• Registered: 2011-10-18
  • Posts: 19

Topic: What's the point of the fifth encumbrance point?

If I'm reading the rules right, from 26-30 items puts you at 5 points of encumbrance, in which case you have a move of 0'. I'm wondering what the point of those extra slots is if effectively you have to stand in place. I also wonder if perhaps using the BECMI move rate of 10'/3' wouldn't make sense in that case, with 31 items rendering you immobile.

Or am I reading the rules wrong? The way I read it once you carry 11 items you are effectively at 2 points of encumbrance and have your move drop from 120'/40' to 90'/30', once you carry 16 items you're at 3 points and 60'/20', and once you carry 21 items you're at 30'/10'.

Am I getting this wrong and you're only at 2 points of encumbrance and at a 90'/30' move rate once you have 16 items?

FWIW, I also kind of read the rules as leather armor effectively filling the "0 point", making the first item you carry be #6. Likewise chain fills up the 0 and 1 points and has the first item you carry be #11, and plate fills up 0-2 making the first item #16 - so if one were to have chain on and literally carry nothing else, one would still be at a move of 120'/40', no?

  • Registered: 2011-05-04
  • Posts: 5

Re: What's the point of the fifth encumbrance point?

At first glance, I would say the extra slots are to account for the dwarf ability of getting encumbered 5 slots later than the rest of the classes.

  • Registered: 2011-10-18
  • Posts: 19

Re: What's the point of the fifth encumbrance point?

Maeryck wrote:

At first glance, I would say the extra slots are to account for the dwarf ability of getting encumbered 5 slots later than the rest of the classes.

I don't think so, simply as it says the first five items just don't count in the 0 slot - (and i assume they get listed as non-encumbering items), although that could be it, but it would make the char sheet confusing as heck if it were the case.

  • Registered: 2011-06-04
  • Posts: 34

Re: What's the point of the fifth encumbrance point?

Off-topic: This made me look at the encumbrance rules again. I had thought it was every 6 items = 1 encumbrance point, not every 5 (rounded up). Oops. Well, I guess it's a houserule now, haha.

  • Registered: 2011-10-18
  • Posts: 19

Re: What's the point of the fifth encumbrance point?

Neko--kun wrote:

Off-topic: This made me look at the encumbrance rules again. I had thought it was every 6 items = 1 encumbrance point, not every 5 (rounded up). Oops. Well, I guess it's a houserule now, haha.

LOL - well more off topic, the house rule I'm messing with (mentioned elsewhere) is that your STR modifier affects the # of items per encumbrance point. Armor still takes a set number of points, as do oversized items, but a character with an 18 STR could carry 5+3=8 items per point, while one with a STR of 3 could only carry 5-3=2 items per point.

Back on topic - anyone know what's up with the 5th point and items #26-30? It seems kinda.....pointless.

  • From: Toronto, Ontario
  • Registered: 2011-10-07
  • Posts: 20

Re: What's the point of the fifth encumbrance point?

Have you used the strength modifier for encumbrance yet? How has it been working out for you?

I've also been thinking about doing something similar, though my idea is to have any strength modifier (whether +1 or +3) lead to one free point of encumbrance (i.e., strength 13 - 18 gets a bonus of -1 Enc).

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