I recently made my players go over everything in thier inventory etc to and not only record thier weight but also take the penalties for weight restriction.

This wasnt a problem because the sniper assain simply gave his Heavy Stubber to the Guardsman when it isnt mounted on thier jeep/ATV.

But I was wondering - with minor things like this (nad carrying away unconsious comrades - something we havent had to do yet beacuse of psyker healing) how strict are you/ is your DM.

Are there any other things which may or may not detraact from the game by bothering with them???

When GMing, I organize my priorities thusly:

1: Make sure everyone has a good time.

2: Make sure we craft a good narrative.

3: Make sure everyone is getting balanced challenges and 'screen time'.

4: Make sure we're following the rules.

As you can see, following the RAW is pretty low on my list of priorities. Still, because the game was already designed with most of the first three things in mind, you can usually accomplish all of them and still follow all of the rules. However, if I feel that a rule is in the way of any of this, I discard it without a second thought.

In the case of weight, I find that the time spent on managing and recording and adding is not worth the effort, and I can usually rely on my PC's to manage their inventories at a reasonable level. In the case of weapons, I use a modified version of the 'five-slots' rule I've seen here on the forums.

My players tend to self-regulate themselves and each other. Sometimes it's even annoying as one players remind me that the last attack should have killed them or I forgot to subtract a fate point. It doesn't help that half of them are number crunching munchkins.

Player 1: "But the enemy could be so much more efficient if they attacked in this direction. Here let me see the mat.

*Places each scum in a excellent cover on the roof tops and reminds me that each of their rifles has the accurate trait.*

Me: " Uh ok...."

*Several dice rolls later.*

Me: "Player 1 you take 23 damage with 3 PEN. I believe you just may be dead."

*Players grin widely.*

In the case of Heavy Weapons, I'm a fan of following the weight rules. If it's something else (An adept with a load of knives and a blade and some books, an Assassin with a brace of pistols) I try to focus more on Bulk and "Do you REALLY think you can carry all that through the door?" factors. It helps keep Auto-cannons out of the ballrooms, and makes players try to decide what to bring.

I as a player try to keep my kit weight under the carry and all that, but it's hard to do, with my flack armor and pair of pistols and etc.

Yea, I wouldn’t worry too much about weight, and focus more on realistic encumbrance.

As they are suiting up in their full set of Flak Armor and strapping on an Autogun, a Combat Shotgun, a Laz Pistol, a Sword, Extra Ammo Clips, plus a Backpack full of med supplies, rations, water, blankets, and whatever else, I would just mention to them that with all of that stuff, Sneeking will be nearly impossible and Dodging will be made at a severe Negative.

Yes, you CAN carry all that; you can also carry a bag of bowling balls, but it doesn't mean you will be as effective.

As both a GM and a player I tend to go by the "could 'you' realistically find a way to carry that" rule.

That being said I don't enforce encumberance I personally think its a giant waste of time. If someone who has a character who wants to carry enough armament to overthrow a small country, then that character can if the player can tell me two things.

1: Where all the weapons and extra ammo are placed on his/her body. Now I have limits here. My figures on this subject are, 2 pistols attached to thighs, 2 pistols/swords at the hips, two pistols under the armpits, one rifle or two swords on the back, the chest can hold 5 daggers, grenades, or clips, the belt can hold 4 clips in the front and back, then finally 2 daggers or small pistols in the boots. Then any extra ammo pouches added in armor (ammo only pouches).

2: Does the player actually think his/her character will be fully effective with all this gear. This is the most important question. Everything adding bulk to the character is one problem and then the ability to effectively be in combat w/o tiring. This sometimes isn't a rule calculation but a flavor calculation on my part. I have given my players armed to the teeth negatives to combat and skills because not of over encumberance but the fact of carrying all that gear and fighting would make him/her tired.

Those are my two thoughts on the subject.

As in all things, common sense needs to be the determining factor.

Obviously, individual character traits and backgrounds will have an effect too: A Guardsman with a Strength 53 who has always been described as the "ammo-man" for a 2 man IG weapons team is clearly going to be better at tucking reloads for weapons into his LBE, cargo pockets, utility vest and so on than the Strength 27 Adept in his team that has always been played as "a little sickly unless he is sipping at his special tea".

When my team is re-arming for a new stage in a mission I ask each player what gear they are packing and in the case of weapons and bulky tools, where they are stored/carried. This allows me to determine NPC reactions based on appearance (the assassin is in a stylish cloak with a concealed pistol, the arbitrator has a heavy stubber?!), keep some control over what arsenal gets dragged along to individual scenes, and toss in some dramatic complications if the story calls for it. Say that the unfortunate character that earlier declared he had a lasgun stored on a sling over his right shoulder is hit in an ambush: I am much more agreeable to this character burning a fate point because "Lucky for me the rounds struck my rifle instead of my spine. Man, I need another rifle now..."

