Alternate Attributes

Alternate Section 1.31:
Attributes
Date: January 2004
By: Gordon A. Cooper

[Revised: July 2010]

Lifting Capacity and Encumbrance Limits

A character's ability to lift and carry is determined by his Strength attribute or the nearest equivalent trait. Find the character's trait level on the Sample Scale Table (or this Strength Scale Chart), adjust for Scale if necessary, and the result is his Lifting Capacity in pounds and kilograms. His Heavy Encumbrance Limit, the maximum load he can carry over a long distance at a march, is equal to his Lifting Capacity -2 levels. His Medium Encumbrance Limit, the maximum load he can carry over a short distance at a run, is equal to his Lifting Capacity -4 levels. His Light Encumbrance Limit, the maximum load he can carry without incurring action penalties of any kind, is equal to his Lifting Capacity -6 levels.

Thus, a human being (Scale 0) with Fair Strength would have a Lifting Capacity of 150 lbs (68 kg), a Heavy Encumbrance Limit of 68 lbs (30 kg), a Medium Encumbrance Limit of 30 lbs (13 kg), and a Light Encumbrance Limit of 13 lbs (6 kg).

Encumbrance Limits may affect a character's Speed, combat skills, and other physical activities. Medium encumbrance might cause a character to incur a -1 penalty to actions, whereas heavy encumbrance might cause him to incur a -2 penalty to some actions and prevent other actions entirely.

Note that clothing worn does not count in the calculation of encumbrance.

• Lifting Capacity = trait level on Sample Scale Table
  
• Heavy Encumbrance Limit = Lifting Capacity -2
  
• Medium Encumbrance Limit = Lifting Capacity -4
  
• Light Encumbrance Limit = Lifting Capacity -6
  

• heavy encumbrance = -2 penalty to actions
  
• medium encumbrance = -1 penalty to actions
  

Running Speed and Sprinting Speed

A character's maximum movement rate is determined by his Speed attribute or the nearest equivalent trait. Find the character's trait level on the Speed Scale Table (or this Speed Scale Chart), adjust for Scale if necessary, and the result is his Running Speed in miles per hour and kilometers per hour, and his Sprinting Speed in yards or meters per round. Heavy encumbrance reduces his Speed by 6 levels; medium encumbrance reduces his Speed by 4 levels; light encumbrance reduces his Speed by 2 levels.

Alternatively, the GM may decide to base Running Speed and Sprinting Speed on a character's Running and Sprinting skills. Characters who have not developed these skills will have a Speed based on the default skill level, such as Poor.

• heavy encumbrance = -6 penalty to Speed
  
• medium encumbrance = -4 penalty to Speed
  
• light encumbrance = -2 penalty to Speed
  
• unencumbered = no penalty to Speed