Page 1 of 1

Encumbrance

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:18 am
by Fizz
OK, in general i like the encumbrance rules, but there is something don't understand...

On page 48 of the 4th Printing of the PH, the first paragraph discuses how load-bearing items reduce the total EV of items inside by half. All this makes sense.

But the following paragraph seems to be describing the same thing, again how load-bearing items reduce the total EV, but this time by -2. It then describes a backpack carrying 8 EV worth of stuff, which somehow is reduce to an EV of 5. 8 - 2 = 5?

Not only does the second paragraph seem wrong, but it contradicts the first paragraph. What's going on here?

Also, what exactly does the (w) mean in the equipment list? Does that refer to the EV when the item is worn or carried? Based on the examples, i would guess that the (w) reduces the EV by 1 if it is worn. But i can't find anything concrete saying so.

Please clarify. Thanks!

-Fizz

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:46 am
by Go0gleplex
yes...the (w) means when worn.
_________________
The obvious will always trip you up FAR more than the obscure.

Baron Grignak Hammerhand of the Pacifica Provinces-

High Warden of the Castles & Crusades Society

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:28 pm
by Fizz
Go0gleplex wrote:
yes...the (w) means when worn.

Then something is amiss. It examples list a backpack having an EV of 2(w). But then use a value of 1 for it when determining the overall encumbrance of the player.

-Fizz

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:09 pm
by Hrolfgar
In the Keeper Advice section there is some discussion on encumbrance
http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

Doesn't exactly clear up the issue, but looks like the 2nd print rule and the revised rule have both been included in 4thprinting. I would just use the 1st paragraph and ignore the second one.

For some reason a paragraph (in the 2nd printing)about worn objects marked"w" has been cut out.

here it is:

"The EV for objects assumes that the character is carrying the object. Some objects are instead designed to be worn by the character (clothes, armor, etc.) As such, a character that is wearing a suit of padded armor (EV2 base) would instead count it as an EV of 1 so long as they were wearing the armor. Wearable items are marked with a "w" by their encumbrance value."

So reduce "W" marked items EV by 1 when worn.

This paragraph would explain why a backpack would have an EV of 1 in the example instead of an EV of 2 (which be the value if carried).

I do not know if this is helpful, and nothing said in this post is official because I'm just another fan.

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:31 pm
by Fizz
So it seems this is just a big editing faux-pas then. They entirely forgot to remove the old (second) paragraph, and then forget the entire sentence about (w). Would have thought that'd have been put into the errata doc.

The second paragraph is meaningless, and the first paragraph should include the '-1 EV when worn' statement. Have i got that right?

-Fizz

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:34 pm
by cheeplives
This has been asked and answered. There's a thread in Keeper Advice called 4th Printing Encumbrance Errata. Here it is:

Right, one of these printings we'll get it all right.

Replace all text after the Worn and Capacity Objects with the following:
Quote:
Worn and Capacity Objects

The Encumbrance Value for objects assumes that the character is carrying the object. Some objects are instead designed to be worn by the character (clothes, armor, etc.). As such, a character that wears any of these objects would have the EV of the item reduced by 1. Thus, a character that is wearing a suit of Padded Armor (EV 2 base) would instead count it as an EV of 1 so long as they were wearing the armor. Wearable items are marked with a W by their Encumbrance Value.

Load bearing items have a maximum EV that they can carry. They are also designed to disperse the Encumbrance over a larger area, reducing the bulk. As such, load-bearing items (such as backpacks, sack, chests, etc.) reduce the total EV of the items inside by 1 for every 2 points (i.e. divide total EV by two, rounding down) of EV contained within. Thus, a character who has a backpack carrying a Bedroll (EV 3), hammer (EV 2), 50 nails (EV 1), and one torch (EV 1) would have a total EV for the items of 7. This would be reduced to 3 (7/2 = 3.5, rounded down to 3) and thus make the backpack's total EV 5 (w) (EV of 2 (w) for the backpack plus the modified EV 3 for the items contained within). Thus, if the character was wearing this backpack, they would have an EV of 4, due to the savings of Wearable items. Also note that Capacity items can carry a maximum EV up to their Capacity rating before the savings are taken in account. Thus, a shoulder pack can carry up to 10 EV of items maximum, making a full shoulder pack an EV 8 (w) item (EV 5 for the 10 EV of items inside and EV 3 (w) for the pack itself).

Also note that load-bearing items and worn items can reduce the EV of the items to 0, as would be the case of a Small Pouch carrying 1 EV of equipment. One-half of 1 EV, rounding down would be 0 EV, so the EV of the Small Pouch and the item contained within would be 0 EV.

Furthermore, the Saddlebags should have a Capacity of 20 listed with them. I'd probably mark it with a Superscript of 1 and put it at the bottom of the table.

Finally, I'd add a single entry on the Equipment List as follows, just to clear things up.

EQIUPMENT COST WEIGHT EV CAP

Coins (50) Varies 1 lbs. 1 --
_________________
discreteinfinity.com -- my little corner of the internet.

Author of StarSIEGE: Event Horizon -- Available now from Troll Lord Games!

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:05 am
by Hrolfgar
Cool, I whiffed on the 4th print errata, but I only looked at stickied threads at the top.