“You can carry the loot chest, love. The question is whether you can still run when something hungry
hears you dragging it.” —Delianna
In Grimhowl, Bulk represents:
Bulk is not about exact pounds or precise measurements.
It is about burden.
Grimhowl intentionally abstracts weight into meaningful choices rather than detailed inventory
simulation.
Item Type Bulk
5 Small Items (potions, tools, consumables) 1
| 1-Handed Weapon | 1 |
|---|---|
| 2-Handed Weapons | 2 |
| Light Armor | 1 |
| Medium or Heavy Armor | 2 |
| Light Shield | 1 |
| Medium or Heavy Shield | 2 |
| Backpack | 2 |
| Fumebelt | 1 |
| Weapon Harness | 1 |
| Oversized Objects | 3+ |
Your maximum Bulk equals your Strength die value.
Strength Die Bulk Limit
| d4 | 4 |
|---|---|
| d6 | 6 |
| d8 | 8 |
| d10 | 10 |
| d12 | 12 |
You may carry Bulk up to this limit without penalty.
Encumbrance penalties apply immediately whenever your carried Bulk exceeds your limit.
Overencumbered
For each point of Bulk over your limit:
Heavily Encumbered
You become Heavily Encumbered when your carried Bulk exceeds your limit by your Strength modifier.
Strength Die Heavy Encumbrance Trigger
| d4 | Over by 2 |
|---|---|
| d6 | Over by 3 |
| d8 | Over by 4 |
| d10 | Over by 5 |
| d12 | Over by 2 |
While Heavily Encumbered you cannot:
You also gain the following effects:
Delianna’s Note
“Pack like a scavenger and eventually you start moving like one.”
Containers do not increase how much you can carry.
They determine:
Backpack (Major Container)
Backpacks allow large amounts of gear to be carried in an organized and manageable way.
Fumebelt (Minor Container)
Standard field gear used by Fumehowlers and scavengers alike.
Weapon Harness
Straps, sheaths, hooks, and securing rigs designed for weapon transport.
Bulk: 1
Holds up to 2 weapons
Weapons stored in a Weapon Harness do not count toward your Bulk until wielded
Drawing a stored weapon costs 1 action.
Once wielded:
The weapon counts toward your Bulk normally.
Delianna’s Note
“If it’s in your hands, it’s your problem. If it’s strapped down, it’s logistics.”
Small Item Rule
You may carry up to:
without requiring a container.
Any additional Small Item Bulk requires:
This represents:
Delianna’s Note
“No, you cannot carry twenty potions loose in your coat like a walking alchemical disaster.”
Creatures possess Bulk values based on their size when being carried or transported.
| Size | Bulk |
|---|---|
| Tiny | 1 |
| Small | 3 |
| Medium | 6 |
| Large | 12 |
| Huge | 24 |
| Massive | 36 |
This represents:
Mount Carrying Capacity
A mount’s maximum Bulk equals:
Strength Bulk Limit × Size Multiplier
Size Multiplier
| Size | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Tiny | ×0.5 |
| Small | ×1 |
| Medium | ×1 |
| Large | ×2 |
| Huge | ×3 |
| Massive | ×4 |
Mounts suffer:
Accessing items stored on a mount costs:
Example
A Large horse with Strength d8 has:
8 Bulk × 2 (Large)
For a total carrying capacity of 16 Bulk.
Current load:
Rider (Medium): 6 Bulk
Heavy Armor: 2 Bulk
2-Handed Weapon: 2 Bulk
Total:
10 Bulk carried.
Remaining Capacity:
6 Bulk.
Enough for:
Another rider
Expedition supplies
Or loot worth dying over
Delianna’s Note
“Yes, you can turn your horse into a walking warehouse. Just remember—it still has legs. And legs get
tired.”