Encumbrance in "Stone"

Delta

First Post
Here's an open letter to the 4E designers: You've got an opportunity to finally fix the D&D encumbrance rules. I've discovered what I think is an extremely simple fix, to simply recalibrate all weights to a coarser granularity -- namely in English "stone" (14 pound units). Here are the advantages:

(1) The numbers are much smaller, so it makes adding up encumbrance a snap.
(2) There are so few distinct values, that a player can likely memorize them with a little use.
(3) It provides additional "old world" flavor while playing the game.
(4) The total number can be used directly as a skill check penalty (thereby getting rid of the separate listing for each armor type).


Example
Let's take an example: 3.0 PHB p. 37, Dwarven Fighter Starting Package. He's got scale mail, large wooden shield, dwarven waraxe, shortbow, backpack, waterskin, rations, bedroll, sack, flint & steel, and 20 arrows.

Under standard rules you're adding up: 30 + 10 + 15 + 2 + 2 + 4 + 1 + 5 + 1/2 + 0 + 3 = 72 1/2 lbs. I find that I need a calculator to do this quickly. His armor check penalty is (-4) + (-2) = -6 from the armor table, or -3 from the Carrying Capacity table (he's got Str 15), so the -6 from the armor table takes priority. (Same as example on 3.0 PHB p. 141).

Under the "stone" recalibration, you're just adding up: 2 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 0 + 1/2 + 0 + 1/2 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 5 stone. That's easily done by sight. Also, we'll use this directly as the skill check penalty, i.e., -5, which is nearly the same as the original system (but eliminating the further two table lookups and comparison).


Summary
In general, armor weighs 1 to 4 stone. Light weapons are 1/2 stone; heavy weapons are 1 stone. Most miscellaneous gear is negligible, with bulkier items adding 1/2 stone. That's pretty easy to memorize, in fact. (Stipulate that anyone carrying a great number of smaller items may be assigned an encumbrance value for them. I say that 500 coins equals 1 stone.)

I've attached an equipment listing for my own "Diminutive d20" game that uses this system below. (As an aside you'll see I also recalibrate all base prices into copper pence, which has its own advantages, but I don't expect anyone to follow suit with that.)


Disclosure
For a lot of reasons, I don't personally expect to get 4E. Nontheless, I 've gotten an enormous amount of enjoyment from D&D over the years, especially 3E, and if I can give something back and save a lot of gamers some amount of heartburn, I'd love to see this suggestion taken up.
 

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I like it too. I'd use it in a heartbeat.

EDIT: One thing I didn't notice. Where does Strength factor in?
 
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No thank you please. One of the better things about D&D 3 is that all weights and measurements are done in easy and well-known units. No more measuring scale in inches, which sometimes translates to yards or feet; no more measuring spell durations in turns instead of minutes; no more wacky 12 silver pieces = a gp.

Units of measurement are arbitrary and forcing players to memorize new units to participate in a game wastes time and energy.
 



Pounds add up just fine. That 'stones sheet' lets way to many things off the hook.

Frostmarrow said:
If encumberance isn't real simple it gets ignored by some, and those who actually bother get penalized.
Thats why the DM has to be paying attention for those who cheat.
 

Y'know, normally I am one of the biggest fans around for SuperDan's stuff. He is a benefit to the whole community. But this one just strikes me the wrong way. Maybe some folks will enjoy it, but it really shouldn't be the core system rule.

I posted a Coin option hacked from OD&D on the other encumbrance thread, if you want to look at that. The key is, we don't measure every time someone drops something or picks something up.

EDIT: Also, I like to track 1. Weight, 2. Carried Weight (or Coin), and 3. Total Weight (1+2) as total weight comes into play far more often than actual weight.
 
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