All creatures can carry a limited number of items before their ability to move is affected. Some gear is heavy but made to be carried and some objects are relatively light but very difficult to carry because they take up space or are unbalanced.

Encumbrance is measured in “encumbrance pounds” (or simply, lbs.) and takes into account the general bulkiness of carried or worn items so that it will not match the actual measured weight in pounds in most cases. Encumbrance weight assumes optimal placement of items for ease of carry but also (in some cases) ease of access. Other than a worn set of regular clothes (plain long-sleeved shirt, sturdy pants, and undergarments, along with a belt and boots) everything will have some type of listed encumbrance although for some items, it will be listed as negligible (noted with a “*”).

“Bulk” associated with armor worn and shields carried, is also used as a measure that will affect a character’s ability to move freely. For those wearing armor or using a shield, armor bulk will set the minimum encumbrance rating the character will have regardless of their Strength. Otherwise, like all items worn or carried, armor will add to the total encumbrance lbs. carried.

Other than armor bulk, a creature’s encumbrance rating is determined by the amount, in encumbrance pounds they are carrying versus their Strength ability score. For mounts, see Mounts and Vehicles.

ENCUMBRANCE RATING

Encumbrance is tracked against a rating scale of “Unencumbered”, “Moderately Encumbered”, “Heavily Encumbered”, and “Overloaded”.

Above this encumbrance means you cannot move (although you may still be able to lift the object or objects).

If delayed, the wearer has the delayed condition while the armor is worn in addition to other effects as listed.

ARMOR BULK

As stated above, some armors or shields will have a bulk rating which sets the minimum encumbrance rating for the individual wearing or deploying them. These do not stack—use the worst rating for bulk and/or weight carried by Strength.

ARMOR BULK RATING SETS A MINIMUM ENCUMBRANCE RATING

• Non-bulky = Un-encumbered

• Moderate = Moderately encumbered

• Heavy = Heavily encumbered

Example. If wearing chain mail armor (moderate bulk) and carrying a large shield (heavy bulk), the bulk rating should be Heavy.

GEAR BULK

Some gear, such as wearing (very) cold-weather attire will result in bulk modifiers as if wearing armor. In this case, treat the gear as per armor rules, using the most bulky rating (but not adding bulk together).

Long Items. While some gear is not individually heavy, in some cases, carrying multiple items will create encumbrance due to bulk. Any Man-sized creature carrying more than one object more than 7-ft. long will have a Heavy bulk rating. Items carried in hand are not counted against this limit. Thus, a human can carry a medium spear slung across their back without encumbrance bulk modifiers, but if carrying a medium spear and a glaive, or fauchard, they will suffer the effects of a Heavy bulk rating. Three such items cannot be carried unless tightly bundled and space permits (and if in combat carrying such, the creature is treated as overloaded).

• Small-sized Humanoids, long items, and Gear Bulk. A Small humanoid can carry a single item (not including objects in hand) over 3.5-ft. in length to a maximum of 5-ft. in length without suffering encumbrance penalties. If two such objects are carried, they suffer heavy gear bulk (being Heavily encumbered). Otherwise, treat the effect as per Long Items above.

STRENGTH ADJUSTMENTS

For humanoids, base unencumbered activity without adjustment is 35 lbs. This can be modified by the creature’s Strength score. The GM may make further adjustments for size.

To determine a creature’s encumbrance by weight, add up all the creature’s carried possessions (worn or carried) and consult the Humanoid Encumbrance Adj. By Strength table to determine encumbrance rating.

Encumbrance is the same for any creature of man-size or smaller unless special circumstances exist.

Drag or Pull an Object or Creature. You can drag objects up to 1.5x your maximum "Overloaded" weight across a smooth, flat, relatively low friction surface. Dragging speed is typically 10-ft. per round. Adjustments can be made for objects on sleds or wheels (both in speed and weight). Likewise, inclines or surfaces that increase drag will adjust speed or weight downward.

Mounts do not have Strength scores so encumbrance is determined by mount type.

Backpacks or Saddle bags. Carefully stowed items in a backpack worn by a humanoid or a saddle bag carried by a mount will only add half the encumbrance amount. See Containers.

Mounts and Mount Encumbrance. See Mounts and Vehicles and Overland Movement for movement rates by terrain and encumbrance.

CROSS COUNTRY TRAVEL

Encumbrance above relates to short forays of a few hours. For longer trips on foot, humanoids should limit total encumbrance weight to about 20% of their body weight regardless of Strength rating. See also Overland Movement.