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D&D item weights are amusing.

Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2021 9:11 pm
by SierraStrider
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Re: D&D item weights are amusing.

Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2021 10:42 pm
by Manveruon
HAH! :lol:

Re: D&D item weights are amusing.

Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2021 3:08 pm
by Greg
I concur. Ten pounds of rope @ 50' long would likely be a heavy (2" thick or more!) mooring line from a shipyard...and the bulk alone of carrying such a hank would fill one's pack!

Re: D&D item weights are amusing.

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2021 2:44 am
by Eofor
I've always felt the same with any game where you raid dungeons - Surely I can find space in my inventory for this 38th sword?

Re: D&D item weights are amusing.

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2021 10:07 pm
by Iodo
Eofor wrote: Mon Nov 15, 2021 2:44 am I've always felt the same with any game where you raid dungeons - Surely I can find space in my inventory for this 38th sword?
well, because rope doesn't really weigh 10Ib, you can carry a 38th sword :lol:

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I have to admit, I have never given this a thought beyond "it's just the game rules", and now I am having to stop myself wasting hours of time weighing stuff to see how right it is LOL

Re: D&D item weights are amusing.

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2021 2:27 am
by Harper
It's only off by a 0--close enough for government work.

I'm not a big fan of 5e.

I think it is better than 4e.

I prefer 3.5e or AD&D (1e).

Re: D&D item weights are amusing.

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2021 7:01 pm
by ForgeCorvus
I was a 2nd ed. Runequest player, encumbrance was based on bulk not weight ( Sierra's hank of rope would be one 'Thing' for example, the same as a sword, a bucket or a bag of rice)

That way you can't carry off one fourteenth share of a dragon's hoard in your knapsack....... Unless its one stone

Re: D&D item weights are amusing.

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 12:54 pm
by Iodo
ForgeCorvus wrote: Tue Nov 16, 2021 7:01 pm That way you can't carry off one fourteenth share of a dragon's hoard in your knapsack....... Unless its one stone
loving that reference :mrgreen:

Re: D&D item weights are amusing.

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 7:13 pm
by Manveruon
ForgeCorvus wrote: Tue Nov 16, 2021 7:01 pm I was a 2nd ed. Runequest player, encumbrance was based on bulk not weight ( Sierra's hank of rope would be one 'Thing' for example, the same as a sword, a bucket or a bag of rice)

That way you can't carry off one fourteenth share of a dragon's hoard in your knapsack....... Unless its one stone
Well played. Well played. :lol:

Re: D&D item weights are amusing.

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2021 10:17 pm
by Manveruon
Incidentally, this is a fun little article in which the author very nearly collides head-first with our hobby without even realizing it, and he himself notes the amusingly huge difference between the weight of what he actually carried on his outing (about 25 lbs) and what the D&D manual claims his character’s pack weighs (an absolutely ridiculous 59 lbs). That’s over twice the actual weight! And even if he had used more substantial materials for the torches, I very much doubt it ever would have reached nearly 60 frickin’ pounds. :lol:

https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/l ... s-camping/

Re: D&D item weights are amusing.

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2021 10:20 pm
by Iodo
Manveruon wrote: Fri Dec 03, 2021 10:17 pm Incidentally, this is a fun little article in which the author very nearly collides head-first with our hobby without even realizing it
awesome stuff :mrgreen:

Re: D&D item weights are amusing.

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2023 7:29 pm
by Ian M
IIRC, Gygax knew the weights were off. He was also trying to simulate the bulk of the items as well

Re: D&D item weights are amusing.

Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2023 2:49 am
by Tom_Ranger
Harper wrote: Tue Nov 16, 2021 2:27 am I'm not a big fan of 5e.
I think it is better than 4e.
I prefer 3.5e or AD&D (1e).
3.5 had a spot check and a listen check which was important if you have a blind or deaf character. The "perception" check is faster to process but doesn't fit all situations.
On the most part I like 4e and 5e but often add a listen check and a spot check to the skills for the players.

Re: D&D item weights are amusing.

Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2023 7:23 pm
by Harper
The 50th Anniversary Edition is coming out next year.

Re: D&D item weights are amusing.

Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 6:21 am
by Tom_Ranger
Harper wrote: Fri Dec 08, 2023 7:23 pm The 50th Anniversary Edition is coming out next year.
They aren't going to do something dumb and call it "new next" or something like that are they?