Another one to noodle on, what do you imagine is the average size/weight of a RAW Medium item and at what point do you rule it is Large for purposes of Encumbrance?
I know there are some variables involved but let's just say the base value to work with, carrying an unconscious average size adult and assuming that adult is wearing no heavy armor or environment suits, and carrying no weighty gear of their own. Probably carried in the tried-and-true 'fireman's carry' position.
Trying to visualize, I imagine myself IRL as a character with 3 STR. I'm an adult male weighing 195 pounds that doesn't work out or engage much in sports but I'm moderately fit. As part of my delivery job, I regularly carry 40 pounds up a flight or two of stairs without breaking a sweat. Could I imagine carrying a 200 pound person up those two flights at normal speed HELL NO. I would probably have some serious MOBILITY penalties and most likely need a STAMINA roll for each flight of steps to see if I need to take a minute to catch my breath.
RAW at STR 3 I can carry up to 6 Medium Items with no penalty and 12 Medium Items with penalty. I'm imagining that 200 pound person is about my full capacity at 12 Medium Items. Mathwise that comes out to 16.667, an ugly number. Dropping the Average Weight of a Human to 180 pounds, while somewhat unrealistic (at least in America where we are all obese
gives us a more manageable 15 pounds per Medium Item. (15*12=180). NOTE that 15 pounds is probably the upper limit of what can be considered a Medium Item, not all Medium Items weigh 15 poundsThat would mean that higher STR characters could carry a normal sized person and still have this many encumbrance slots left:
STR 1-2 - Cannot carry a person
STR 3 - Carry a person but that's it, can't carry anything else.
STR 4 - Carry a normal size person and 2 Medium slots. Note that STR 4 is the normal limit for a non-specialized human character
STR 5 - Carry a normal size person and 4 Medium slots. Note that STR 5 is restricted to human characters that specialize in STR
STR 6+ - Carry a normal size person and 6+(?) Medium Slots. Note that STR 6+ is restricted to Synthetics, humans on serious performance enhancing drugs, or full-on Robotics (like Power Loaders)
Did I just answer my own question, or did you guys have any thoughts? The need to carry bodies around is something that I think comes up a lot in ARPG play and will especially be something I want to get right in my upcoming Destroyer of Worlds story.
