Last 3 Edits
14th Jan
- Modified what coins and rations equal.
Aug 10th, 2020
- Adjusted B& back by removing the +2.
July 16th, 2020
- Added +2 to the B&B encumbrance value. A lot of static stats are determined by +2.
- Also changed Tiny items to be up to 1/2 a pound.
- Removed the confusing example of plate armor from the 'Special' notes as it is just heavy armor.
30th May 2017.
Page Created
As a group we decided that it would be easier for players if we had a universal method for working out encumbrance. Having discussed different methods that this could be achieved the YZE method provided a simple method that we felt would work across the gaming systems we use.
YZE Method in a Nutshell
The YZE method is that you can simply carry a X number of items based on your characters strength. The items themselves are broken into Heavy, Normal, Light and Tiny, with these items taking up slots on your character.
1 Heavy item = 2 Normal items
1 Normal item = 1 Normal item
2 Light items = 1 Normal item
20 Tiny items = 1 Normal item
or
½ Heavy = 1 Normal = 2 Light = 20 Tiny.
The number of slots a character has depends on different things for the different gaming systems as per the table below.
Base Encumbrance
| System | Base Number of Encumbrance Slots |
|---|---|
| D&D | Strength score |
| Cypher System | ½ Might score (max) items (round up) |
| AGE | 5 + Strength mod |
| YZE | Strength x 2 items |
| B&B | Athletics die +/- Size modifier + Strength spec die |
| Savage Worlds | 2 + Strength die +/- Size modifier |
Carrying Capacity
| Encumbered | Heavily Encumbered | Carrying Capacity/Max Load |
|---|---|---|
| Over base to base x 2 | Over base x2 to base x3 | Base x 3 |
Quadrupeds times all encumbrance values by 4.
E.G. Bryon the warrior - old
| System | Stat | Base Number of Encumbrance Slots | Encumbered | Heavily Encumbered | Carrying Capacity/Max Load |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D&D | Strength 15 | 0-15 items | 16-30 items | 31-45 items | 46-60 items |
| Cypher System | Might 12 | 0-6 items | 7-12 items | 13-21 items | 22-28 items |
| AGE | Strength 2 | 0-7 items | 8-14 items | 15-21 items | 22-28 items |
| YZE | Strength 4 | 0-8 items | 9-12 | 13-15 | 16-18 |
| B&B | Athletics d8 (+ Strength d4) | 0-12 items | 13-24 items | 25-36 items | 37-48 items |
| Savage Worlds | Strength d10 | 0-12 items | 13-24 items | 25-36 items | 37-48 items |
5e DnD General Weights
- 10 coins = 1 Tiny item. (So 200 would be an item or 100 for a light item)
- 4 Rations (days) = 1 item
- Tiny = items up to 1/2 pound
- Light = Armor and weapons with the Light descriptor & items that weight 1 to 2 pounds
- Normal = Medium armors and most weapons & items that weigh between 2 - 9 pounds.
- Heavy = Armor and weapons with the Heavy descriptor, items from 10 - 20 pounds.
- Special - Other items over 20 pounds take their weight/10 slots (rounded up) - (eg a 70lbs barrel takes 7 slots)
- NB: Unlike the variant encumbrance rule in the PHB, STR requirements on the Armor table are still a requirement to use a particular armor.
Armor
Armor may be assigned the Bulky (#) quality where # is the penalty. In most games this is already there though it may be called something else.
D&D = Dex penalty etc.
Cypher System the penalty applies to using Speed Effort.
AGE
YZE -2 Dexterity/Move rolls.
B&B
Savage Worlds
Talents / Feats / Skills
Pack Mule: x2 items carried.
Armor Spec: Reduce Bulky penalty by 1 (Or 2 for some systems like D&D where penalty might be higher).
