Mechanics for Time, Movement and Encumbrance

Interim Encumbrance Calculations
Use this instead of the "less than 3 items, less than 3 lbs. rule below.

As I think more about this, I suspect that it’s going to be impossible to keep players from carrying exactly 10 (or whatever else the “ignore” limit is) of an item. Such behavior exploits the game's imperfect approximation of reality in a way which has nothing to do with how the in-game character would experience the game world. That’s not the kind of play that I want to encourage. You should be looking for ways to take advantage of the nature of the game world — not of the imperfections of the game mechanics.

And yet I still want to reduce the bookkeeping of tracking the weight of every item.

How about this?

No Encumbrance Items: Do not count the weight of these items for purposes of encumbrance. Note that only 1 of each item is exempt. If more than one, count the lowest weight item as exempt.

1 waterskin (with contents) 1 knife or dagger 1 normal clothes 1 bedroll 1 backpack 1 set of belts with straps and containers to hold weapons, arrows, bombs, etc. (no GP cost) 1 camping kit (with flint, chalk, whetstone, [what else?] ) 1 coin purse 1 combat pouch 1 scroll case

No Encumbrance Container Contents: For these containers, the weight of their contents is not counted for purposes of encumbrance.

One coin purse — (maximum capacity 250 coins, carrying more requires a second coin purse) One combat pouch — (maximum capacity 10 small items such as herbal potions, small magic items) One scroll case — (maximum capacity 10 sheets of parchment)

My goal here is to minimize bookkeeping, so I am asking for your comments on whether it works for that. Whether the encumbrance values are still too high is a question we can address with other measures.

Tennis: What does encumbrance mean? Imagine that you are a young, practiced, fit tennis player in a tournament which will give you a rating showing just how good you are. Imagine that you do well in the tournament.

Could you do just as well carrying 5 lbs. of rock on you back? No, you wouldn’t. With 10 lbs. of rocks you would be worse yet. Even small increases in encumbrance have a detrimental effect on your performance.

But even if you are down a die or two, you are still superheroes compared to ordinary people.

Different Types of Time
Use different systems of timekeeping depending on the circumstances of your PCs.

Combat Time: Rounds
Measure combat time in rounds. The round is primarily a unit of action rather than a unit of time, but normally a combat round lasts only a few seconds. You can also use "Combat Time" for any action which requires very short time increments. When combat time ends, round the elapsed time up to 1 turn. You can also use the round mechanic for contests (eg. races) with longer periods between die rolls.

Dungeon Time: Turns
Measure dungeon exploration time in 10 minute turns. When "Dungeon Time" ends, round the elapsed time up to a whole number of hours.

Travel Time: Hours
Measure outdoor travel and exploration in hours, but every hour need not be considered separately. Eg. a three hour journey could be considered a single unit of travel time.

Calendar Time: Days
Measure long journeys and other multi-day activities in days. Like hours, days can be grouped into large units. Days begin at dawn.

Down Time: Days or Weeks
"Down Time" is time outside of game sessions. Measure down time in days or weeks of in-game time elapsed between real-time play sessions. During down time a PC can progress more rapidly than in calendar time at some tasks. End New Section

The Game Turn
Most actions use a whole number of 10-minute turns and the time taken by certain actions is standardized for quicker play. Please note that a major reason for this convention is to avoid the need for discussion of how much can be done in how long, so substitutions during play are strongly discouraged.

Turns During and After Combat
The party may choose to spend 1, 2, or 3 turns on a combat encounter and subsequent related actions.


 * 1) The first turn includes the combat itself, everyone catching his breath and retrieving his weapons, minimal bandaging to stop bleeding, and perhaps 1 or 2 quick mission-related action (eg. grab the guard's keys). The party can then hurry on to its next action.
 * 2) If a second turn is taken after-combat, everyone can recover 1 Fatigue die and receive First Aid. Prisoners and location can be superficially searched, and mission-related actions can be somewhat longer or more numerous.
 * 3) If a third turn is taken after-combat, everyone can recover a second point of Fatigue, and downed foes can be more thoroughly searched. A search for secret doors or a strip search of the bodies needs its own 10 minutes.

Turns Spent Searching, Lock Picking, etc.
Searching a location takes 1 turn. Actions like lock-picking take no time if immediately successful, but consume a turn if unsuccessful. Depending on circumstances, it might be possible to attempt the action again, possibly with a lower chance of success.

