what are your experiences with encumbrance?

[Alica Vandaark]

In my campaign I allow only characters who rolled 6 times and that´s it. The result is they have sometimes really bad characters.
And as long as they are no Warriors they are often pretty weak and they just can´t carry that much.
In this case encumbrance is quite important but there are some questions unanswered in the books.
I discussed for a long time about the weight of a single healing potion with the result it should be 0.5lb. But why does a potion with acid or alchemists fire weight 1lb?
Well, I would be glad to hear some of your experiences with encumbrance or what you found out what weight some things should have. It seems that in the books they have a quite simple system for small thingies like
* which counts as nothing (in my campaign 0.1lb)
1/2 lb and
1lb.


Well, whatever this may tell you...
thanks for tipps and the exchange of experiences

 

[Weeble]

In my campaign I allow only characters who rolled 6 times and that´s it. The result is they have sometimes really bad characters.
And as long as they are no Warriors they are often pretty weak and they just can´t carry that much.
In this case encumbrance is quite important but there are some questions unanswered in the books.
I discussed for a long time about the weight of a single healing potion with the result it should be 0.5lb. But why does a potion with acid or alchemists fire weight 1lb?
Well, I would be glad to hear some of your experiences with encumbrance or what you found out what weight some things should have. It seems that in the books they have a quite simple system for small thingies like
* which counts as nothing (in my campaign 0.1lb)
1/2 lb and
1lb.


Well, whatever this may tell you...
thanks for tipps and the exchange of experiences

A flask weighs more than a potion bottle? I think a potion bottle weighs a tenth of a pound, but don't quote me here.

 

[Thanee]

In one campaign we had a Str 6 Gnome Wizard who always had his trusty dog with him, to carry all his stuff!

I personally like to have slightly above average Str, because of Encumbrance. I also try to get a Heward's Handy Haversack, if I can!

With Str 10 or less you seem to be moderately encumbered pretty fast even with just the regular equipment.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Alica Vandaark]

1/2lb, not more not less

well, at least a flask weighs * (nothing) and can carry one ounce which is 0.23 or something in litres. Since we found out they use that simply system of nothing, half and 1lb, we said 1 healing potion or better standard potions = 1/2lb.

But before that we found out that acid for example weighs 1lb.
And then the discussion started. This all doesnt make much sense, or did I miss a thing?

*thx for ya replies so far. What you think, does playing with encumbrance slow down the flow of the game?

 

[Gromm]

We also use the 1/2 lb for potions.
Basically AlchFire is just more liquid than a potion, therefore it weighs more.
As far as encumbrane slowing things down, it shouldn't. As long as the PCs kept track of it when they first made their characters, its not too big a deal. The only problems really arise when someone sits 1 lb from being encumbered and sits there trying to decide how they can lose a pound.
Usually we had the heavy armor wearers just carry all the loot, preferably in a bag of holding.

 

[Christian]

Well, basically, a potion is a vial (~ one ounce) and alchemist's fire and acid come in flasks (~ one pint). I'd use the '10 items = 1 pound' for light things that's listed in the PH.

 

[Gromm]

Well, basically, a potion is a vial (~ one ounce) and alchemist's fire and acid come in flasks (~ one pint). I'd use the '10 items = 1 pound' for light things that's listed in the PH.

Good point. Forgot potions were only an ounce.

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

*thx for ya replies so far. What you think, does playing with encumbrance slow down the flow of the game?

Yes. Definitely. Absolutely. I cannot express how much I despise encumbrance.

In one of my friend's campaigns, we had to compute encumbrance, food, water, and overland movement for a 3 month trek through a swamp for 10 PCs, 4 NPCs, 2 cohorts, 16 horses, 16 mules, 2 familiars, and a riding dog.


It took us four hours of real-time.


Then we had to do it again when we came back, as half the mules and horses died in the swamp.
.
.
Ever since then, in my campaigns, I use three rules that replace encumbrance, food and overland movement rates:

1) Rule 0
2) Rule -1 (The DBS rule.)
3) The Adventurer's Kit (TM)
4) Upkeep

Explanations:

1) I ad hoc how long it takes to get from place to place. I have the distances written down, and I fudge travel times, based on the weather, encounters, obstacles and the whim of the gods.

2) The "Don't Be Stupid" Rule is there for the guy who's 10 strength mage wants to carry a steel treasure chest for three days.

3) The Adventurer's Kit (TM) works wonders. With the Kit, a PC pays a certain amount of gp and the DM decides what mundane equipment is in the Kit when a specific circumstance requires the use of said item. The Kit does not have weight, as it is a game abstraction and the DBS Rule also is in full effect.

Example:

Bob the Barbarian: "I spent 100 gp on my Adventurer's Kit (TM). Do I have a piton?"

DM: "Why yes, Bob, you have a piton."

Miffy the Mage: "Um...like I spent 10 gp on my Adventurer's Kit (TM). Do I have a MW alchemist's lab?"

DM: "Um...no Miffy, you are a dork."

4) Upkeep is a godsend. Do not track food. Do not track water. Do not track tavern expenses. Do not track equipment degredation. Your players do not play this game to be accountants. Unless some rare situation is occurring (ex: lost in Dungeon of Doom with no gear), use upkeep!

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

Double post