How does the encumbrance works?

[Nostra]

So I'm new to the pathfinder system and the game. Anybody can explain to me how the encumbrance works?

Is it the total weight of your shared party stash that gives encumbrance for everyone in the party? how does it get calculated, total strenght of all party members?

And the personal wieght and encumbrance? Just the total weight of all worn items?

[Aria Athena]

It has to do with the total strength plus bags of holding which increase it. I think it only affects your parties speed on the world map, unless the party is over encumbered, then it also has an effect during combat and such.

Other than that, each character has their own encumbrance which has to do with the gear equipped. Those have more serious penalties.

[Nostra]

Ok I think I got it, thanks

[Gregorovitch]

To add little to that 'cos encumbrance is very important in this game:

Al encumbrance is measures as light, medium or heavy. Medium encumbrance is not good. Heavy encumbrance is very bad. Do not ignore it.

You have two types of encumbrance:

Party encumbrance: The light/medium/heavy encumbrance bands calculated based on STR across your party members (meaning weak part members get covered by strong ones) and is primarily about hauling your inventory around. When you get to medium encumbrance your travel speed across the map is slowed and the amount of time you can travel before you get fatigued and have to rest is reduced. If you get to heavy encumbrance these numbers are hammered. High CON counters fatigue to some extent but not enough to make heavy encumbrance other than very bad news.

Character encumbrance: This is PC/Companion's personal light/medium/heavy encumbrance band rating based on their individual STR and is primarily about what equipment and weapons they can use without getting slowed down in battle. Speed in combat is obviously important but in the early game before your characters have beefed their stats and acquired belts and such to boost their STR you may have to compromise over this as armour AC is also vital for some characters. Having one or two companions heavily encumbered personally does not seem to affect Party encumbrance that much or put another way it is more than possible to have a party member heavily encumbered but the party as whole lightly encumbered for travelling purposes.

[Nostra]

Wow thanks this clears it up alot

[thelebk]

Gregorovitch has laid out the meat of it. Frankly I really like the in game encumbrance system as it encourages players not to use strength as a dump stat and adds additional logistic factors to the game which increases the value of some of the non-combat abilities. The only time it gets a bit wonky is when you go to your stronghold (Oleg or City). At that location you lose your party and their strength for party encumbrance, but still have the weight of all the party items. The game does not punish you for this exception however. Be advised there is also a setting in the options to reduce speed (in addition to the other penalties) based on individual encumbrance to model additional realism.