Carrying, Moving, Seeing

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Carrying, Moving, Seeing

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Carrying capacity

Weight

If you want to determine whether your character's gear is heavy enough to slow him or her down (more than the armor already does), total the weight of all his or her armor, weapons, and gear. Compare this total to the character's Strength on Table: Carrying Capacity.
If your character is wearing armor, use the worse figure (from armor or from weight) for each category. Do not stack the penalties.

Lifting and dragging

A character can lift up to the maximum load over his or her head.
A character can lift up to double the maximum load off the ground, but he or she can only stagger around with it. While overloaded in this way, the character loses any Dexterity bonus to AC and can only move 5 feet per round (as a full-round action).
A character can generally push or drag along the ground up to five times the maximum load. Favorable conditions (smooth ground, dragging a slick object) can double these numbers, and bad circumstances (broken ground, pushing an object that snags) can reduce them to one-half or less.

Bigger and smaller creatures

The figures on Table: Carrying Capacity are for Medium-size creatures. Larger creatures can carry more weight depending on size category: Large (x2), Huge (x4), Gargantuan (x8), and Colossal (x16). Smaller creatures can carry less weight depending on size category: Small (x3/4), Tiny (x1/2), Diminutive (x1/4), and Fine (x1/8). Quadrupeds (or creatures with more than 4 legs) have the following modifiers: Fine (x1/4), Diminutive (x1/2), Tiny (x3/4), Small (x1), Medium (x1 1/2), Large (x3), Huge (x6), Gargantuan (x12), Colossal (x24)

Tremendous strength

For Strength scores not listed, determine the carrying capacity this way. Find the Strength score between 20 and 29 that has the same ones digit as the creature's Strength score. Multiply the figures by four if the creature's Strength is in the 30s, 16 if it's in the 40s, 64 if it's in the 50s, and so on.

Carrying Capacity

Strength	Light Load	Medium Load	Heavy Load
1 STR	up to 3 lb.	4-6 lb.	7-10 lb.
2 STR	up to 6 lb.	7-13 lb.	14-20 lb.
3 STR	up to 10 lb.	11-20 lb.	21-30 lb.
4 STR	up to 13 lb.	14-26 lb.	27-40 lb.
5 STR	up to 16 lb.	17-33 lb.	34-50 lb.
6 STR	up to 20 lb.	21-40 lb.	41-60 lb.
7 STR	up to 23 lb.	24-46 lb.	47-70 lb.
8 STR	up to 26 lb.	27-53 lb.	54-80 lb.
9 STR	up to 30 lb.	31-60 lb.	61-90 lb.
10 STR	up to 33 lb.	34-66 lb.	67-100 lb.
11 STR	up to 38 lb.	39-76 lb.	77-115 lb.
12 STR	up to 43 lb.	44-86 lb.	87-130 lb.
13 STR	up to 50 lb.	51-100 lb.	101-150 lb.
14 STR	up to 58 lb.	59-116 lb.	117-175 lb.
15 STR	up to 66 lb.	67-133 lb.	134-200 lb.
16 STR	up to 76 lb.	77-153 lb.	154-230 lb.
17 STR	up to 86 lb.	87-173 lb.	174-260 lb.
18 STR	up to 100 lb.	101-200 lb.	201-300 lb.
19 STR	up to 116 lb.	117-233 lb.	234-350 lb.
20 STR	up to 133 lb.	134-266 lb.	267-400 lb.
21 STR	up to 153 lb.	154-306 lb.	307-460 lb.
22 STR	up to 173 lb.	174-346 lb.	347-520 lb.
23 STR	up to 200 lb.	201-400 lb.	401-600 lb.
24 STR	up to 233 lb.	234-466 lb.	467-700 lb.
25 STR	up to 266 lb.	267-533 lb.	534-800 lb.
26 STR	up to 306 lb.	307-617 lb.	618-920 lb.
27 STR	up to 346 lb.	347-693 lb.	694-1,040 lb.
28 STR	up to 400 lb.	401-800 lb.	801-1,200 lb.
29 STR	up to 466 lb.	467-933 lb.	934-1,400 lb.
+ 10 STR	X4	X4	X4

Quadrupeds can carry heavier loads than bipeds can. To determine a quadruped's carrying capacity limits, use Table: Carrying Capacity, multiplying by the appropriate modifier for the creature's size: Fine 1/4, Diminutive 1/2, Tiny 3/4, Small 1, Medium 1 1/2, Large 3, Huge 6, Gargantuan 12, and Colossal 24.

