New Monk question

[Navarr]

Though I played the original EQ for many years, I never played a Monk. I made a human monk in Qeynos (on Green) who is now almost level 7. Reading the wiki I see a section about some kind of weight penalty and have NO idea how that applies! Based on the character window, I can carry up to 96 (my adjusted strength) but the wiki says I get penalized for over about 14. What I don't understand is WHAT is being penalized? AC? ATK? ???

My wife's character is a tailor (skill in the 80's) and can currently make me the Monk Only silk armor or any type of leather. Obviously the leather is better AC but heavier. Do I ask her to make me the silk anyway? Does the lighter weight make up for the lost AC somehow?

Obviously I am very confused about the "weight penalty" so a simple explanation of it would help a TON!!

Thanks in advance,

Navvarr, level 25 Ranger (main)
Strykarr, level 6 Monk (not particularly twinked)
and a few more in between