Freth's Storage Method: How I maximize storage in Wurm Unlimited
It is important that you learn how to store items efficiently, to maximize what you can carry in your vehicles and what you can store at your settlement.
This page goes into detail concerning storage, or you can read the quickstart.
You can hold SHIFT-ENTER while dragging and dropping to bypass the number of items pop-up window. The window still appears for a fraction of a second, but it closes immediately and moves the items.
NOTE: I have not made a complete container table because Wurmpedia already has one. If at some point that site goes I have a backup of the info and will post it here.
Inventory containers hold a maximum of 100 items. Examples of inventory containers:
| Container | Storage | Use | Expand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character Inventory | 100 items, weight and body strength are factors | Items | N/A |
| Backpack | 100 items | Items | Holds larger items |
| Satchel | 100 items | Items | Holds larger items |
| Quiver | 40 items | Arrows | Holds more arrows |
| Large Storage Unit (LSU) | 3 containers, 100 larger items each | Items | Holds larger items |
| Coffer | 100 items | Items | Holds larger items |
| Cupboard | 100 items (except logs, fishing poles) | Items | Holds larger items |
| Small Chest | 100 items; holds smaller volume items | Items | Holds smaller items |
| Large Chest | 100 items; holds larger volume items (cannot hold long bow, fishing rod, barding or cauldron; see Expand) | Items | Holds larger items |
| Small Magical Chest | 100 items (no item decay); holds larger volume items (cannot hold long bow, fishing rod, barding or cauldron; see Expand) | Items | Holds smaller items |
| Large Magical Chest | 100 items (no decay); holds large chest larger volume items | Items | Holds larger items |
| Coffin | 100 items; holds larger volume items than the large chest | Items | Hold Larger Items |
| Larder | Several shelves, 100 items each | Cooked meals (shelf), snowballs (icebox) | Hold larger meals |
Unless designed for a specific storage purpose, most general purpose containers are 100 item containers that can hold any item. Certain items cannot fit in certain containers because of their size.
Items like tools, armor, weapons and miscellaneous objects are unique items. Unique items are stored in containers like small and large chests, large storage units, coffins, coffers and cupboards.
If an inventory container has one or more large volume items in it, the number of items it can hold may be reduced due to the space that is being taken up by the large volume items.
Some containers have a larger volume capacity than others. For instance, you can't put a barding (horse armor) in a large chest, but it will fit in a coffin.
The expand enchant can increase the volume capacity of an item based container.
NOTE: Crates are item based storage containers. They can store resources, but cannot store unique items. They are best used for high volume to medium volume resources and crafted build materials.
| Container | Storage | Use | Expand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Crate | 150 items | High and medium volume resources and crafted build materials (logs, shard, ore, sand, dirt, slab, wooden beam, support beam), and raw foods | Holds larger items |
| Large Crate | 300 items | High and medium volume resources and crafted build materials (logs, shard, ore, sand, dirt, slab, wooden beam, support beam), and raw foods | Holds larger items |
Crates and bulk containers can be set to “sorted” or “unsorted”.
Bulk storage containers are volume based containers. Note that volume and kg are two different things. Volume based containers hold up to 16k volume and are best for storing low to medium volume resources, crafted build materials, and raw foods. Liquid container volume varies by the size of the container.
The expand enchantment can increase the volume capacity of a volume based container.
| Container | Storage | Use | Expand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk Storage Bin (BSB) | 16k volume | Low and medium volume resources and crafted build materials | Expands volume |
| Food Storage Bin (FSB) | 16k volume | Raw foods only | Expands volume |
TIP: To determine the volume of an item, drop it in an empty bulk storage container and look at the volume column, or reference the Volume page.
| Mass Storage Container | Storage | Items | Expand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crate Rack | Holds 30 large crates at 300 items each | ← | Holds up to 100 large crates |
| Bulk Container Unit (BCU) | Has 4 BSB's at 16k volume each | If the unit itself is expanded (not BSB containers inside) it can hold 100 items in its main container | Expands BCU main container, holds larger items, BSB's inside can be expanded but you must use a bind to do it |
| Rack for Empty BSB's | Holds 30 empty BSB's | Empty BSB's only | Up to 100 empty BSB's |
| Huge Oil Barrel | Holds 2250kg of liquid | N/A | TBD |
| Huge Tub | Holds 2250kg of liquid | Can hold 260-277kg of cotton, haven't tested other items | TBD |
There are many liquid containers. Here are some examples:
| Container | Storage |
|---|---|
| Measuring Jug | settable from 1g to 10kg |
| Reed Pen | .2kg |
| Flash | .25kg |
| Beer Stein | 1kg |
| Pottery Jar | 2kg |
| Water Skin | 2.5kg |
| Pottery Bowl | 9kg |
| Small Bucket | 12kg |
| Small Barrel | 45kg |
| Cauldron | 64kg |
| Large Barrel | 250kg |
| Small Pottery Amphora | 112kg |
| Large Pottery Amphora | 275kg |
| Huge Tub | 2250kg |
Liquid containers can hold dry items as well.
