| stevelabny |
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I'm skimming the 2E rules and I bounced into the equipment section to check out bulk. Bulk Limits are 5+StrMod.
The numbers are scary. But I'm being confused by the sample characters.
Alchemist listing says: 4 Bulk, 6 Light
Items say: Studded Leather 1, Dagger L, Sling L, 20 Bullets, LL, Adventurer's Pack 2, Alchemist's Tools 2, Bandolier -, Basic Crafter's Book L, 2 sets of Caltrops LL, Sheath -
Math says: 5 Bulk, 7 Light
Barbarian listing says: 3 Bulk, 5 Light
Items say: Hide Armor 2 , 4 Javelins LLLL, Adventurer's Pack 2, Grappling Hook L, 2 sheaths --,
Math says: 4 Bulk, 5 Light
Bard listing says: 4 Bulk, 3 Light
Items say: Studded Leather 1, Dagger L, Rapier 1, Sling L, 20 Bullets LL. Adventurer's Pack 2, Bandolier -, Handheld Instrument 1, Sheath -
Math says: 5 Bulk, 4L
Ranger listing says: 3 Bulk, 3 Light
Items say: Leather Armor 1, Dagger L, Longbow 2, 20 Arrows LL, Adventurer's Pack 2, Sheath -
Math says: 5 Bulk, 3 Light. This one is off by TWO!!!
What's going on? When you do the math correctly, the characters who usually don't need strength are right up against their encumbered stat with the bare minimums. Spare weapons? Only daggers. Crossbows or Shortbows? Unlikely. Carrying any amount of loot back to town? Better hope you don't have any encounters.
Any sort of dex-based duel-sword build is looking at bulk 5 just for 2 swords, leather armor, and an adv pack. The classes that usually have average strength can't carry anything (The Rogue would start at 5 Bulk so I hope they're not stealing anything with weight or their escape would be very difficult)
Even the str-based builds would hurt. Plate armor is 4 Bulk which eats up ALL of your required STR modifier. Leaving you with 5 Bulk for your Greatsword (2), Adventurers Pack (2) and Longbow (2) NOPE, TOO HEAVY, BETTER TAKE THE SHORTBOW.
Am I missing rules? Am I terrible at basic math? Help!
Otherwise - possible theories?
1> The Adventurer's Pack is supposed to weigh Bulk 1. Everyone is over by 1 Bulk (the Ranger by 2) and its the one item they all have in common. (The various differences in Light amounts seem to be ammo based with 20ammo weighing the same as 10)
2> Bulk Limit is actually 5+StrMod+Level so you can carry some loot? (still doesn't explain the bad math, but let's people carry their stuff maybe)
3> They really don't want anyone lowering stats below 10. An 8 STR rogue is now functionally useless.
4> Pathfinder 2E is meant to be like Outward the video game - drop your pack before every combat. That's why everyone has bandoliers! I would say they want you to leave the packs on the donkeys outside the dungeon, but that's where your chalk is!
5> Nobody takes encumbrance rules seriously, so even adding a new system nobody bothered to test it or make sure the math was right, and/or they botched it on purpose so that even less people would use it and they could eventually remove it outright.
Please tell me I'm stupid and missing something???