Making encumbrance even easier.

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phadeout
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Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 7:00 am

Making encumbrance even easier.

Post by phadeout »

Ok,

*Note: this is a long blurb, sorry*

So I've made up a bunch of new PCs being a stickler on Encumbrance (using the rules stickied on this forum).

The one thing I've found really annoying, is keeping track of What goes Where and How it effects encumbrance. It seems that at first, depending on how you organize your character sheet, it is harder to add everything up then if it was all just by weight.

Here's 2 ways you can make it easier on yourself:
#1: List things like this:

Backpack Cap 8 Current 1 + [current EV contents divide by 2 round down]

.....[stuff in the backpack] EV
  • Large Belt Pouch Cap 2 EV 0 + [current EV contents divide by 2 round down]

    .....[stuff in the pouch] EV [actual EV of item]

    and so on

    This makes adding a lot more easy, as you just make sure everything under a "capacity" item does not add up to more than the capacity, and when calculating your total EV you assume that each item is being worn (saves miss calculating).
    #2 This is even easier, my preferred way I think.

    List all your items, add up your EV for all items and ignore capacity.

    Assuming you are carring a weeks food, water, and adventuring gear, and you have a backpack, 2 large pouches, and a small pouch:

    Subtract 7 from the total EV. Done. If you keep track of Quivers and Spell Component Pouches, just add their EV, but subtract 7 at the end still, to make it easy.

    Depending on how you add things up, you can subtract 9 as well. This would be equivalent to 5 small belt pouches and a backpack worth of EV savings.
    I think I may go with 8. So just add up all your equipment, if you have a backpack and a bunch of belt pouches, subtract 8 from the total. Done.

    Thoughts?

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moriarty777
Renegade Mage
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Joined: Fri Jul 07, 2006 7:00 am
Location: Montreal, Canada

Post by moriarty777 »

Well, if you want easier... something I've thought about since our last EV discussion:

Option 1: Feeling that 'capacity' and 'reduction' is what really matter, I figured that you could add the total Capacity of all your 'storage items' and then add the EV of all you items stored in these. You take the total stored and divide by two rounded down. The only reason you add up the total capacity is so you don't accidentally run out of storage.

Option 2: This works better if you use the graduated system of reductions based on capacity numbers:

Capacity of 1-3 = reduction of 1

Capacity of 4-6 = reduction of 2

Capacity of 7-9 = reduction of 3

etc...

If you want something along the lines of what you were suggesting Phade, you could simply apply the total reductions to your characters straight EV.

Moriarty the Red
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The One and All
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Post by The One and All »

Everytime I hear stuff about EV, I get an upset stomach, my head spins and I just run the other way.

No Offense Moriarty...

So I just use common sense. Players know their PC aren't pack mules.. so I leave it in their hand to know when they're carrying too much (While checking from time to time).

3e solution to encumberance was easier, not perfect but easier. EV is just too much for me. I didn't switch to use more time calculating EV rather than preping my games...

If I see one reeeeaaallly easy way to do it.. I might implement it.. or not.

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moriarty777
Renegade Mage
Posts: 3735
Joined: Fri Jul 07, 2006 7:00 am
Location: Montreal, Canada

Post by moriarty777 »

The One and All wrote:
Everytime I hear stuff about EV, I get an upset stomach, my head spins and I just run the other way.

No Offense Moriarty...

So I just use common sense. Players know their PC aren't pack mules.. so I leave it in their hand to know when they're carrying too much (While checking from time to time).

3e solution to encumberance was easier, not perfect but easier. EV is just too much for me. I didn't switch to use more time calculating EV rather than preping my games...

If I see one reeeeaaallly easy way to do it.. I might implement it.. or not.

I don't think it'll get much easier than grade 2 math!
Option 1 (re-worded). You add all the stuff you have in your packs for a total EV and divide by two... How much simpler do you want it?

When I do a slight revision on the character sheet, you'll see how much simpler it will look afterwards.

M
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phadeout
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Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 7:00 am

Post by phadeout »

Well, I still like my option #2 the best, just subtract 8 from your EV. Can't get any more simple, and I've never seen a character with a bunch of pouches and a backpack that arn't full.

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