Encumbrance: Good or Bad?

[Crothian]

Tell you players it's part of the game and hopefully they will be mature enough to just do it.

 

[Davelozzi]

I've always used encumbrance. The bookeeping can be a hassle but I keep copies of everyone's character sheets on my computer anyway so it's not that bad as I can just deal with the bulk of it between sessions and have the players add-in the random items they pick up mid-session themselves.

I usually like a fair degree of realism (or at least believability) in my games so I feel like encumbrance is pretty much a neccesity.

And having just a couple of hours ago returned from a 9 mile hike up and down 4000 ft. in the mountains with a 39 lb. pack, I'd say the encumbrance rules are pretty fair, and if anything are a bit generous. At least that's the case at the average ability range (calculating myself at Str 10, just on the low side of average).

 

[Grundle]

Encumbrance is a good thing, just don't get too anal about it.

A character I'll be playing in an upcoming game is a halfling rogue with STR 4!!! He can carry his padded armor, a short bow and a few arrows without incurring load penalties. (Thankfully another character has agreed to carry most of his stuff)

 

[Mr.Binx]

I use encumberance and make the players handle there own book-keeping. This is not a good way to go if you don't trust your players however.