Help Required

[binidj]

So I'm working on this game, it's a sci-fi tabletop RPG based on the RuneQuest rules (where physical statistics generally have a numerical value between 3 and 18) and I'm trying to figure out a means of deriving the carrying capacity of a human; ie. how much weight a human can reasonably carry for a day's hike. The calculation I'm using for maximum lifting weight (derived from weight-lifting world records) is as follows:

Lift

(STR + (CON / 2)) x 10
This figure determines the absolute maximum weight (in Kg) a character can lift above their head.

Sadly my Google and Wikipedia-fu are not strong and I've found no figures for how much a human can carry for a day. Can anyone point me in a helpful direction? Or tell me how much an extremely fit person can tote over a long period?

Comments

[oldnick.livejournal.com]

I'd agree with John in general terms. although I'd have put 60lb rather than 70lb as the standard load for a fit adult male. 'SAS stories' and similar nonsense seem to have a fetish about telling people how much they carried, and regularly top out at range of about twice that, so 120-140lb for the super-fit, and I would expect anyone capable of walking the distance to be able to take 20lb-30lb without it making a significant difference.

Lifting above the head is another matter (and sounds like the old D&D strength description wording). I, back in my walking days, used to on occasions carry a pack which I could (just about) heave onto my back, using arm strength, but which I could much more easily put on sitting, or rather, squatting down, and lift by standing using my leg strength. There is no way I could have lifted it above my head, but once on I could carry it for a good while on my back.

[curlwomble.livejournal.com]

SIZ (since you're using BRP/RQ) also has a bearing on carrying capacity. A 25 kilo load to a 90 kilo carrier is less of a burden than it is to a 60kg person. Suggest half the Size score's variation from average times 10% as a modifier to the base of their Con/Str-derived capacity... So Siz 16 adds 15% (if Siz is 2d6+6).

Or:

Base it on CON and use the average of Str+Siz to modify it.

[curlwomble.livejournal.com]

That wasn't really a reply to oldnick. Should have been a new thread.

[curlwomble.livejournal.com]

For really long endurance, POW should be a factor, as in Willpower.