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This is a split from a previous post.

The carrying capacity is currently listed as 10x your Strength for unencumbered movement.That means a Strength 10 character can carry 100lbs unencumbered. This seems extremely unrealistic. I'm a pretty strong guy, able to bench 230-250 on a good day, with a best of 315. Back when I was in the US Army, I was in great shape. However, 100lbs of gear was uncommon and was very fatiguing. 

Most military "light" packs are anywhere from 30-50lbs plus weapons, ammo and clothes. This allowed for quick, tactical movement. Heavier packs would be any where from 60-120lbs including gear. Heavier gear is meant to be moved from point-to-point so you can set up camp.

I would suggest unencumbered be your Strength x5. Strength 10 would be 50 pounds. Strength 18 would be 90lbs, unencumbered.
Maximum carry encumbered would be unencumbered x3 (or Strength x15). Strength 10 would be able to carry and lift overhead for a short time 150lbs max. More than that and you will have to drag, put it on a cart, or get help. Drag and dead lift seems about right at x5.

 It is very genreous and heavily encourages strength as a dump stat even more since dex is so uber. Probably need to be halved.

Jan 17, 2013 -- 5:44PM, LolaBonne wrote:

It's not supposed to be realistic.
These are fantastic heroes, not normal people.

Decent point, and I'm just as interested in how others feel, keeping in mind that we, collectively, have a chance to provide input into this next edition. It may be that it really doesn't matter enough to most to even warrant asking for the change.

For me, I'd welcome the minor change. I think it would encourage players to cooperate, hire retainers, bring wagons, and other ways to stay unencumbered. In the military, you become creative at hauling gear because walking sucks.  

I posted this in your other thread, so I will summarize:

1. changing this would impact cross class and ability score balance.  So it can't just be a simple encumbrance rule change.  Dex is already the best ability, and this would just make it better by making light armor more valuable (although it could limit str as a dump stat)

2. a lot of games (including mine) don't track encumbrance at all.  It's a pain. I tend to give my players a bag of holding as one of their first magical items, to clear encumbrance issues from the narrative. 

So this sounds like an interesting module, for people who want a grittier, more 'realistic' style.  I could actually see the fun in dealing with a more serious encumbrance issue, the need for pack animals, the desire to take off armor for long trips (and the heightened risk of ambush), the desire to drop backpacks when fighting (posting interesting ideas for mid combat theft, or that if you flee you are abandoning gear), but while all of that is interesting, it would take a particular type of game that many people arent' interested in playing. 

Jan 17, 2013 -- 6:32PM, Haldrik wrote:

A rounder calculation is: 50 lb + 10 lb per Strength bonus.

Strength × 10 + 50 lb

Haldrik, would you mean for max carry?