Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 WolfgangDroven Sep 12, 2014 20:31:38	The Players guide says that a back packs carry 1 cubic foot/30lbs of gear. My question is alot of the times right after character creation the characters end up with more than 30lbs of items with rations and what not for their backpacks (this does not include weapons and such)...they can only carry so much in thier hands so what are people doing about this?     Are you making the new characters drop items off the bat? Are you changing the weight allowed for Back packs (and if so to what amount)? Or are you altering carring rules like rations come in their own carring bag?   I know this is a small thing in the game, but for realism in what they can and cannot carry I am wondering what others are doing.     Wolfgang
#2 SpedGuy Sep 12, 2014 21:27:39	A mule, or even a mule and cart, are pretty cheap
#3 Shiroiken Sep 12, 2014 22:35:53	You can also hang sacks tied to the backpack, which will increase your overall space. Pouches work almost as well.   SpedGuy wrote:
#4 Atheosis Sep 12, 2014 23:03:24	Truthfully I don't worry much about this stuff anymore.  It just doesn't improve the game in my eyes to focus on it unless it's really blatant.
#5 Eris.Shrugged Sep 12, 2014 23:12:02	Atheosis:  Your right it didn't in 3rd and 4th, but I think part of that was that they where superheroes games.  I think getting back to a style of game where we actually do track this stuff, and have to deal with the implications there of, offers a really interesting prospect. Especially with exploration being one of the three pillars The only problem is that it is a hastle to track, under normal circumstances. The game becomes bean county really quickly. Well there are ways around that. Impliment a token/card system at the table  means that tracking stuff like rations becomes much easier. Weight is still a bit of a bind, but spreadsheets can be a real help with this.
#6 Akeisha Sep 12, 2014 23:41:59	WolfgangDroven wrote:
#7 BW0222 Sep 13, 2014 17:06:59	There is little point in enforcing a rule like that too heavily.   Most players are fairly honest and will likely not have more than 30lbs inside their backpacks during character creation. Even high strength characters likely start running into issues once you add armor and weapons. If they are a few pounds over on their backpack... assume the bedroll is on top, the rope handing on one side, and the waterskins are only half full. Worrying about a few pounds is not normally worth making them say... move items between them, have a leatherworker make a 'stronger' backpack, etc.   Most introductory modules aren't 10 day hikes between towns or through deserts. Assume players upon reaching town are repacking their packs, exchanging silvers and coppers for gold, gems, or compact trade goods, selling off bulky treasure, etc. Any group of a longer overland journey will likely have a mule, horses, or have someone able to obtain food and water through foraging, hunting, and fishing. By 3rd-level, most groups can afford pack animals.   Weight only tends to become an issue when things as obviously over. The party kills four bugbears and wants to take their chainmail, shields, and battle axes. Umm... without a mule, horse, or something, then they have issues. If they have a mule... ok. If not... they'll likely have to show you they can carry (or drag) that amount using something like polls or in their arms -- presumably ropes and poles.
#8 SpedGuy Sep 13, 2014 18:35:55	BW0222 wrote:
#9 Xaspian Sep 14, 2014 4:40:51	BW0222 wrote:
#10 pauln6 Sep 14, 2014 8:52:31	Yeah check it out at creation time and only worry about it afterwards when they find a significant amout of loot.  The variant encumbrance rules are designed so that wekaer and heavily armoured characters will move slower if they carry a lot of gear.  A henchman works ok - can carry food, torches, spare ammunition etc but PCs need to be aware that they have to keep them out of danger.  That in itself can be a fun RP session.  One of our PCs is an alcoholic priest of Olidammara and nothing gets him more fired up than the possibility that he might end up encumbered by his beer and wine if his henchman dies (again).  He'd drink it all rather than leave it behind.