Calculating Encumbrance Ratings
Encumbrance is based on five different Traits: Strength, Stamina, Might, Endurance and Willpower. There are four different levels of Encumbrance limitation: Awkward, Hard, Arduous and Maximum. To calculate these values it is easier to do them in reverse order.
Maximum (-4) = [Strength + Stamina + Might + Endurance + Willpower] x 2
Arduous (-3) = [3 x Maximum]/4)
Hard (-2) = Maximum/2
Awkward (-1) = Maximum/4.
The highest any character's Maximum rating can ever be is 100. An average Nephilim will have a Maximum of around 26, while an average Human would have a Maximum of around 18. The various stages of Encumbrance affect a character's Dexterity, Wits and Initiative, by imposing dice pool penalties on the first two and a simple negative modification in the case of Initiative. These penalties are shown above, but can be ignored for a turn at the expenditure of a Willpower point - much like Wound Penalties.
Every weapon and piece of armour carries an Encumbrance rating. Many artefacts and other items also do, but not all; however the Storyteller and Player should use common sense as a guide; it would be very hard to carry a thousand cloaks, but just because a cloak does not have an Encumbrance rating does not mean she can carry an unlimited supply of that item. Clothes are the most common type of item to not carry an Encumbrance rating. The Player should use the chart on the Character Sheet to keep track of all items that her character carries with her by adding together all the Encumbrance ratings and recording them on the chart. Once a character exceeds one of her Encumbrance ratings, she is constantly at the given penalty until she lightens her burden. Penalties are not cumulative. Where two or more characters are carrying an item between them (for example, a cart), the Encumbrance rating is split between the characters accordingly.
Raising any of the affecting Traits with Experience will likewise raise the character's Encumbrance limitations. In addition, some Aptitude powers can have effects on Encumbrance limitations.
Below is a sample list of items and their Encumbrance ratings. Be aware however that there is as always great diversity, and one two-handed sword might weigh very differently to another.
Basic sword = 2 Two-handed sword = 3 Battle-axe = 2 Leather helmet = 1
Full chain mail = 7 Full plate mail = 10 Full leather armour = 3 Wooden cart = 40
Wooden shield = 1 Metal shield = 2 Large metal shield = 3 Leather boots = 1
Metal boots = 2 Metal helmet = 2 Any 250 coins = 1
Example 1
Zenith has Strength 4, Stamina 3, Might 2, no Endurance, and Willpower 4. His Encumbrance limitations are thus: Awkward = 7, Hard = 13, Arduous = 20 and Maximum = 26. Wearing full leather armour, leather boots, and carrying a sword and a wooden shield, Zenith's total Encumbrance is 7, which puts him at the Awkward limitation, meaning all his Dexterity and Wits dice pools are reduced by 1, and his Inititative is reduced by 1.
Example 2
Barissador has Strength 2, Stamina 2, no Might, no Endurance, and Willpower 5. Her Encumbrance limitations are thus: Awkward = 5, Hard = 9, Arduous = 14 and Maximum = 18. She attempts to wear a metal helmet, full plate mail and metal boots while carrying a two-handed sword and a battle-axe. This put her total Encumbrance to 19, putting her past the Maximum limitation, meaning she cannot carry all of these items and must drop something to continue. She therefore discards her battle-axe, reducing her total Encumbrance to 17. Although she is now past Ardouous and therefore at -3 penalties, she is no longer beyond her Maximum and is therefore now able to at least move.
Example 3
Guntra has Strength 7, Stamina 6, Might 6, Endurance 5 and Willpower 7. His Encumbrance limitations are thus: Awkward = 16, Hard = 31, Arduous = 47 and Maximum = 62. He wields two two-handed swords and wears partially-covering plate mail (with an Encumbrance rating of 7) and leather boots. His total Encumbrance rating is 14, which is below his Awkward rating and thus he suffers no penalties at all.
Example 4
Zenith increases his Might to 3. His new Encumbrance limitations are thus: Awkward = 7, Hard = 14, Arduous = 21 and Maximum = 28. With his equipment as in Example 1, he no longer suffers any penalties as his total Encumbrance is now less than his first limitation.
Example 5
Zenith and Barissador have run into trouble and must carry their cart across a patch of rocks. Temporarily discarding all their equipment, together they lift the cart. Ordinarily Barissador would not be able to help, as her total Encumbrance rating is now 20 (half of the cart's 40), but Zenith takes slightly more of the weight than his companion, shouldering a total Encumbrance of 25, leaving Barissador with a total Encumbrance of 15. Although both are now past their Arduous limitations and are therefore now at -3 penalties, they are able to lift the cart and continue on their way.