Physical Inventory
Carry Capacity Stacking Items
Carry capacity is an abstraction of both weight and size. A For very small items, multiple items of the same type may be
player's inventory is make up of a number of item slots. Small held in a single square. The number of which is left up to the
items may be packed tightly together in one space, while very DMs discretion. In general however, these rules are designed
bulky or heavy items may take up multiple slots. A dense ball to make scarcity interesting and fun, so err on the side of too
of heavy meterorite or a large painting may both take up four few, rather then too many.
slots, indicating that for different reasons it is difficult to Below is a sample list of common stackable items. Adjust
carry. to taste.
Characters have a Carry Capacity that is equal to their
Strength Ability Score (not Ability Score Modifier), plus their Stacks
proficiency bonus.
Characters can fill a number of slots equal to their carry Number of Slots Stack Size Item
capacity without penalty. For every item that does not fit 2 3 Torches
within their Carry Capacity increases their encumbrance 1 3 Throwing knives
level, imposing different penalties.
1 3 Rations
Encumbrance Over Speed
Level Capacity Reduction Effects 2 3 Healer's Kit Charges
1 1 item -5ft cannot take reactions 1 5 Waterskin
disadvantage on STR 2 20 Arrows
and DEX ability 1 100 Ball bearing
2 2 items -10ft
checks and saving
throws 1 100 Coins/Gems
cannot take bonus
3 3 items -15ft
actions Bags of Holding
cannot move or take These rules are an abstraction. Don't worry about pouches,
4 4+ n/a
actions backpacks, or other specifics of how items are carried. It is
assumed that if you are capable of carrying it, that you have
A creature suffers the effect of its current level of the means to do so. How exactly that works is up to the
encumbrance as well as all lower levels. For example, a players to decide. They may be bogged down in packs and
character who is carrying two more items then they can fit on pouches, or they may simply employ hammerspace and pull
their boardis suffering level 2 encumbrance. They have their out the needed item off camera.
speed reduced by 10 feet, cannot take reactions, and have And please, do not give the players an actual Bag of
disadvantage on STR and DEX ability checks and saving Holding if you are using these rules. Have some respect for
throws. yourself.
Dropping items is a free action, and immediately reduces
your encumbrance level appropriately.
Active Items
Active Items are the items that characters always have at the
ready. Easily accessible and quick to use, they are a
character's active toolbox.
Players have 5 active item slots. Items that are in these
slots have the following special properties.
Weapons stored in active item slots can be switched
between as a free action
When using a small item, such as a potion, thrown item,
or ball bearings, the Use an Item action requires only a
Bonus Action
Shuffle Inventory
You may use a action OR a bonus action to shuffle inventory,
and rearrange your items in any way.
This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used
are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
Example Item Sizes Outfits
1 Slot Items
Clothing, and armor that is being worn is not considered to
be carried on your person, and is not placed in your inventory.
An object that fills 1 item slot is either quite light, or is easily Clothing or armor that is being carried, and not worn is
held in one hand. Example items would include: treated as a normal item.
A baseball Disguises
A knife
A potion If a player is attempting to disguise themselves as an
A bag of coins individual who would not be carrying the heavy equipment of
A book an adventurer, the following penalty is applied.
A wand
A spell scroll Only Active Item slots can be used to discreetly carry
objects
2 Slot Items If a player is carrying items that don't fit into their Active
An object that fills 2 item slots are a bit heavy to be held in Item slots, enemies may do a Perception or Investigation
one hand, or are long enough to provide some reach. check to notice if there is something out of the ordinary.
Example items would include:
Feats
A shortsword
A mace Brawny
A quiver of arrows You become stronger, gaining the following benefits:
A large tome
A healer's kit Increase your Strength score by 1, to a maximum of 20
A rod You gain proficiency a new skill
A map tube Your Carry Capacity equals your STR ability score, plus
double your proficency bonus
3 Slot Items
An object that fills 3 item slots is heavy enough that it needs
two hands to carry comfortably, or has some substantial
reach. Example items would include:
A rapier
A staff
A spear
A bedroll
4 Slot Items
An object that fills 4 item slots is either very heavy, very bulky,
or has very long reach. Carrying many of these objects would
be difficult. Example items would include:
A painting in its frame
A heavy chunk of meteorite
A pike
A greatshield
A greatsword
More than 4 Slot Items
An item that would take up more than 4 slots are too large to
carry in your inventory. Players can use their action to move,
shove, or carry the item, but it is not treated like an inventory
object. Example items would include:
A wardrobe
A medium-sized safe
A table
A giant's club
This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used
are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
How to make an Inventory Board
Supplies
11x14 Dry erase board
Magnetic sheets
Wet erase markers
Your local friendly print shop
How to build
Go to your friendly local print shop.
Give them "Physical Inventory [Link]", and print at
100% scale on 11"x14" paper
Request that the finished prints are laminated
Trim laminated sheets along the outline.
Going slowly and carefully, slot the laminated sheets
under the lip of the dry erase boards. Be careful not to
crease the sheets.
Take Dry-erase magnetic sheets, and cut into a number of
squares and shapes. A single square is 1.5".
Using the boards
Use the wet-erase markers to mark up the inventory boards
with currency and notes. Mark your carry capacity at the
bottom of your sheet and outline how many squares of
inventory you have available.
Work with the table to create a number of item squares
that represents your current inventory. Use the wet erase
markers to name them, draw pictures of the items, etc. Make
it your own!
Consider your active item slots and make sure you
understand your options.
This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used
are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
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