Frankly, they're all still a little much for me, so here's what I propose - encumbrance as a simple True/False state.
A number of simple things would make you encumbered:
- Backpack with stuff in it
- Metal Armour
- Exception: Fighters wear chain without penalty, and high Con lets you wear one level higher (i.e. fighter with high con wears plate without penalty)
- Carrying something awkward (chest, five spears, etc.)
- Can't run (jogging only)
- Fight/cast/burgle as one level lower
- Overland movement 2/3 normal
- Double fatigue (if using Spells and Steel)
I really, really like what you're doing with all of this. Do you intend to put it together into a pdf at any stage?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Still got a ways to go on that yet, but it's coming together!
DeleteShould have a draft up on the site in the next few months, with combat, movement, magic, and an equipment list with realistic (or at least plausible) and tolerably-well-researched 1400-ish England prices.
Wouldn't that mean that if I accept the encumbering effects, I can carry as much as I want? What's the upper bound?
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DeleteIf you're carrying a full backpack, wearing plate, and have your hands full of crap, I don't really see how much more you could carry.
DeleteI'm willing to accept that you're under-penalized at that point and likely over-penalized with just a backpack in order to get an encumbrance system I will actually use.
I also hope you're playing with adults, who won't try to argue they can carry that 400lb chest of gold because the encumbrance system says that's "carrying something awkward".
On doing some more research, I'm starting to wonder if chain should count at all - I've found full chain shirts with mid-length sleeves that only weigh 10lbs, though 15-20 seems more common.
ReplyDeleteWearing a chain shirt all day long can be tiring. The padding adds some weight too,never wore proper padding with chain myself but plenty of. Historical warriors did. It isn't. Just the weight but how the weight sits/hangs on you.
DeleteI dunno, I'm inclined to side with Charles, I've worn an IBA and IOTV for whole days, and it's only been slightly more fatiguing than not wearing the armor, both of which weight between 20 and 40 pounds, depending on size and the presence of additional armor coverage.
DeleteExcept the IBA/IOTV was designed for comfort as much as functionality. It does no good for a Soldier to become exhausted by wearing his armor for long periods (as modern Soldiers must do). The question becomes: was medieval armor designed to be "comfortable" or bearable, or was it assumed that a person would only wear their armor for short periods (such as during a mass battle)?
DeleteThis disregards the reality that medieval combat would often times be an hours long if not day long affair, and that it exceedingly time consuming to be both done and remove a plate harness, as such would be intend to be wearable for extended periods of time.
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