Does clothing count towards Encumbrance?


Rules Questions


In D&D 3.5E, clothing did not count towards a character's encumbrance:

Quote:
A beginning character is assumed to have an artisan's, entertainer's, explorer's, monk's, peasant's, scholar's, or traveler's outfit. This first outfit is free and does not count against the amount of weight a character can carry.

Is this still true in Pathfinder? Under Encumbrance by Weight on page 169 of the Core Rulebook it says:

Quote:
If you want to determine whether your character's gear is heavy enough to slow him down more than his armor already does, total the weight of all the character's items, including armor, weapons, and gear (see appropriate tables in Chapter 6).

It does not mention clothing, but does not specifically exclude it, either.


I know I will miss it too, but yes worn cloths now effect your total carrying load.

At least that is my RAW.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

8 people marked this as FAQ candidate. Answered in the FAQ. 5 people marked this as a favorite.

In games I run, one suit of worn clothing won't count for encumbrance. I'm relatively sure that the omission of that line from the rules was an oversight, but it's not something that I think warrants a full-blown errata.

Liberty's Edge

James Jacobs wrote:
In games I run, one suit of worn clothing won't count for encumbrance. I'm relatively sure that the omission of that line from the rules was an oversight, but it's not something that I think warrants a full-blown errata.

Do you still get a free set of clothing?


James Jacobs wrote:
In games I run, one suit of worn clothing won't count for encumbrance. I'm relatively sure that the omission of that line from the rules was an oversight, but it's not something that I think warrants a full-blown errata.

Thank you! That 10lbs of explorers outfit was weighing down our poor wizards poor strength a lot!

Another question, what about PF society play? Do I need to post this question there?

Dark Archive Bella Sara Charter Superscriber

It may not count for encumbrance, but removing your clothing will make you invisible...

Liberty's Edge

Sebastian wrote:
It may not count for encumbrance, but removing your clothing will make you invisible...

I can see that your charisma must be 18.


Studpuffin wrote:
Sebastian wrote:
It may not count for encumbrance, but removing your clothing will make you invisible...
I can see that your charisma must be 18.

-I just tried that and everyone started screaming


James Jacobs wrote:
In games I run, one suit of worn clothing won't count for encumbrance. I'm relatively sure that the omission of that line from the rules was an oversight, but it's not something that I think warrants a full-blown errata.

If it isn't errata'd, many low-STR PFS characters will be Medium Encumbered by default, particularly if they feel obligated (for RP-reasons) to wear Fancy/Explorers/Cold Weather Outfits rather than the lightest rags they can find. And/or they will go nuts getting every item in Mithril to reduce their Encumbrance, which seems unfair if it's just an oversight. If it was an oversight, I would want to fix it.


Quandary wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
In games I run, one suit of worn clothing won't count for encumbrance. I'm relatively sure that the omission of that line from the rules was an oversight, but it's not something that I think warrants a full-blown errata.
If it isn't errata'd, many low-STR PFS characters will be Medium Encumbered by default, particularly if they feel obligated (for RP-reasons) to wear Fancy/Explorers/Cold Weather Outfits rather than the lightest rags they can find. And/or they will go nuts getting every item in Mithril to reduce their Encumbrance, which seems unfair if it's just an oversight. If it was an oversight, I would want to fix it.

Yeah society play is highly effected by things like this too.

This should be in the errata.


To be fair, it would probably be easier to add this to the Guide to Pathfinder Society Organized Play than to make it into errata for the game, especially when it comes to figuring out where to put this in the Core rulebook for future printing.


...I'd guess it would go under Encumbrance by Weight on page 169:

Quote:
If you want to determine whether your character's gear is heavy enough to slow him down more than his armor already does, total the weight of all the character's items, including armor, weapons, and gear (see appropriate tables in Chapter 6). One worn set of clothing does not count towards Encumbrance. (OR SOMETHING)


Sir Hexen Ineptus wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
In games I run, one suit of worn clothing won't count for encumbrance. I'm relatively sure that the omission of that line from the rules was an oversight, but it's not something that I think warrants a full-blown errata.

Thank you! That 10lbs of explorers outfit was weighing down our poor wizards poor strength a lot!

