Worked example of mounted encumbrance

[hcobb]

Brioshai, Goblin wizard, age 20
ST 6, DX 9, IQ 17, MA 10
Talents: Horsemanship, Knife, Literacy
Spells include: 7-Hex Fire, 7-Hex Illusion, Magic Rainstorm, Pathfinder, Remove Thrown Spell, Spellsniffer, Staff V
Languages: Common, Goblin, Sorcerers’ Tongue
Weapon: Staff V silver dagger (1d-1), brand (1d-2)
Attacks and Damage: Punch (1d-4)

ST 27 riding lizard: $499 (self trained, understands basic commands in Goblin)
Silver dagger staff: $100
Middle class robes: $35 (Goblin sized)
Saddle and bridle: $50
Belt pouch: $5
Waterskin: $3
Backpack: $40
2 days rations: $10
Week's fodder for lizard: $50
Healing potion: $150
Cash on hand: $58
She carries 9.98 pounds of encumbrance.

Her lizard caries that plus 90 pound goblin, 2.8 pounds for her robes, 15 pounds for saddle for a total of 117.78 pounds, which is 4.36x ST which is -6 MA by ITL 130, adjMA 14. (Good luck getting a human or orc rider to fit!)
Using the formula from Adventures 2, page 5/7 we get a 2.18x load (2-hex lizard) which is full MA 20 and a human rider (or even two!) would be manageable.

Note that brand is "free" for a wizard who knows 7-Hex Fire, so she doesn't need the Light spell or to pay for oil. (Shadow plus Mage Sight would be nice, but memory points don't grow on trees.)

In combat she'll use the lizard's mobility to maintain distance then occult zap with the staff at adjDX 9 + 3 (Staff III+) -1 (Horsemanship) = 11. Mounted spellcasting is avoided due to low DX and that she'd fall off if she rolled an 18.