Encumbrance

Encumbrance is how physically taxing activity is for a unit. It doesn't apply to walking or running in battle; it only applies to Melee Attacks, Flying, and Spellcasting. After a unit flies, or finishes a melee attack, the Encumbrance value on their stat sheet is added to their total accrued Fatigue. This value is also known as Melee Encumbrance.

Every unit has a Base Encumbrance, which is then added to by the Encumbrance value of their Armor and Shields to determine their Melee Encumbrance; if they're Mounted, however, the Encumbrance added by their Armor and Shields is halved (and then rounded down). This only applies to Melee Encumbrance. The mount itself then shoulders some Encumbrance while ridden.

Spellcasting Encumbrance is a different value, usually. This is the base Fatigue accrued from casting a spell, fatigue which cannot be diminished by overcasting the spell with higher levels of Magic. Spellcasting Encumbrance takes the Base Encumbrance, and then adds twice their Armor and Shield Encumbrance, with no discount from riding something.

If a unit somehow has zero Base Encumbrance, then their Melee Encumbrance will always be zero, but their Spellcasting Encumbrance will still change with equipment.

A Temperature of 3 or more, in either direction, adds to Encumbrance. The stat sheet lists the addition as Severe Heat or Severe Cold, and it is treated differently from the Encumbrance from equipment; it is neither halved for Mounted Melee Encumbrance, nor doubled for Spellcasting Encumbrance. The amount is the Temperature minus 1: 3 or 3 adds +2, 4 points adds +3, and 5 points adds +4. Temperatures of 2 or less add nothing. This happens regardless of what the unit's nation prefers.

Every full 5 points of the matching Resistance (Fire against Heat, Cold against Cold) removes 1 point of the addition, so 15 points of Fire Resistance leaves a unit unencumbered in 4 points of Heat.

Temperature	No Resistance	5 Resistance	10 Resistance	15 Resistance
3 / 3	+2	+1	+0	+0
4 points	+3	+2	+1	+0
5 points	+4	+3	+2	+1

A unit with zero Base Encumbrance is exempt, in Spellcasting Encumbrance as well as in Melee Encumbrance. Sea provinces never reach a Temperature of 3, so neither addition occurs Underwater. Cold-Blooded units carry a second and larger penalty in the Cold, which starts as early as 1.

Most humans have a Base Encumbrance of 3. Mortals of extreme energy or endurance might have 2, however, while cold-blooded beings tend to have 4 at base. Demons typically have 1 Base Encumbrance, while Undead and Inanimates typically have zero.