Another question, what about PF society play? Do I need to post this question there?

(A) This is not - yet - errata, so at present it stands as is until such time it is clarified; and (B) this also affects the bad guys with a low STR too.

Dark Archive

Studpuffin wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
In games I run, one suit of worn clothing won't count for encumbrance. I'm relatively sure that the omission of that line from the rules was an oversight, but it's not something that I think warrants a full-blown errata.
Do you still get a free set of clothing?

Yes, if it costs 10gp or less.

PRD wrote:

Clothing

All characters begin play with one outfit, valued at 10 gp or less. Additional outfits can be purchased normally.

Sovereign Court

As far as pathfinder society, I was looking at the pregenerated characters, and none of them have clothing written into their equipment. So I would imagine that if pathfinder wanted it to count towards your weight. They would have included it in the characters equipment.

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32

Sebastian wrote:
It may not count for encumbrance, but removing your clothing will make you invisible...

Spoiler:
If you are going to make that reference, you should include the link.

That rule does get counter-intuitive with multiple sets of clothing, though.

Such as someone only being lightly encumbered while wearing an explorer's outfit, but when they take it off and put on a peasant's outfit (stowing the explorer's outfit in their pack) they are now medium encumbered.

Lantern Lodge

I guess I think of it in these terms:

If you're out camping and need to run away from a moose or something, dropping a 60lb packpack is going to let you significantly increase how fast and far you can run. But in general, most people are used to carrying the weight of a set of clothes. So used to it in fact that they wouldn't probably notice the difference in running speed.

Most of the time at the doctors, they just weigh you with your clothes on. Cause honestly, most of the time when weight matters (ie max load on an elevator) you'll be wearing an average set of clothes.

Grand Lodge

Jabor wrote:

That rule does get counter-intuitive with multiple sets of clothing, though.

Such as someone only being lightly encumbered while wearing an explorer's outfit, but when they take it off and put on a peasant's outfit (stowing the explorer's outfit in their pack) they are now medium encumbered.

I once had a DM read that rule as "only one specific set of clothing". Meaning the explorer's outfit I started with magically didn't count toward my encumbrance but when I bought another explorer's outfit and changed into it I had to add the weight.

So I had to wear the same set of clothing my entire career if I didn't want it to weigh me down. I ended up incorporating the stink into gameplay. Fun campaign.

Personally, I've always handwaved clothing weight at my tables. I only apply it in cases where the cloths are particularly bulky (like cold weather gear). Occasionally I'll add it to highlight someone's inexperience. Like when the barbarian has to wear a courtier's outfit at a fancy party.


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Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Vandil wrote:
Studpuffin wrote:
Sebastian wrote:
It may not count for encumbrance, but removing your clothing will make you invisible...
I can see that your charisma must be 18.
-I just tried that and everyone started screaming

Wouldn't you start screaming hysterically if someone simply vanished in front of your very eyes? I know I would.

Silver Crusade

Just take the lightest outfit given and say that much weight is not counted towards your weight total, but any additional clothing or outfits over and above that count. so you take for example the peasents outfit, or the monks outfit both 2 lbs. So you say that the first 2 lbs of any outfit don't count towards encumbrence. Thats how I have always ruled it.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

The only reason clothes even have a listed weight as far as I'm concerned is for when an adventurer has EXTRA sets of clothing with her. After all, a person can go through an entire wardrobe of clothes in a single adventure what with the acid traps, breath weapons, fireballs, and other fabric-ruining hazards.

Dark Archive

Ravingdork wrote:
The only reason clothes even have a listed weight as far as I'm concerned is for when an adventurer has EXTRA sets of clothing with her. After all, a person can go through an entire wardrobe of clothes in a single adventure what with the acid traps, breath weapons, fireballs, and other fabric-ruining hazards.

And how many female characters have had clothing destroyed as part of the "cinematic" description in your games? :P

Sovereign Court

I just don't count the clothing worn... so long as it doesn't get outrageous. When the Beguiler is wearing a velvet gown with petticoats and a train so long that 8 halflings are running behind her to carry it and her hair is done up as a cage for small animals, I probably draw the line at the slip.

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