The other fun check on the "munchkin pack-mule" is of course critical hits and energy/explosive attacks. "Ok, so the flames wash over you, crisping your exposed hair and skin and engulfing your torso and pack. Say, don't you have 14 frag grenades and 3 promethium tanks stored there?"

I personally dont take armor weight into factor for the overall encumbrance ( but i do take it into effect for AG related tests like dodging etc..) since I am personally familiar with several types of armors given my work background i can tell you that actual ballistic plate body armor weights about around 70lbs but FEELS like about 25 at most ..Why..because its weight is dispersed throughout your body.....Hell my Rucksack in the army weighed in at almost 80 ( it did when i added the parachute ) Yes i was airborne... However the armor inflicts a big time restriction on freedom of movement ( aka AG test penalties out the Yinyang ). Im with the thought of more a realism based ideal on it....practical in nature. Dont get me wrong i want the players to have fun as well and i have no problems modifying or omitting a rule or skill entirely if its causing some major game problems or such. I do it on a regular basis and have my own house rule on the armor factor vs damage rules as well since i find the rulebook method to be sorely lacking the realism of things ( sorry but a normal 9mm round ( autopistol ) will NOT penetrate carapace armor ( read as hardened ballistic plate equivalent ) UNLESS there is a called shot ( at higher penalty for size and location plus target movement) to one of the vulnerable joint locations...) If you used AP type ammo then yes i can see it perhaps...BUT not with normal ammo. SO...i altered it...All your hard armors will stop anything period completely without Pen factor ( an annoyed player comment " You just scratched my new shiny armor B**ch , Now its on"Your softer armors will do the same to a point...If the Pen is lower than the armor factor then the armor still stops the attack BUT ( just like with kevlar) will potentially knock you on your ass AND knock the wind out of you at the least ( read as fatigue and or stun damage for the limb in question and actual stun damage if a bodyshot ) As anyone whos ever worn current types of "soft armor" can tell you it still stings like hell and will wind you or stun the limb if hit. The players ( all of my group are like me..former military ) are aware of how the actual dynamics work so its very quick and easy for them to use these modified rules for things. Yes there are more rules for power weapons and chain etc...exceptions effectively as you would actually think of them ( a chainsaw WILL breach hardened armor given a whole minute to cut through afterall...so a chainblade/sword and powerblade will level the playing field so to speak ( but kill your chances of silent move or sneak attacks )so they will be able to defend fully....everything has its offset for equality. A lathe blade to the throat will still bypass any armor that does not offer total protection to the throat afterall and works great at silencing those pesky heavy enemies

I'm not realy strict but I do remind my pc's "Are you realy going to need all those weapons" and "How will people react to all those weapons"
That generally tones them down...

well having a naval shield an eviscerator a chain axe and a lasgun with melee attachment a autopistol a knive and a hand flamer and wearing flak cloak and carapace chestplate I decided to check my weight limit and as a tech-priest it does fit with my newly aquired machinator array

I get massive reaction penalties form npcs (inkeeper even didn't want to give me room and wanted to shoot at me with his shotgun as I turned my back on him but someone else intervened and everyone lives unharmed) and we didn't argue were all that stuff is yet but I gave a short description:

"with my triple weiht=>triple size back I store my eviscerator and my lasgun crossed on my back with the shield ontop of them and my chainaxe hangs at my right side and my autopistol at my left side my knive and my hand flamer on the inside of my flak cloak

so far no one complained (agi is **** anyway (25 atm cause of machinator array going for 30 again for movement issues) so having a penalty at dodging...dosn't bother me I have been on flames for about 7 rounds total last encounter wich was soaked by my 6 TB completely and our AS had to put out the flames on me 3 times)

I have about 14.5kg left for carrying capacity and if our gunmetal city assassin wouldn't have left I probably would have to carry stuff for him by now.

so our gm is not restricting agi as long as it fits into carry capacity but is restricting social tasks if walking around like a portable weapons-shop

I'm using the character sheets found on this forum

(Excel format character sheets...found here: http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_foros_discusion.asp?efid=70&efcid=3&efidt=13924 reply #7),

which has the additional benefit of calculating weight, and then cross-referencing it over to my movement and initiative bonuses. It's all on me to remember to take into account the dodge penalties; but, since I'm playing an imp-psy, most of my weapons are in my head. I usually wear xenos mesh and carry a handcannon (with the goodies silencer, red dot, man-stoppers), knife and if needed, an autogun. The other stuff is small enough to carry in my back pack (extra clothes, filtration plugs, tarot deck) or easily stowed (medicae kit). All in all I'm wearing/carrying about 12.75 kg's.

