Too much weight...

[Beastman]

Now, last session, the following happened:

our cleric suffered a heavy STR-decrease because of some enemy's spell effect, bringing him down to STR 1. Carrying some 50 lbs. of gear, this also meant, that his encumbrance was about 10-times higher than his current drag/push value.

So according to encumbrance rules if you push/drag a load (5-times your heavy load) you can only take a 5-foot move as a full round action and you loose your DEX-bonus. The rules don't tell you what happens if you are "overburdened" i.e. being weighted down by more than your drag/push value.

The adhoc rule we used was that the cleric couldn't move at all and looses his DEX-bonus, but

1) are there any "official" rules for such a situation
2) how would you have ruled this, because i have the feeling, that perhaps an additional -4 (for example) penalty to AC should have also been applied.

 

[irdeggman]

See the text on pg 162 of the PHB.

The xample of Tordek trying to carry an unconscious Mialee. The toal weight of Milalee and her gear (with Tordek's own) will exceed his maximum carrying capacity. So he can't carry her.

There is a difference between pushing or dragging and carrying or "lifiting".

If you exceed your max capacity you can't move except if dragging or pushing.

So if the weight of items worn, etc. was over the max number for the cleric's heavy load - they collapse since they can't carry or move unless pushing or dragging.

The rules are not specific on this but they say what you have to do and what the limits are and the example fo Todek and Mialee adds some clarification, IMO.