Carrying Loads

Load	Max Dex	Check Penalty	----- Speed --- (30 ft.)	---- (20 ft) Run
Medium	+3	-3	20 ft.	15 ft. x4
Heavy	+1	-6	20ft.	15 ft. x3

Movement

There are three movement scales in the game:

Tactical, for combat, measured in feet per round.
Local, for exploring an area, measured in feet per minute.
Overland, for getting from place to place, measured in miles per hour or day.

Modes of movement

While moving at the different movement scales, creatures generally walk, hustle, or run.

Movement and Distance

	------ Base Speed -------
	15 ft.	20 ft.	30 ft.	40 ft.
One Round (Tactical)
Walk	15 ft.	20 ft.	30 ft.	40 ft.
Hustle	30 ft.	40 ft.	60 ft.	80 ft.
Run (X3)	45 ft.	60 ft.	90 ft.	120 ft.
Run (X4)	60 ft.	80 ft.	120 ft.	160 ft.
One Minute (Local)
Walk	150 ft.	200 ft.	300 ft.	400 ft.
Hustle	300 ft.	400 ft.	600 ft.	800 ft.
Run (X3)	450 ft.	600 ft.	900 ft.	1,200 ft.
Run (X4)	600 ft.	800 ft.	1200 ft.	1,600 ft.
One Hour (Overland)
Walk	1 1/2 miles	2 miles	3 miles	4 miles
Hustle	3 miles	4 miles	6 miles	8 miles
Run	-	-	-	-
One Day (Overland)
Walk	12 miles	16 miles	24 miles	32 miles
Hustle	-	-	-	-
Run	-	-	-	-

Hampered Movement

Condition	Example	Movement Penalty
- Moderate	Undergrowth	X 3/4
- Heavy	Thick undergrowth	X 1/2
- Bad	Steep slope or mud	X 1/2
- Very bad	Deep snow	X 1/4
Poor visibility	Darkness or fog (*)	X 1/2

(*)Includes any effects that create a "fog".

Walk: A walk represents unhurried but purposeful movement at three miles per hour for an unencumbered human.
Hustle: A hustle is a jog that is movement at about six miles per hour for an unencumbered human. The double move action represents a hustle.
Run (X3): Moving three times your character's standard speed is a running pace for a character in heavy armor.
Run (X4): Moving four times your character's standard speed is a running pace for a character in light, medium, or no armor.
Hampered Movement: Obstructions, bad surface conditions, or poor visibility can hamper movement. The DM determines the category that a specific condition falls into (see Table: Hampered Movement). When movement is hampered, multiply the standard distance by the movement penalty (a fraction) to determine the distance covered.

If more than one condition applies, multiply the normal distance covered by all movement penalty fractions that apply.

Tactical movement

Use tactical speed for combat.
Some creatures have other modes of movement.
Burrow
The creature can tunnel through dirt, but not through rock unless the descriptive text says otherwise. Creatures cannot use the run action while burrowing.
Climb
A creature with a climb speed has the Climb skill at no cost and gains a +8 racial bonus to all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC of more than 0, but it always can choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. The creature climbs at the listed speed while climbing. If it chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double the listed climb speed (or its normal land speed, whichever is less) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Creatures cannot use the run action while climbing.
Fly
The creature can fly at the listed speed if carrying no more than a medium load. All fly speeds include a parenthetical note indicating maneuverability, as follows.

