When I DM, I don't do encumbrance either. Why give treasure to the adventurers if they can't carry it?

I think you just answered your own question! ;)

My first ever character found a displacer cloak - safe to say it saved his life or proved critical on many occasions. Not sure I've had one since, but always on the lookout!

Nineve - I too prefer armors that allow a base 9" movement. Being a tank is one thing, but being slow as molasses is a huge disadvantage.

Barnabus leaving The Rosy Quartz:


Fortunately, at least in this instance, most of the collateral damage will be confined to the jeweler’s shop.

Now, that's not fair. A warning was given albeit an oblique one steeped in omission.

Displacer cloak is the GOAT, as they say these days. One of the best items ever!   Though, maybe like wearing a fur piece, in some circles.  You may get a hostile reaction from some monster rights activist on occasion.

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 866):

It's not encumbrance, per se.   Armors have an inherent move base in most D&D editions I've played, either 12, 9, or 6".   This is regardless how much total weight the character carries.   Although it can go lower if you get overloaded, too.

Most GMs do seem to use that rule, but rarely the actual encumbrance rules.  If this GM uses neither, then yeah, there'd be no reason not to have plate.

Except aesthetics.   I'd still take the elfin mail for that reason, probably.  ;)

In reply to Nineve (msg # 871):

I don't think that is the case with LL. I could be wrong (I usually am) as I have not read the LL rules beginning to end since this game started!

But, the Equipment list simply provides a weight for each type of armour: Plate is 50#, Banded is 35#, etc.

Under Time and Movement it says characters can move their "full movement rate (120 ft unless heavily encumbered)"...

Then Carrying Capacity and Encumbrance opens with "This is an optional rule..."

So, IMO depending on the DM's whim, all PCs could move at 120 ft if that's how he decides. My house rules for AD&D drop the speed decreases for armour because I have been convinced that even with the weight of plate, the wearer could still move easily. And AD&D assumed a 10 minute break every hour which for me took away the 'fatigue factor'.

But that's me!

I'm good either way, it's not a biggie for me, I'm just used to 12/9/6 as a standard. But it isn't a standard that makes the game better for me.   Anycase, it's almost instinctual now that I go leather or studded leather or chain mail or banded mail in ascending order, depending what I can wear and afford, and avoid scale, splint and plate so that the humanoid hordes don't run me down.

In AD&D, I think field plate is 9" move, but your money pouch gets way lighter too.

As Labyrinth Lord expressly treats encumbrance as an optional rule, I don’t take the time to examine what adventurers are carrying with a fine tooth comb. Most of the characters who put on heavy armor, at least in my conception of a high fantasy world, have the requisite strength to move in it efficiently. The only time I’m inclined to bring encumbrance into the equation is if one or more of the adventurers is carrying something that is especially heavy or large. As an example, looking several chapters back, had some of the company members insisted on trying to ferry the demonic statue out of the catacombs after the balor appeared, I would have had to consider that burden with respect to how quickly some party members would be able to flee the catacombs.

If only it had been in three parts to allow for easier transport.

In reply to Barnabus (msg # 875):

Who builds demon statues without casters? Shoddy workmanship!

Thanks for the confirmation on encumbrance, Loughcrew!

Yeah, way BITD when we were young teenagers encumbrance was not so much tossed aside as blatantly disregarded. Amazing how a party of adventurers with perhaps one Bag of Holding could carry an entire dragon's horde (or two) away in their backpacks.

"Yep, it's all here in my backpack - the 72,000 silvers, the 28,000 electrum, 17,500 gold, the three potions and the +2 backscratcher. No, doesn't weigh a thing!"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:10, Thu 16 May.

Also, these two statements:-

Whatever guise (Bato) might take on here in Helix, it will probably be one that will provide him with gold, or the ability to raise a good sum of it quickly.

And, at The Rosy Quartz Jeweler and Money Lender, apprentice jeweler Spyros Duan reports to work for the very last time.

Jewellers have access to gold, or plenty of valuables, no? A jeweler leaving town, today? How long has he been an apprentice? Heading north, perhaps??
This message was last edited by the player at 10:31, Thu 16 May.

So Spyros Duan is Bato.

I dunno, he might be. If only we had a way of testing..?

To prevent a red herring, Spyros Duan’s fate isn’t actually tied to Vocos Bato at all. It’s the result of the specific piece of jewelry he’ll be working on that morning.

I'll be out of cell service for most of the day, but I thought I'd throw my idea out there quickly on my way out of town. If Bato needs coin, let's set a trap for him... Let him come after one of us and then the others spring it!

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 881):

Now, now, he understood the risks when he answered such a perilous calling as apprentice gem cutter.

A beautiful sentiment, but given our track record, I'm predicting two dead villagers and at least one building damaged!!

Dax might look into buying shares in the funeral house chain and perhaps the building repair supply company - Ye Olde Home Depot?

I’m kind of getting the impression that there’s some level of insecurity regarding the overall safety of non-player characters in this campaign, which I feel is unwarranted.

It's professional concern. We feel the constant calls from HR are unwarranted, but we're trying to pick our battles...

Indeed. It's perhaps time we began printing and handing out our NPC Starter Packs - complete with participation badges, guidelines to the risks involved, and wills to fill out at the earliest convenience...

Don't forget the RED SHIRT! ;-)

Oh you mean like in the original Star Trek, where everyone in a red shirt perishes?

On that topic, I've always thought tribbles should be an option on the find familiar table.  Like when you roll a 1, or something.

But what ability would they confer to the master?  Rapid, asexual reproduction, maybe?

Yup, I grew up watching Star Trek! I was a little young for the original run (born in 1961), but reruns were abundant!