Variant Rule: Encumbrance

Expeditions of Ember makes use of the Variant Encumbrance rules found in the Player's Handbook (2014) on p.176 to make player decisions on what to take during an adventure (as well as what loot to carry out) more impactful. Furthermore, it increases the importance of a character's Strength score, as well as makes hirelings and mounts more useful during quests.
A character may carry up to 5 times their Strength score with no penalty. Characters which carry in excess of 5 times their Strength score are Encumbered, which reduces their speed by 10 feet. Characters which carry in excess of 10 times their strength score are Heavily Encumbered instead, dropping their speed by 20 feet and giving them disadvantage on all ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws which use Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution.
Under this rule, a character ignores the Strength requirement necessary to wear armor (as wearing overly heavy armor already imposes a penalty upon the character). In addition, coins are assumed to have weight, with 50 coins weighing 1 pound.
NOTE: The intent of this rule is to make players carefully consider what they bring with them while adventuring as well as what loot to return home with, or bring animals/vehicles (such as wagons or mules) to handle the extra weight. Any gear/valuables left in Ember will be completely safe and will not be stolen or vanish while away.