About resource management (count items, weight, etc)

[rossik]

What's your feelings about resource management in RPGs? I mean, count items weight for encumbrance, number of torches, arrows, rations, etc?
What about back in the early days of RPG?
Thanks in advance!
Cheers

[Deleted]

Encumberance is VERY important, when you have lots of coins to carry! Here's a million GP worth of copper, how are you getting it home?

Things like torches, rations, etc, are most important at lower levels. Once several people have magic swords providing light, torches become less important. Before that... oh, gee, your torches burned out just at the time when a wandering monster check is made... heh heh heh...

[talysman]

Resource management is extremely important. I won't repeat what @gronanofsimmerya said, just agree with it and add: resource management is what the game is really about. It's basically a puzzle about how to get treasure while not running out of light, arrows, food, water... and hit points. Funny how people think the last part is fine to track in excruciating detail and with extra rules added to make it more complicated, but OH MY GAWD you want me to keep track of how much I'm CARRYING? Are you CRAZY?

That said, I'm not against using tricks to make tracking resources easier. Like: sure, deduct arrows used, but do that after the combat is over, not after each shot. Most dungeon expeditions don't last long enough to use much food, so mostly just deduct food at the end of the expedition unless it takes longer than expected or you lose some/all. That kind of thing.