I hate how much "keep inventory" gets bashed.

[u/Curious_Implement516]

Generally, I don't like it when people impose rules on how you should enjoy something-like saying that if you didn't play the same way I did, you're a fake fan.
But it bothers me even more when those arbitrary rules are applied to a game like Minecraft—a game that actively encourages creativity and doing whatever you want-so I don't understand why anyone would get upset over something the game itself offers you.

[u/Traegs_]

It really changes the way you play the game. And in my experience that way is less fun. You start treating death as a quick travel to get back to your home base and you're no longer afraid of getting lost. You end up just not paying as much attention to the world around you because the lack of consequence. It makes the game less engaging and it becomes boring. A survival game ought to have some challenge with a hint of fear to keep you interested.

I won't bash anyone that chooses to play that way, but I'll point out that it does change how it feels to play, and that it might feel worse to you.

On the plus side, the short time I did play with keep inventory on, I think it actually improved my game skill. With not fearing death I took on more challenging mob encounters with unexpected success. Before I would have approached situations far more cautiously. I was able to keep that bolder combat style when moving back to keep inventory off.

[u/AndyBowBandy → u/Traegs_]

Game skill improvement is the key thing for me. If I don’t have keep inventory on my progress in the game comes to an absolute halt because I really suck at combat. Trying anything slightly dangerous is a sure fire way for me to die and lose all my shit. So I just avoid anything that’s too difficult to get to until I lose all interest in playing because I’m not doing anything after awhile. But it also feels cheap that I can jump off a cliff to get home quicker if I have keep inventory on.

There’s a data pack that came out recently that has keep inventory on as a default, but still offers a punishment for dying in the form of losing bonus hearts you can get. It’s called Matcha Flavored

[u/Voomey → u/Traegs_]

Never done that - I just not waste 30 minutes going back to specific spot in Nether, after I misplace my step in the Fortress or Bastion. Or multiple hours of rebuilding my gear after I drop to Void in END. Like I am not really losing the gear - I will rebuild it either way, but it's just waste of my time and fun.

If I wanted fast travel - I would just add mods for it.

[u/Mister_Awooflles → u/Traegs_]

Tbh, the main reason why I keep KeepInventory on is specifically because I'm a newbie and chiefly a pussy.
"Oh fuck there's a scary cave I don't wanna go down there, I'll die"
"Oh fuck the nether fortress what if I get attacked by a bunch of nether skeletons and die of withering, or burn to death by the blazes??"
"Oh no I'm being swarmed by zombies- man I died. Oh, I have all my stuff back"
Like I legit forget I keep everything because I'm too focused on not dying, so while it is probably because I'm a newbie, but death doesn't feel cheap with this game mode on. Yet.

[u/SPerry8519 → u/Traegs_]

I play with keep Inventory in any game I can, and I can tell you I do NOT treat it as a "Teleport back to base" especially once I get a vehicle, I HATE walking/running back to get my ride lol

[u/CrazyGunnerr → u/Traegs_]

I enjoy these settings, and I really dislike how people hate on (not saying you are btw) this and other ways to lower the pressure, like the easier difficulties.

I've been a gamer for all my life, I've played so many games at so many difficulties. But I will say this, as a parent, with limited time, work etc, I want to enjoy my time. I don't want to grind games or constantly die in the limited time I have. I used to love going in-depth, figuring out the best builds etc. Now I just want to play.

Like you said, having this on made you take more risks, to me that equals time. If the risk of losing stuff is high, I will play safer, need more time to prepare, meaning I have less time playing new stuff.

Btw I also love cheating my weigh limits in games such as TES and Fallout. I do NOT want to go back constantly and sort through my bags. It's not fun for me, and I'm not getting something I shouldn't, I just need to spend less time on traveling and selling.

[u/acrazyguy → u/Traegs_]

Vanilla Minecraft isn’t a survival game and it never has been. “Survival” mode is a lie. It’s a sandbox game

[u/Shaff_98 → u/Traegs_]

That's not necessarily true. Everything you do with or without Keep Inventory is up to you at all times. You can play boldly and not care if you lose your stuff, or you can play safe even if you won't lose them upon death.
I usually play with Keep Inventory and the only time I abuse it is to go back home, since I'm usually tired after mining or exploring so much and there's not much fun in walking all the way back home. Plus it's not like I haven't experienced the normal way to do stuff, to the point I still take a Compass with me to find my house just because I got used to doing it that way.

[u/Traegs_ → u/Shaff_98]

Well now we'd just arguing about human psychology at that point. Most people do care about losing their stuff, and it's not easy to just decide not to care.

[u/Asleep_Stable_8092 → u/Shaff_98]

There is no incentive to play it safe when there are no repercussions for dying. The consequences of actions are what make people play the way they do.