Quote from: CRKrueger;940037So, if you simply defined via strength what you could Push/Pull/Lift, that would not be an encumbrance system.
If, however, you defined how fast or far you can move when Pushing/Pulling/Lifting those weights, then that would be an encumbrance system, at the very least under the case of Lift.

Except... you cant move while lifting something over your cap.

Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;940153What's the weight limit, x15? Does that mean you just literally collapse under all the weight?

Standard carrying capacity is STR x15. You can lift something up to X30, But cant move. So with the default with a 10 STR you can tote around 150lb of stuff. Past that you cant move. But you can hold it up to 300lb and then past that yeah you buckle.

With the optional encumbrance system its up to STR x5 unencumbered, up to x10 is encumbered and up to x15 is heavily encumbered. So Same 10 STR is fine up to 50lb, slowed down some up to 100lb and really hindered up to 150lb.

How long would you say it takes to don and doff the dungeoneering packs that you get in 5e?

Are they just like school backpacks that you can drop at a whim?

Pretty sure by the rules it is an object interaction (of which you get one per round).

Well, my question is if the backpacks are such that they CAN be removed in only one action, or if it's like armor where you have to take like a minute.

Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;941130Well, my question is if the backpacks are such that they CAN be removed in only one action, or if it's like armor where you have to take like a minute.

PHB says a backpack is 1 cubic foot/30lb. So not very big. But no info is given on how much it takes to get on and off. Its not covered in the free action rules so could be it takes one action or full action to remove? Simmilar to doffing a shield?

I'm not sure how long a round is in 5e, but if I absolutely had to I could schuck my Appalachian Trail- worthy backpack in less than 12 seconds, and probably 6. That would be undoing the waist buckle (which won't break), the strap buckle across my chest (which might- plastic vs fear), and slipping off the shoulder straps letting it fall. It can hold 2.5 cubic feet of gear, runs shoulders to hip.

6 seconds in 5e. Hence why figured its probably jut an action. So you could drop your pack and unsheath your sword, but not attack that round if you wanted to for example. Or if you had weapon ready then use the free action to drop the pack.

Quote from: Baron Opal;941533I'm not sure how long a round is in 5e, but if I absolutely had to I could schuck my Appalachian Trail- worthy backpack in less than 12 seconds, and probably 6. That would be undoing the waist buckle (which won't break), the strap buckle across my chest (which might- plastic vs fear), and slipping off the shoulder straps letting it fall. It can hold 2.5 cubic feet of gear, runs shoulders to hip.

The thing is, "packs" in fantasy land aren't modern ones, they're more like carrying a tent on your back.

At least that's what I always thought.

Granted it is fantasy, but with the base presumption of a world similar to ours I don't see humans making their backpacks laboriously hard to take off. What with wild animals, perilous heights and narrow stretches, water crossings, etc. being able to disengage a harness to stave off death would seem like a useful thing to prepare for. I mean, it's not like quick untying knots and sharp knives were unknown... Would have made migration and settling by 'the fantasy ancestors' a rather harder task.

Or perhaps complex knots stave off pixies and heavy backpacks help turtle against owlbears? But what do I know, I don't bother camping or hiking further than running hot water...

Right. At least at the basics a D&D backpack is apparently something fairly managable and isnt strapped on like armour. My Warlock PC never takes his off as I try not to load it up. I keep droppables in sacks and such that can be just let go of or quick set down. The backpack holds the survival gear. Aint dropping that!

As a DM I do though occasionally remind the players that just dropping stuff might risk breaking something or spilling out the contents.

Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;941703The thing is, "packs" in fantasy land aren't modern ones, they're more like carrying a tent on your back.

At least that's what I always thought.

How do you want packs to work?

If you are happy with PCs dropping a pack in an action, then fine, If you need them to undo loads of straps and so on then also fine.

There doesn't always need to be an official rule about something.

Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;941703The thing is, "packs" in fantasy land aren't modern ones, they're more like carrying a tent on your back.

At least that's what I always thought.

Oh, I'm sure. I added the details so that others could extrapolate.

From what I understand, backpacks from the Middle Ages were either cloth or leather sacks with shoulder straps, or wicker baskets with shoulder straps and potentially a belt. That's what it looks like in the paintings I've seen.

I normally don't track food and encumbrance. As long as the players are being reasonable, it's not an issue. Also, in D&D the ease of access of create food and water takes away the need to bring food on journeys.

However, I'm preparing for an underdark campaign where I will use custom encumbrance rules. Create food and water will not work in my underdark, and Light spells will +3 level in access. The campaign will be about journeying over large distances and exploration in a hostile environment. The key will be to make it a fun and interesting sub-system, so different trade-offs between using humanoid porters, rothe, giant lizards, and giant beetles as bearers, along with potential problems with getting those bearers over obstacles and keeping them alive.

Quote from: Haffrung;942163However, I'm preparing for an underdark campaign where I will use custom encumbrance rules. Create food and water will not work in my underdark, and Light spells will +3 level in access. The campaign will be about journeying over large distances and exploration in a hostile environment.

I have different qualities of food provide different levels of restoration. Fresh food is best, followed by dried / preserved, and then magically created. Magically created food will keep you alive, but if you want to regain your hit points, &c., at a reasonable rate, you better have the real deal.