Perfect: The creature can perform almost any aerial maneuver it wishes.
Good: The creature is very agile in the air (like a housefly or hummingbird), but cannot change direction as readily as those with perfect maneuverability.
Average: The creature can fly as adroitly as a small bird.
Poor: The creature flies as well as a very large bird.
Clumsy: The creature can barely fly at all.

Creatures can use the run action while flying, provided they fly in a straight line.
Most flying creatures have to slow down at least a little to make a turn, and many are limited to fairly wide turns and must maintain a minimum forward speed. Each flying creature has a maneuverability rating that defines how it moves when flying.

Flight Maneuvaribility

Type:	Perfect	Good	Average	Poor	Clumsy
Example:	(Will-o'-wisp)	(Beholder)	(Gargoyle)	(Wyvern)	(Manticore)
Minimum Forward Speed	None	None	Half	Half	Half
Hover	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Fly Backward	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Reverse	Free	-5 ft.	-	-	-
Turn	Any	90o/5 ft.	45o/5 ft.	45o/5 ft.	45o/10 ft.
Turn in Place	Any	+90o/-5 ft.	+45o/-5 ft.	No	No
Maximum Turn	Any	Any	90o	45o	45o
Up Angle	Any	Any	60o	45o	45o
Up Speed	Full	Half	Half	Half	Half
Down Angle	Any	Any	Any	45o	45o
Down Speed	Double	Double	Double	Double	Double
Between Down and Up	0	0	5 ft.	10 ft.	20 ft.

Minimum Forward Speed: If a flying creature fails to maintain its minimum forward speed, it must land at the end of its movement. If it is too high above the ground to land, it falls straight down, descending 150 feet in the first round of falling. If this distance brings it to the ground, it takes falling damage. If the fall doesn't bring the creature to the ground, it must spend its next turn recovering from the stall. It must succeed at a Reflex saving throw (DC 20) to recover. Otherwise it falls another 300 feet. If it hits the ground, it takes falling damage. Otherwise, it has another chance to recover on its next turn.
Hover: The ability to stay in one place while airborne.
Fly Backward: The ability to fly backward.
Reverse: A creature with good maneuverability uses up 5 feet of its speed to start flying backward.
Turn: How much the creature can turn after covering the stated distance.
Turn in Place: A creature with good or average maneuverability can "spend" some of its speed to turn in place.
Maximum Turn: How much the creature can turn in any one space.
Up Angle: The angle at which the creature can climb.
Up Speed: How fast the creature can climb.
Down Angle: The angle at which the creature can descend.
Down Speed: A flying creature can fly down at twice its normal flying speed.
Between Down & Up: An average, poor, or clumsy flier must fly level for a minimum distance after descending and before climbing. Any flier can begin descending after a climb without an intervening distance.

Swim
A creature with a swim speed can move through water at the listed speed without making Swim checks. It gains a +8 racial bonus to any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. The creature always can choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened when swimming. Creatures can use the run action while swimming, provided they swim in a straight line.

Local movement

Characters exploring an area use local movement, measured in minutes.

Walk: A character can walk without a problem on the local scale.
Hustle: A character can hustle without a problem on the local scale. See Overland Movement, below, for movement measured in hours.
Run: A character with a Constitution score of 9 or higher can run for a minute without a problem. Generally, a character can run for about a minute or two before having to rest for a minute.

Overland movement

Characters covering long distances cross-country use overland movement. Overland movement is measured in hours or days. A day represents 8 hours of actual travel time. For rowed watercraft, a day represents 10 hours of rowing. For a sailing ship, it represents 24 hours.

