Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What does this mod do exactly?
3. Installation
4. Uninstallation
5. Compatability
6. Recommendations
7. Change Log
8. Continuing Development / To Do List

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1. INTRODUCTION
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Other Encumbrance mods always go by the same idea... more weight = less speed. Well I don't like that; if I'm being chased by a Death Claw, then I'm gonna run as fast as I can even if I'm carrying 200 lbs of gear! Sure, while doing that I might plant my foot awkwardly and dislocate my knee... and then I'm slowed down no matter what. As the Death Claw rips me to shreds, I think to myself "Wow... I really wish I had packed light instead of grabbing everything that wasn't nailed down! AURGH!"

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2. WHAT DOES THIS MOD DO EXACTLY?
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Short Description
When you're carrying too much weight, this mod deals damage to your legs and torso to simulate the strain you are putting on your legs and back, as well as the eventual crippling injuries that result from this strain.


Long Description:

1. STRAIN
2. STRAIN LEVELS
3. INJURY
4. RESTING
5. "SIT ANYWHERE"
6. CHECK STRAIN FUNCTION
7. POWER ARMOR

First off:
- this mod does not affect your movement speed directly.
- this mod does not affect your in-game carryweight, and is not affected by it.


1. STRAIN

Strain is an attribute that the mod keeps track of. It goes up when you carry too much, and it goes down when you take it easy.
Too much strain, and you'll start to sustain injuries to your legs and back.

2. STRAIN LEVELS

There are four Strain Levels, which correspond to amounts of weight that you are carrying. Depending on Strain Level that you are currently in, you will generate different amounts of strain depending on if you are running, walking, or standing still.

Level 0 - Comfortable

When you are carrying a comfortable amount of weight, then you are.. well, comfortable! Even if you push yourself, you are in no danger of hurting yourself.
Running: No strain generated.
Walking: Strain reduced at a moderate pace
Standing: Strain reduced at a rapid pace


Level 1 - Straining ( Strength x 10 lbs )

When you are carrying this much weight, you are straining to move at full speed, and feel a bit uncomfortable, but if you take it easy you'll be fine. However, if you push yourself for too long, you may get hurt.

Running: Strain generated at a moderate pace
Walking: No strain generated
Standing: Strain reduced at a moderate pace


Level 2 - Dangerous ( Strength x 20 lbs )

You're carrying so much that running puts you in serious danger of getting hurt, and even walking is uncomfortable. It's time to start calculating if what you're carrying is worth more or less than a trip to the doctor.

Running: Strain generated at a rapid pace.
Walking: Strain generated at a moderate pace
Standing: No strain generated

Level 3 - Extreme ( Strength x 25 lbs )

You're carrying so much that you can barely stand. Forget moving, you can feel our knees screaming in pain just while standing. You probably shouldn't carry this much, but hey if you just gotta cram twelve suits of power armor into your backpack, be my guest. Better hope nothing fast comes after you, because every step you take is literally flirting with disaster.

Running: Strain generated at an extremely rapid pace
Walking: Strain generated at a rapid pace
Standing: Strain generated at a moderate pace

NOTE: The amount of strain that you generate isn't a set amount; it changes dynamically based on how far above your limits you are. For example, if you go 1 pound over your Straining limit, you will generate less Strain than if you were 5 pounds over your Straining limit. Every pound counts.

3. INJURY

As your strain gets higher and higher, there is a chance that you will injure your legs and/or back. Injuries only happen if you are at Strain Level 1 or higher. Every single step you take is a chance that you'll get injured. If your Strain gets high enough, you will likely be subjected to a series of injuries very rapidly that end with your limbs being crippled. Resting frequently will keep this from happening.

Agility lowers the chance that you will get hurt; people with high agility are generally better at walking properly, while clumsy oafs are constantly stubbing their toes and rolling their ankles on every rock they come across. Endurance makes the injuries you do sustain less severe. Tough people have more durable bones, muscles and cartilage, and so their parts tend to hold together better. Frail people tend to snap like twigs.
So, your Strength, Agility, and Endurance are now very important stats if you plan on hauling heavy loads. If you have low numbers in these three stats, then you should probably pack light.



4. RESTING

Taking a seat causes your Strain to lower rapidly. The rate that it drains is affected by your Endurance; higher Endurance allows you to recover faster.
Sleeping for even just an hour will reduce your strain to zero.

5. "SIT ANYWHERE"


SITTING AND SLEEPING

This mod has a sort of "sit anywhere" function. If you crouch with your weapon holstered, and don't move, then it counts as if you're sitting. However, this cannot be used in combat. Regular sitting also doesn't work in combat, because the middle of a gun fight is no time to put your stuff down and undo your belt there Bundy!


6. CHECK STRAIN FUNCTION

Hold down your "Always Run" key for a few seconds and you will get some nifty information, including how much strain you have right now, your current chance to get injured, your load limits, and how much strain you currently generate when walking/running.

7. POWER ARMOR

If you are wearing power armor, then you are always Comfortable, no matter how much weight you are carrying. It's like Paladin Gunny says, let the armor do the work for you. While wearing power armor, you don't generate strain, and standing still reduces what strain you do have as fast as sitting does. Also, you can't injure yourself while in power armor.

However, if your Power Armor's durability falls below 25%, it will effectively "power down" and no longer be able to support its own weight. At that point, you are carrying the armor and you will once again accumulate Strain... and boy is power armor heavy! Keep it repaired or suffer.


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3. INSTALLATION
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To install this mod, just drop the .esp in your Data folder and then check it on in your fallout launcher/ fomm / whatever you use to turn on your mods.

If you are updating from a previous version, then do the same thing and overwrite the old version.

REQUIRES FOSE! WAKA WAKA WAKA!

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4. UNINSTALLING
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To uninstall the mod, just delete the .esp
This mod makes no permanent changes to your game. The only thing this mod actually does is cause damage to your limbs, so there's nothing you need to worry about when uninstalling.

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5. COMPATABILITY
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Compatable with everything.
Even if you have a mod installed that sets your CarryWeight to 1,000,000, this mod will happily continue to punish you for carrying more than a reasonable amount of weight.

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6. RECCOMENDATIONS
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- I recommend that you use this alongside a mod that increases the severity of crippling injuries, such as ACE or FWE.

- I recommend that you use a mod that increases your carryweight, so you can avoid the silly built-in encumbrance system that makes you suddenly only able to walk when you got 1 point over your limit.

- I recommend FWE , because I use it so this mod is tuned for those weight loads. Also, that mod gives Morphine an effect where it allows you to ignore crippled limbs, which you might need if you plan to carry tons of weight.

- Zombie Apocalypse! I recommend it because with zombies all over the place, it makes it dangerous to walk instead of run, and especially makes it dangerous to just stop and rest. Really adds a lot to the experience.

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Change Log
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1.0 - initial release... reason cat in pic is so grumpy.
1.1 - fixed lack of in combat detection for sitting
1.2 - fixed the script so it no longer divides by 0 if the player's attributes go below 1.
1.3 - added power armor detection, rewrote description