Bookkeeping Character Resources – How do you do it?

In my personal experience, when I go shopping for my character’s gear, I pick up stuff from the equipment list as per what would be appropriate for my character to have in his pack (or his saddlebags,) but I don’t usually keep track of everything I’ve used.  I’m certain that some other GMs are more strict with things, counting rations and encumbrance just to simulate everything.

I find that the issue of bookkeeping character resources is a matter of stylistic choice.  Cinematic games for example, are more lenient, not really caring if you have enough rope, just that you have it in your inventory.  Some of the more avant-garde systems might even allow the player to spend a metagame resource and say “Oh look, I’ve got a rope in my pack all along!”

For more realist games, things take a turn towards a slower, more deliberate pace.  Not enough rope?  Tough luck.  Didn’t bring enough rations?  Hope you’ve got other skills to compensate.  Ran out of ammo?  Well, think fast, because the other guy’s taking aim right now.

So which one is right for your game?

Depends on how you want it to be really.  My personal preference shift according to the game I play.  I don’t keep track of arrows or rations in D&D 4e for example, though I do check if people have enough rope.  This is because 4e tends to a more cinematic game with flashy power moves, and stuff, but the focus on movement and distances makes having enough rope an interesting conundrum.

For nWoD and Deadlands, I resort to keeping track of ammo, and shots fired.  nWoD ammo tracking is necessary to preserve the gritty desperate nature of the game, with running out of shots being one of the worst things to happen to you when going up against a frenzied werewolf barreling down the alley straight towards you.  Deadlands ammo tracking is vital because of the fact that revolvers only have six shots.

I think my personal yardstick for when to actually keep track of character resources is the rule of Tension.  Will the amount of Tension generated by dwindling supplies be worth the time it takes to keep track of them?  If hunger and lack of rope is going to be a downer, then ditch it.  But if running out of ammo when you’re in mortal danger is a plus then keep it.

In the end, it’s really all about keeping an eye on what makes the game fun, and sticking to the rules that promote that kind of fun.

I’m curious to hear from other GMs.  Do you stick to keeping track of every little thing on character inventory?  Have you ever had a chance to use the starvation rules in an rpg?  What are the pros and cons of going full on with keeping track?