OK, settle the Strength thing.

[the Jester]

Adding more penalties to pcs who are already severely penalized by their circumstances is, imho, a terrible mistake.

In other words, don't make a 1st-level-spell the equivalent of a spell and a kick in the junk or you'll find that you've made all your arcane casters take it first, and you'll learn the hard way (with your favorite npc) that you've made it equal to a 2nd or 3rd-level spell. Remember those new fatigue and exhaustion spells...?

 

[HeavyG]

The way I see it, the only check needed for low Strength scores in themselves is encumbrance. Sure, you don't count your own weight as encumbrance, but at Str 1 you're going to have trouble lifting a dagger. The point where your own body weight becomes too much for you is at Str 0, which is why you're helpless by then.

You're right, encumbrance usually has an effect on characters who suffer strength loss. Most of the adventurers I see are loaded to within 1 or 2 pounds of the next encumbrance category.

In the case of the example half-orc character who went from 14 to 4 strength, assuming he had 50 pounds of gear (a light load, meaning he is probably not a warrior-type since they tend to have medium loads and armor), he is now carrying a more than heavy load (heavy load is up to 40 pounds) and can only do move 5 feet per round with a full-round action. That is penalty enough, IMO.