Solar Blades & Cosmic Spells - Encumbrance Rules

Artwork by Louis Glanzman

Yeah, yeah... I know. Encumbrance is boring. But it can be really important sometimes, and can add dramatic weight to the game if used correctly. Imagine being pursued by a big bad monsters and having to decide between dropping all your cool loot and escape, or keeping it and possible being devoured!

So yeah... Here are the draft rules for Encumbrance for Solar Blades & Cosmic Spells.

Encumbrance

Adventurers need all sorts of equipment and gear, so the temptation of carrying as much items as one physically can is understandable. However, the ability to run when danger approaches and to jump out of incoming fire is a must in the perilous worlds of this Universe. That’s when the Encumbrance rules comes in. Characters carrying too much gear won’t be as fast and those carrying just the essential or those that choose carefully what to take with them.

In game terms, each character has an Encumbrance limit equal to his Physique score. This is the number of items with roughly the size of a medium weapon the character can carry. Most objects are assumed to count as one item for this Encumbrance limit (unless the Overlord rules otherwise). Clothes and armor do not count against this limit, as they already calculate their effect on the user’s movement. Backpack and other items used to carry equipment do not count against the limit too and can increase said limit by a few units also.

When carrying more than his Encumbrance limit but less than twice this number, a character receives a Negative Die to all tests regarding movements, reflexes and strength, while also needing to choose between moving or acting in each round. Their overland speed is halved for all purposes. When carrying more than twice the Encumbrance limit, a character can only move a few meters before having to stop and rest. They can’t take actions in this situation.

Kaylia, Alice’s character was exploring an abandoned derelict in the depths of space and collecting all sorts items stored inside it. She was sure she would make quite a fortune selling them. But suddenly her luck went south. A amorphous creature broke out of the ventilation tubes of the ship and was heading toward her. Since she was carrying 18 items in total, beyond the 13 Encumbrance limit (as her Physique score is 13), she was soon losing ground to the terrible creature. She had no option beyond leaving behind some of the objects she found. Dropping 5 items allowed her to make an Agility test and reach her Starship before the monster could put its tentacles around her neck.

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