If you want to determine whether your character’s weight is heavy enough to slow him or her down, total the weight of all the character’s items, including gear. Compare this total to the character’s Strength on Table: Carrying Capacity. Depending on how the weight compares to the character’s carrying capacity, he or she may be carrying a light, medium, or heavy load. A character’s load affects his or her maximum Dexterity bonus to AC, carries a check penalty, reduces the character’s speed, and affects how fast the character can run, as shown on Table: Carrying Loads. Carrying a light load does not encumber a character.