Walk: Your character can walk 8 hours in a day of travel without a problem.
Hustle: Your character can hustle for 1 hour without a problem. Hustling for a second hour in between sleep cycles causes your character 1 point of subdual damage, and each additional hour causes twice the damage taken during the previous hour.
Run: A character can't run for an extended period of time. Attempts to run and rest in cycles effectively work out to a hustle.
Terrain: The terrain through which a character travels affects how much distance the character can cover in an hour or a day.
Forced March: In a day of normal walking, a character walks for 8 hours. The character spend the rest of daylight time making and breaking camp, resting, and eating. A character can walk for more than 8 hours in a day by making a forced march. For each hour of marching beyond 8 hours, the character makes a Constitution check (DC 10 + 1 per extra hour). If the check fails, the character takes 1d6 points of subdual damage. A character can't recover this subdual damage normally until the character halts and rests for at least 4 hours. It's possible for a character to march into unconsciousness by pushing himself or herself too hard.
Mounted Movement: A horse bearing a rider can move at a hustle. The damage it takes, however, is normal damage, not subdual damage. It can also be force-marched, but its Constitution checks automatically fail, and, again, the damage it takes is normal damage.
See Table: Mounts and Vehicles for mounted speeds and speeds for vehicles pulled by draft animals.
Waterborne Movement: See Table: Mounts and Vehicles for speeds for water vehicles.

Terrain and Overland Movement

Terrain	Highway R	oad	Trackless
Plains	X1 X	1	X1
Scrub, rough	X1 X	1	X3/4
Forest	X1 X	1	X1/2
Jungle	X1 X	3/4	X1/4
Swamp	X1 X	3/4	X1/2
Hills	X1 X	3/4	X1/2
Mountains	X3/4 X	1/2	X1/4
Sandy desert	X1 -		X1/2

Mounts and Vehicles

Mount/Vehicle	Per Hour	Per Day
- Light horse or light warhorse	6 miles	48 miles
- Light horse (151-450 lb.)	4 miles	32 miles
- Light warhorse (231-690 lb.)	4 miles	32 miles
- Heavy horse	5 miles	40 miles
- Heavy horse (201-600 lb.)	3 1/2 miles	28 miles
- Heavy warhorse	4 miles	32 miles
- Heavy warhorse (301-900 lb.)	3 miles	24 miles
- Pony or warpony	4 miles	32 miles
- Pony (76-225 lb.)	3 miles	24 miles
- Warpony (101-300 lb.)	3 miles	24 miles
- Donkey or mule	3 miles	24 miles
- Mule (231-690 lb.)	2 miles	16 miles
- Raft or barge (poled or towed)*	1/2 mile	5 miles
- Keelboat (rowed)*	1 mile	10 miles
- Rowboat	1 1/2 miles	15 miles
- Sailing ship (sailed)	2 miles	48 miles
- Warship (sailed and rowed)	2 1/2 miles	60 miles
- Longship (sailed and rowed)	3 miles	72 miles
- Galley (rowed and sailed)	4 miles	96 miles

*Rafts, barges, and keelboats are used on lakes and rivers. If going downstream, add the speed of the current (typically 3 mph) to the speed of the vehicle. In addition to 10 hours of being rowed, the vehicle can also float an additional 14 hours, if someone can guide it, so add an additional 42 miles to the daily distance traveled. These vehicles can't be rowed against any significant current, but they can be pulled upstream by draft animals on the shores.

Vision

Characters need a way to see in the dark. See Table: Light Sources for the radius that a light source illuminates and how long it lasts.
Characters with low-light vision can see objects twice as far away as the given radius.

Light Sources

Object	Light	Duration
Candle	5 ft.	1 hr.
Lamp, common	15 ft.	6 hr./pint
Lantern, bullseye	60-ft. cone*	6 hr./pint
Lantern, hooded	30 ft.	6 hr./pint
Sunrod	30 ft.	6 hr.
Torch	20 ft.	1 hr.

*A cone 60 feet long and 20 feet wide at the far end.

