How do I save a players gears/inventory when they leave?

Problem

Unfortunately, DataStores cannot compile instances. Meaning you can't directly save the gear objects themselves.

Workaround

But, there is a workaround. You can save a table full of the names of each gear they own. Then, upon joining, you can iterate through this table and clone the respective tools back into their Backpack.

Steps

• Before anything else, place all the possible tools in a folder in ServerStorage. This makes it so they are easily accessible.

• You need to setup the DataStore. This is done using the GetDataStore function of DataStoreService.

• Specify the PlayerAdded and PlayerRemoved events. Check and load the data when they join, and collect and save the data as they leave.

Code

--Setup the DataStore
local ds = game:GetService("DataStoreService"):GetDataStore("Tools");
local tools = game.ServerStorage.ToolStorage; --Specify all possible tools

--{[Check and Load]}
game.Players.PlayerAdded:connect(function(plr)
    --Retrieve the potential data
    local data = ds:GetAsync(plr.UserId);
    --Check if it exists
    if data then
        --If it does, loop and clone respective tools.
        for _,v in next,data do
            local tool = tools:FindFirstChild(v);
            if tool then
                tool:Clone().Parent = plr.Backpack;
            end
        end
    end
end)

--{[Collect and Save]}
game.Players.PlayerRemoving:connect(function(plr)
    --Make a table to hold all the data
    local toolList = {};
    --Iterate through the backpack and fill the table in
    for _,v in next,plr.Backpack:GetChildren() do
        --Make sure it's actually a tool
        if v:IsA("Tool") or v:IsA("HopperBin") then
            toolList[#toolList+1] = v.Name;
        end
    end
    --Save the table
    ds:SetAsync(plr.UserId,toolList);
end)

I'm going to suggest that you store all of the items in a Folder somewhere inside of ServerStorage and once a player leaves save a DataStore with their UserId as the key, and a table of the items names once they leave. Load the table from the DataStore you created, and Clone the corresponding items into the player's Backpack.