Automatic Item Reloading: Enhancing Combat and Crafting Flow

[RobinHood]

Automatic Item Reloading: Enhancing Combat and Crafting Flow
Feature Concept
Automatic Reload of Identical Items from Inventory – A quality-of-life improvement that maintains gameplay immersion and tactical flow.
The Current Challenge
When using throwable items like Copper Spears in Vintage Story, players must manually select a replacement from their inventory after each throw. This creates unnecessary interruptions during critical moments in combat or hunting scenarios.
Proposed Solution
Implement an automatic reloading system that instantly replaces thrown or consumed items with identical ones from the player's inventory.
Core Functionality

When a throwable item (e.g., Copper Spear) leaves the hotbar slot, the system automatically fills the empty slot with an identical item from the inventory
Only activates when matching items are available in inventory
Preserves the current slot position for seamless gameplay continuation

Implementation Options

Base Feature: Automatic replacement with identical items only
Extended Feature: Configurable system with options to:

Replace with identical items only (default)
Replace with similar items (e.g., Copper Spears replaced by Bronze Spears when Copper Spears are depleted)
Disable automatic reloading entirely

 

Expanded Applications
This system would benefit multiple gameplay scenarios:

Combat: Maintain focus during encounters with predators or hostile entities
Hunting: Chain multiple throws without interruption when tracking prey
Construction: Place multiple identical blocks continuously without inventory management
Resource Management: Stack firewood or other consumables efficiently

Player Benefits

Reduces tedious inventory management during intense activities
Maintains immersion by eliminating unnecessary menu interactions
Preserves tactical advantage during time-sensitive situations
Streamlines repetitive tasks across various gameplay activities

This feature would significantly improve the gameplay experience while maintaining Vintage Story's commitment to immersive, deliberate gameplay.

[Thorfinn]

Copper spears don't do that at present? Huh. Flint and basic stone ones do.

But the rest, I agree. Nice QoL. Might be worth running Xandu's Inventory Tweaks just for that feature.

[Facethief]

IIRC, all tools already have this functionality. I know for a fact that this occurs with pro- and regular picks, alongside spears, so this suggestion strikes me as odd.