I'm pretty lax with the rules and most of my player don't know RAW from a hole in the ground.

My "Priority list" is basically identical to The Bopy Named Crow's.

I generally only worry about weight when characters doing explicet heavy lifting, though at 10 individual weapons (plus grenades and explosives) my wife's Gunfighting Scum probably has too many guns...

As a GM i'm quite lax about thing slike encumberance, fun is more important, but i will remind players the sort of situation they're in, ie "you're in a pleasure planets upper reaches, you think that heavy stubber will look out of place?" kind of reminders.

Common sense does rule the day, some one carrying two pistols and two spare clips for each might be able to get away with out intimidating the average citizen who might happen to see the weapon, much like if you see a cop in this day & age. Anyone carrying very obvious weapons, like autorifles, swords, hammers, chain axes etc will draw attention unless its hidden in say a dufflebag and theres a good reason why that character would be carrying a duffle bag given the location and dress of the character (a full on ecclesiarchal minister doesnt do luggage, except perhaps his holy tome. On perhaps a fronteir world a high ranking preist Might carry a weapon like the hammer to remind people that the strength of the emperor is never far away from twatting them upside the head if need be).

Imagine being in downtown what ever city you live in/near, a good representation of a suburban setting, and seeing a person in all latex and batman style armour carrying a larger than them self sword, a dozen or so knives, a collection of pistols of different styles/makes and origins and a mask fashioned to look like a grinning skull. and a bright yellow badge that declares "i ki11z j00 4 fun" You're gonna be rightly afraid and would call the proper authories. If you stand out in my games in some situations you Will get reported and investigated

Thankfully my players known when they might get in to trouble, and the pack accordingly, which is diffrent to how they might pack when going out for a soybean latte hold the recaff.

Velvetears said:

first thing ever my character does upon coming to a new planet/space-ship/-station is asking about the local laws (who is in charge what sort of political form of government is in place what are the local laws about carrying guns) then he either stows away everything that is not legal to carry around or walks along fully armed... as a tech-priest there is not much about sneaking in/around either and trying to hide a weapon on my body probably won'T happen until I have a concealed cavity and even then I'll most likely ask if a demolition charge fits in there (you are inside a prison... I use my demolition charge > I draw my pistol)

*Nod* One thing my group have done a couple of times is pretend to be tech priests, gone out bought some red robes and gas masks, things to stick on gloves and spare piping, then they get to walk around mostly unmolested with weapons under the robes and hood over their gas masked faces

Great until an Actual tech priest approaches them...

Thankfully there is one in the party so he gets to do all the talking whilst the others play dumb aspirants & novices

niiiiiiice....

if the all learn speak language (tech) it could go rather well... just spent a few weeks between session to teach them and they should apply for an elite advance

otherwise their cover should be blown rather easily as no one of them understands binary

Sirion said:

nor do they have the vocal replacements required to effectively pronounce the chatter.

pfff miu+voxcaster or a subvocal microphone+voxcaster (possibly even a micorbead+voxcaster) solves this...

And dont forget the bad guys can do this too easy for a group of players to over look the tech support who all look the same in red robes pulled over their heads

Done this to my players a few sessions back and they never realised, though they will when they read this

ANYTHING my players try to pull i can, will and often do use against them in some manner or other. We feed each other ideas like that.

I basically counted up my players weight totals for them. The reason is not really to limit what they carry because the ammount you can carry is alot but because past your carry limit you get penalties to movement and fatigue penalties so it does make a difference.

People see the carry capacity and think that anything over that is impossible to carry but thats actually not how it works. Its only over double your carry capacity IIRC can you not act normally (save for the movement penalty).

That said im not particularly strict I don't think, you would have to ask my players although I think I strike a good balance.

Kaihlik

Sirion said:

Bah I am an Inquisition Agent, your petty gun laws do not pertain to me

(As an assassin, I travel at all times when "combat is expected" with a pair of bolt pistols, a power sword, a mono combat knife, a best quality stub auto, and a Delaku Hellgun.)

Bah I am an Inquisition Agent, your petty gun laws do not pertain to me

Certainly, subtlety is your acolyte's middle name. And the first name and the surname, in case people didn't get it the first time.

Cifer said:

Subtle McSubtle of the Clan McSubtle?