve an item from the Bag, you get a random item, and you have to dig through the whole bag to be sure of finding what you want...

...yeah, I know, I'm reaching here. Reading the rules for the Bag in isolation, the obvious conclusion is that you get the item you want with 1 action.

The only other advantage I can see for the Haversack is that it weighs 5 pounds instead of 15. Since the whole point of such items is to save weight, that does matter. But 10 pounds is not enough to justify a whole rarity level IMO, especially given the Bag's superior capacity. Maybe if the Bag were 25 or 30 pounds, it'd be worth it.

Mistwell · Mar 26, 2020

Because it's handy?

Len · Mar 26, 2020

The Handy Haversack has another advantage: it's a haversack. You can carry it without using a hand and you don't have to drop it to use both hands for combat.

DND_Reborn · Mar 26, 2020

The haversack also only weighs 5 lbs, whereas the Bag of Holding always weighs 15 lbs, even when empty.

Theo R Cwithin · Mar 26, 2020

I think it's really just a question of stylishness.

Dausuul · Mar 26, 2020

Thinking about it, I would be inclined to house rule that retrieving an item from the Haversack is your free object interaction rather than a full action. That would fit the "wanted item on top" flavor and would also be a solid reason to prefer the Haversack.

Charlaquin · Mar 26, 2020

Dausuul said:
Thinking about it, I would be inclined to house rule that retrieving an item from the Haversack is your free object interaction rather than a full action. That would fit the "wanted item on top" flavor and would also be a solid reason to prefer the Haversack.

That’s what I’d do.

Really, the reason haversack is rare and bag is uncommon is just tradition. Those are the rarities they’ve been at in past editions, and in those past editions the item you want being on top has had a bigger impact. 5e’s more streamlined action economy eliminated the reason for the two items to be different rarities, but the rarities weren’t changed. Either reducing the haversack to uncommon or letting you get your item as an interaction are the best fixes IMO.

Paul Farquhar · Mar 26, 2020

"Rarity" isn't directly linked to the power of items - this isn't Diablo. The haversack is rare because it is made by Heward, whereas bags of holding are unbranded. This is most obvious if you compare a Ring of Resistance (rare) to things like Boots of the Winterlands and Brooch of Shielding (uncommon).

Lanefan · Mar 26, 2020

In my gaming life I've seen exactly one (1) Heward's Haversack in play, and have DMed none; but I've seen maybe fifteen Bags of Holding go by.

That said, as it's one of my currently-active PCs who owns said Haversack I ain't complaining.