I have always thought that the encumbrance rules for CT were a little off. Being able to carry only your strength in kg without being penalized seems incredibly low. A modern 7.62mm battle rifle is around 4.5 kg. While in the armed forces I don’t recall this slowing me down at all. MgT ups the value to strength plus endurance before being encumbered. I am curious what folks do in their CT games.
Encumbrance limit
- Thread starter ddamant
- Start date
Shadow Shack
SOC-12
Key words there: "slowing me down". Don't forget that you can double and triple your capacity with minimal penalties, coupled to armor and various other bits of "worn" equipment that doesn't count toward those limits.
It's not just the midpoint being a little too low, I don't like the spread being so larger either. So I use 10 kg for STR 7 and then +/- 15% for every s.d. from that. I know, its a little wonky, but once you make your table, it becomes a one-time look up.
EDIT: just saw shadow's post, and I agree, a -1 DEX is a minimal penalty. So 10/20/30kg for STR 7 at 0/-1/-2 DEX feels OK to me.
EDIT: just saw shadow's post, and I agree, a -1 DEX is a minimal penalty. So 10/20/30kg for STR 7 at 0/-1/-2 DEX feels OK to me.
I remember the old M-14 (we had them in my ROTC unit). It wasn't the rifle that slowed you down so much as it was the cumulative weight of the rifle plus 4 magazines (7.62mm ammo in bulk weighs considerably more than 5.56mm, and a wooden stocked M-14 weighs more than an M-16), plus pack, plus steel helmet, plus two full canteens, etc., etc. SLA Marshall's book, The Soldier's Load and The Mobility of a Nation, was brought into perspective pretty quickly for aspirant 2nd lieutenants.
Timerover51
SOC-14 5K
I use 40 pounds or 20 kilograms based on Marshall's book for the average load without encumbrance.
kilemall
SOC-14 5K
Ya I ran this issue past a paratrooper friend of mine, where obviously they absolutely are going to leg it once they hit the ground.
Maybe a good new rule would be all three physical stats together determines unencumbered carry. Makes sense too as STR would cover lift and bone structure, DEX would cover moving efficiently/handling bulk, and END covers general hardiness under load.
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
In the army you're trained to be a mule, and historically, you can thank Gaius Marius for that.
Travelling, I find my personal limit is twenty kilogrammes, plus.
Travelling, I find my personal limit is twenty kilogrammes, plus.
I like this idea quite a bit. Gonna play around with this and see how it holds up.
Time ago I read an article in a game maazine (not sure wich one) named (IIRC) I thought it is light Infantry where it also said the full equipment for a light infantry trooper was about 20 kg (21, again IIRC).
As it seems it happened to you with your own readings (and maybe experience), this thread remembered me about it, as in Traveller terms this mean those soldiers would be encumbered for normal opperations (and need at least STR 7 to carry the full equipment)...
I's say encumbrance would affect STR and END more than DEX, as they are described in Traveller...
Knife combat uses STR, not DEX in Traveller. Affecting DEX would affect shooting at someone, and I (from my inexperience on firearms) guess it would affect less.
In amy case, according TTB, a nencumbered carácter all three physical characteristics decreased...
I just use the "really?" rule. Players get to load up as much as possible until someone looks at them with a raised eyebrow and goes "really?" at which point they have to dump some stuff. In D&D where there is a strict economy to be be observed with turns and wandering monsters and torches that go out it's really important but in a sci fi game I just handwave it.
Found this recent study, which might be of interest:
https://taskandpurpose.com/combat-load-weight-research
https://taskandpurpose.com/combat-load-weight-research
Excellent analysis. Interesting that the flak vest and helmet factor into the equation, and the armor worn is typically given almost a pass in many Traveller variants. What this analysis tells us is that it is total load weight (as a percentage of body weight) that ultimately matters (at least until you get electromechanical/hydraulic power assists). That said, effective LBE (load bearing equipment, for those who haven't spent time with Uncle Sugar's merry band, or its equivalents) does increase the individual's ability to function despite a "reasonable" load (and bad/no LBE decreases it) because it helps distribute the weight. That said, you still feel the marked difference when you take it off !
In the world wars, many combatant nations had what was termed a March Load (pack, bedroll, extra ammo, spare clothing, etc. etc. kitchen sink), and troops would drop packs and leave them with the company first sergeant just before going into the attack. (And then we have the first day of the Battle of the Somme, as the counter-example.)
In the world wars, many combatant nations had what was termed a March Load (pack, bedroll, extra ammo, spare clothing, etc. etc. kitchen sink), and troops would drop packs and leave them with the company first sergeant just before going into the attack. (And then we have the first day of the Battle of the Somme, as the counter-example.)
One thing most playing systems seem t oignore (maybe just for simlicity reasons) is that encumbrance is not only a matter of weight, but volumen and weight distribution also matters.
Try to fight with a bagpack, even an empry one, and I guess you'll find yourself encumbred...
Try to fight with a bagpack, even an empry one, and I guess you'll find yourself encumbred...
HanleyTucks
SOC-11
With even just cams, boots, webbing and rifle, I certainly never felt dextrous 
There is perhaps a reason that competitive sprinters and gymnasts do not carry 50lbs of gear with them.
There is perhaps a reason that competitive sprinters and gymnasts do not carry 50lbs of gear with them.
This is an interesting article that itemizes the weight of the various items that the modern US soldier carries into combat:
https://www.ptxnomad.com/what-do-soldiers-carry-and-what-does-it-weigh/
One of the things we often forget is that, with an increased reliance on various electronics gear, soldiers are carrying more batteries into the field than did their grandfathers. Anyone who has handled a PRC-77 radio AND the spare batteries (necessary on long patrols) can appreciate what that extra weight means. Until you can reduce battery efficiency and power to size ratios that means a heck of a lot of extra weight.
https://www.ptxnomad.com/what-do-soldiers-carry-and-what-does-it-weigh/
One of the things we often forget is that, with an increased reliance on various electronics gear, soldiers are carrying more batteries into the field than did their grandfathers. Anyone who has handled a PRC-77 radio AND the spare batteries (necessary on long patrols) can appreciate what that extra weight means. Until you can reduce battery efficiency and power to size ratios that means a heck of a lot of extra weight.
