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Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ledded" data-source="post: 1197932" data-attributes="member: 12744">If this is true (and if it is, please point out to me in the book where it says this, I honestly havent heard this except in lame attempts in various forums to cover up mistakes) then why does it not apply to *anything* else?Does a fully loaded KAC Stoner encumber you a lot less than a greatsword, or does a great sword encumber you almost *twice* as much as the average pump shotgun?  Because the weight on most of the guns, while not always accurate, is fairly close.  Having picked both up, I'm pretty sure a Remington 12 gauge pump with ammo would encumber me in a comparable manner to an 'average' greatsword, and it weighs around 9 lbs or so, and the shotgun is  not designed with counter weighting in mind because it isnt intended to be swung around quickly.   Again, in my opinion it's not a mechanic unless it applies to everything.  So why are gun weights at least reasonably close in most cases?  Oh, that's because a lot of people who play either own or have handled one at some time and therefore a lot quicker to shout out when they are wrong, and it's a pretty easy and quick jump the manufacturers website to get the actual truth right there without even brushing the cheetos out of your lap.  Laziness.  Excusable laziness, considering what all a game designer has to be responsible for, but laziness nonetheless. So, while it's a pretty good try, that argument IMO just doesnt hold water (at least, not much for me).  Even if it is the truth as stated somewhere by the designers, then it's not even a half-*ss way to model encumberance, so it shouldnt be used at all, and we should just not worry about it in the first place and just use the actual weights of these things if you want to keep it simple.  Which is essentially what I do, except when players want to do something unusual like wear a caber or battering ram on their back, or carry a 10' sphere made of styrofoam around (don't ask).Now, in parting, I'm not trying to get too ranty or lambast these guys, I think they have done an admirable job with most everything that they do... but that's why I have house rules.  There are several other game mechanics I dont agree with and we house rule 'em too.  Doesnt mean that I think the designer is stupid or wrong, just that I disagree for whatever reason.  My only issue is being a mildy educated sword enthusiast and obsessive-compulsive personality, so this one kinda burns me a little, though in the long run makes very little difference in the grand scheme of things.But they have heard this kind of stuff for so long I dont think the Charles Ryan's and Monte Cook's of the world are going to go lay on the couch with a quart of ben-n-jerry's in their bathrobe watching Sleepless in Seattle while crying themselves to sleep just because I think a few in their profession didn't do good enough homework.</blockquote>

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