Turns Spent on Movement in Dungeon-like Environments
Cautious Movement decreases the party's chance of being surprised, increases its chance to surprise others, and increases its chance to detect traps, secret doors, etc. Cautious movement also allows detailed mapping. Note, however, that cautious movement is slow: in 1 turn a party may make cautious movement of 220 feet (about ¼ mph) in a dungeon-like environment. Normal Movement gives the party normal chances of being surprised, surprising others, and detecting traps, secret doors, etc. Normal movement allows only rough mapping. In 1 turn a party may make normal movement of 440 feet (about ½ mph) in a dungeon-like environment. Rapid Movement increases the party's chance of being surprised, decreases its chance to detect traps, secret doors, etc., and eliminates any chance to surprise others or to map. In 1 turn a party may make rapid movement of 880 feet (about 1 mph) in a dungeon-like environment.

Turn-Based Events
With each turn that passes there is some chance of a random encounter (wandering monster) or other unexpected event. Time is not the party's friend.

Movement as a Character's Action
A movement action during combat uses an Athletics roll to determine Initiative. Bob can move his Speed modified by his Encumbrance. If Bob moves out of Melee Range, only characters with higher initiative can attack him in melee. Missiles can still attack unless Bob moved behind a barrier.

Movement as Part of Another Action
Bob can move within Melee Range as part of another action. In other words, he can take a few steps over to the control panel and activate a switch. He can lunge across a small room to attack a foe. He can open a door and step through. You may take no more than 15’ of movement.

Movement While Maintaining a Spell
If Bob's only action is to re-cast a spell which which is already in effect, he can move at ½ his normal movement rate.

Obstructions to Movement
In some circumstances another character is not a block to Bob's movement through the (normally 5') space which the other character occupies.
 * Movement is blocked by all foes, and by allies who are engaged in combat. Other allies do not block movement.
 * An engaged character may exchange positions with an adjacent, non-engaged ally as the engaged character's move
 * Two allies may occupy the same space, but in that case neither ally may attack and both allies have Disadvantage against melee and missile attacks.

NPC Action and Movement in Combat
In large battles it may not be practical to announce individual actions for each NPC. Instead, announce a general action. Any individual NPC can change its action when its initiative arrives by taking a penalty of either Disadvantage and 5' of movement(10' instead of 15') or one-half of a movement action.


 * Attack: NPCs attack if in range, otherwise they move toward the enemy.
 * Hold: Melee NPCs already adjacent attack, melee NPCs in melee range guard, missile NPCs attack if in range, others tighten their formation.
 * Withdraw: NPCs retreat if in melee range of foe, other missile users attack, others form up beyond melee range of any foe.
 * Group Morale Failure: Adjacent NPCs retreat, others flee.

Races and Chases
A race can be simulated by using opposed Athletics rolls.

Long Distance Movement
Cautious movement travels half the normal distance. Rapid movement travels twice the normal distance, but cannot be sustained and cannot increase the per day travel distances.

Extreme loads, bad weather, traveling at night, and so on may also reduce travel distance. (Powerful storm ✕ 1/6, Storm or Heavy Fog ✕ 2/6, Heavy Rain or Fog ✕ 3/6, Rain ✕ 4/6.) This reduction is in addition to any natural hazards.

Effects of Encumbrance
Encumbrance, based on weight carried, is a penalty to most die rolls, including magic rolls. Encumbrance also reduces movement by 10' for each die of Encumbrance. Item weights will be more or less the same as in D&D 3.5. (https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Main_Page, choose "System Reference Document" under "Revised 3rd Edition (3.5e)", equipment is at the bottom of the middle column.)

Exempt Items
A item's weight need not be counted for purposes of encumbrance if:
 * 1) The item weights less than 3 lbs., and
 * 2) You carry less than 3 of that item.

Treat up to 50 coins as 1 item weighing 1 lb. This is for easier bookkeeping, please don't abuse it.

Encumbrance for Normal Actions
Bob's normal encumbrance limit (no penalty) is equal to Bob's STR times 10 pounds. Add 1 die to encumbrance for each 10 pounds (or part thereof) over that limit.

Encumbrance for Weight-Sensitive Actions
Climbing, Jumping and the like have an encumbrance limit of STR times 6 pounds. Add 1 die to encumbrance for each 6 pounds (or part thereof) over that limit. (Remember that Bob's encumbrance goes down if he removes his backpack, etc.)

Encumbrance for Swimming
Swimming has an encumbrance limit of STR times 3 pounds. Add 1 die to encumbrance for each 3 pounds (or part thereof) over that limit

Negative Encumbrance
If Bob is carrying less than half his encumbrance limit, he gets 2 negative encumbrance die for a +2 bonus to Action and Defense Rolls and an extra 15' of movement.