Inventory containers and their contents are subject to decay and need to be repaired frequently. When an inventory container decays away completely the items in the container will fall on the ground.
Resources and crafted build materials are best stored in crates and bulk storage containers where they are kept indefinitely without decay. The containers themselves decay, but the contents inside do not. However, if these containers are left long enough, especially off deed, decay sets in for the container and items slowly disappear until the container is empty. The container will eventually decay away and disappear and any remaining items are destroyed.
Only a few containers keep items from decaying. Note that some items do not decay, like unfermented moonshine.
TIP: Store items in a mine. They will decay at a slower rate.
What follows is my storage method. Yours may vary.
How you store things is going to depend on the size of your settlement; how much room you have. The more space you have, the more detailed you can get with sorting your items.
This is a minimal solution that I use for basic needs when first starting out. Once established, I expand storage, which I'll show in the next section (Main Storage).
Note that medium storage is either/or.
Crates (as needed):
Four BSB's:
Large Chests and Coffins as needed.
This is my configuration for a settlement.
I create a location I call main storage. Main storage is what I use when I'm not crafting at length and need something. I like to have most items on hand for quick access.
I sort my items by volume and put them in the appropriate containers. For instance, if I were to put logs into a BSB the container is going to fill up quickly because logs are a high volume item and BSB's are based on volume. This is why I store high volume items in crates.
High volume storage consists of crate racks containing large crates that store high to medium volume items. The crate racks are named after the item they contain.
I also have an empties crate rack.
Low volume storage consists of 5 bulk container units that store low to medium volume items. The bulk container units are named after the items they contain.
My 5 main storage BCU's:
* Sand is a high volume resource, but I store it in both bulk containers and large crates. The large crates (in crate racks) being the overage/backup storage and the bulk containers in main storage and at crafting stations.
I may also have a Misc container for items that don't go anywhere else. Anything that doesn't fit in these goes into dispersed and backup storage (more on that below). Overage of the above will be put in BCU's or crates (volume depending) in backup storage.
You can fit 300 items of 53.33 volume in a BSB (16k volume; unexpanded), but that is a poor use of a BSB if you consider it can hold thousands upon thousands of items. You then must decide what medium volume is for yourself and whether certain items should go in a crate or a bulk container. You may choose to do both (as per my sand note above).
When you start to think about the mass storage containers, the crate rack and the bulk container unit, and factor in the expand enchant which greatly increases the capacity of both, the numbers suddenly don't matter as much as you progress.
BSB's have a volume column. If you put 1 item in an empty BSB container you can see its volume value.
What I did was look at the items that fill up a BSB quickly and classified them as high volume items, because I don't want my BSB's to fill up too quickly.
I then looked at the items I could fit most efficiently in the BSB and classified them as low volume items.
This led me to decide that the medium volume number for me is somewhere between 5 and 15. Items above 15 volume I put in crates. Items below 5 I put in BSB's. Items between 5 and 15 I decide on a case by case basis, depending on my needs, the containers I'm using, and whether or not they are expanded.
Ultimately, it's up to you what you consider to be high volume, medium volume and low volume.
I made a Volume page that lists the volume of items that fit in a bulk container.
While I do keep items at my main storage, the bulk of my storage is actually at crafting stations.
Examples:
It is beneficial to free up your main storage of certain items, so your main storage can have a smaller footprint.
Backup storage is where I sort items for long-term mass storage. The backup storage location consists of a larger number of crate racks and bulk container units, as well as large storage units for unique items.
Crate racks in backup storage follow the same concept as main storage. They are named for the items they contain. I add more as needed, but keep them separated.
Backup storage expands the main storage concept by separating the items into their own BSB's. I add more BCU's as I need them. I also expand individual BSB's; for instance, cotton takes up a lot of room, so I end up expanding cotton early on.
My 19 backup storage BCU's:
Food storage bins hold huge amounts of items. It is difficult to fill one up. Still, I like to keep meat, vegetables, fruits and herbs in separate bins.
At some locations I separate the items into individual bins as follows.
I store food at crafting locations and overage at backup storage.
I store liquids at various locations where they are used, like the kitchen, the lye station and the distillery. Depending on the size and needs of the settlement, I may have liquid storage at main storage as well. All overage is stored in backup storage.
Unique items are items like tools, armor, weapons, clothing and miscellaneous small objects that fit into chests and large storage units. I store these where they are most likely to be found, like the forge area, or in my home. All overage is stored in backup storage. I also sell overage items on my merchants.
Large items like statues and furniture are usually stored in a large empty mine room for longevity (i.e. backup storage). Items in mines decay at a lower rate. I go through frequently and repair the items. They also make great skill gain for new citizens looking to skill up in mind logic so they can drive a large cart.
These are just examples of how you can feed your own brand of OCD. Store things how you want.