Encounters

When an encounter between the PCs and an NPC or creature is imminent, follow these steps:

Determine vision conditions and terrain. Choose from the choices on Table: Spotting Distance.
If line of sight or illumination defines the distance at which the encounter occurs (as often happens indoors), start the encounter there. Otherwise, roll for spotting distance on Table: Spotting Distance.
All creatures involved make Spot checks. Success means that creature sees the other creature or group. See Table: Spotting Difficulty for modifiers on these checks.
If neither side succeeds, all creatures spot each other at one-half the rolled range.

The circumstances that can affect the DC of a Spot check are as follows:

Size: Add +4 to the base DC of 20 for each size category the creature being spotted is smaller than Medium-size or -4 for each size category larger. You can make exceptions for creatures with unusual shapes, such as a Large snake that's low to the ground and thus as hard to see as a Small creature.
Contrast: How starkly the creature's coloring stands out against the surroundings. It's easy to spot a brightly colored couatl in a dark jungle and hard to see winter wolves in the snow.
Stillness: It's harder to see creatures that are not moving.
Six or More Creatures: Groups of creatures are easier to spot, even if the creatures are smaller than Medium-size.
Moonlight: Nighttime, but with moonlight (or similar light).
Starlight: Nighttime with no moon but a clear, starry sky (or similar light).
Total Darkness: Overcast at night, or otherwise lightless.

Hiding and spotting

If creatures are trying not to be seen, it's usually harder to spot them, but creatures that are keeping low to avoid being spotted also are less likely to notice other creatures.
If creatures are hiding, they can only move at half their normal overland speed. They also suffer a -2 penalty on their Spot checks to notice other creatures because they are staying low.
Instead of a base DC of 20 for others to spot them at the standard spotting distance, the DC is 25 + the hider's Hide skill modifier. The modifiers from Table 3-2: Spotting Difficulty still apply, except for the size modifier (which is already part of the character's skill modifier). A character whose Hide ranks, Dexterity modifier, and armor check penalty total -6 or lower is actually has a lower DC than if he or she weren't hiding. In such cases, simply calculate the Spot DC as if the character weren't hiding (according to Table: Spotting Difficulty). If a creature gets a special bonus to Hide because of camouflage, special coloring, and so on, use that bonus rather than the contrast bonus from Table: Spotting Difficulty.
Additionally, the other creatures do not automatically spot hiding creatures at one-half the encounter distance. Instead, that is the distance at which the other creatures can make Spot checks to notice the hiding creatures. These are normal Spot checks opposed by the hiders' Hide checks.

Spotting Distance

Terrain	Distance
Smoke or heavy fog	2d4 x 5 ft. (avg. 25 ft.)
Jungle or dense forest	2d4 x 10 ft. (50 ft.)
Light forest	3d6 x 10 ft. (105 ft.)
Scrub, brush or bush	6d6 x 10 ft. (210 ft.)
Grassland, little cover	6d6 x 20 ft. (420 ft.)
Total darkness	Limit of sight
Indoors (lit)	Line of sight

Spotting Difficulty

Circumstances	DC
Base	20*
Size	+/-4 per size category
Contrast	+/-5 or more
Stillness (not moving)	+5
Six or more creatures	-2
Moonlight**	+5
Starlight+	+10
Total darkness	Impossible++

*x25 if one side is hiding, and ignore size modifiers (see text).
**+5 bonus on Spot check if the spotter has low-light vision or if he or she has darkvision that extends far enough.
+x+5 bonus on Spot check if the spotter has low-light vision or +10 if he or she has darkvision that extends far enough.
++Unless the spotter has darkvision that extends far enough.

Missed encounters

The rules for spotting creatures assume that both sides will eventuallynotice each other, and they simply establish the distance at which they do so. But sometimes you want to take into account the possibility that the two groups will miss each other entirely.
To handle these possibilities, simply let there be a 50% chance that the other creatures encountered and the PCs don't get any closer but rather pass by each other, such as when one group is moving north and the other east. (Creatures following the PCs' trail, of course, always close with them.)

DnD SRD (Index) :: BasicRules (Table Of Contents | List Of Tables) :: Carrying, Moving, Seeing