Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ozyburrfoot Jun 23, 2008 13:12:44	I've got a 5th level game on wednesday that I'm going to run and I'm making up PCs for my group to choose from before we start, but I'm finding that with your item choices limited to one item = lvl+1, one = lvl, and one = lvl-1, that alot of times I'm picking items I'd rather not give the character as it is the only thing that fits. What I want/need is guidelines on how to tweak item selection. Say for example I couldnt find a 4th level item for a character that fit, and I wanted to take a 3rd instead, should I get the difference in GP? An additional 3rd level item? Magic Item Compendium had a rule for trading down for lower level items, why didn't they carry that over? Either the same rule, or something like it. Suggestions???
#2 AaronOfBarbaria Jun 23, 2008 13:58:24	If the player absolutely cannot find a 4th level item that they would like to have... then I think they aren't trying hard enough. My advice: grab an Amulet of Protection +2 (6th level), a weapon or implement (5th level), and then grab armor of the best type you can wear (4th)... if you really stil want a 3rd level item, then your 840gp you also get covers that item and leaves 160 for other stuff still.
#3 ozyburrfoot Jun 23, 2008 14:37:38	Ok, you took my example too literally, don't focus on specifics but the overall issue at hand. I'm more concerned about being able to give my players some more leeway in what items they pick. I dont want to just take the total amount of GP that the 3 items would give and let them spend nilly-willy, but I'd like to be able to let them be able to get two items both the same level if thats what they'd prefer. The big problem I've run into is that the magic armor types and magic weapon types only work with certain categories of armor or weapons. I dont have my book handy, but I came across a couple scenarios where I changed what weapon or armor I was going to have them used because of limitations on the item levels and what category of armor or weapons they could be applied to.
#4 dogbackward Jun 23, 2008 17:14:59	If you want, you could just give them gold. However, instead of giving them all the gold from all 3 (4) items, make them parcel it out. They get gold equal to the cost of an item of level +1, and have to spend it; leftover gold is lost, but they can still buy multiple items if they have enough. Then they get gold equal to the cost of an item of level +0, and have to spend it. Then they get gold equal to the cost of an item of level -1, and... well, you get the idea. Then they get the normal gold equal to the cost of an item of level -1, and can do whatever they want with it; spend or keep. That way, they can still get items they want, but can't spend all the gold on an item of too high a level.
#5 masteraaron Jun 24, 2008 0:20:15	Alternately, just give them the gold and check over their gear once they're satisfied. The flexibility of 3E's lump sums was nice, and if the DM is paying attention to what the players are choosing then things shouldn't get out of hand.
#6 ozyburrfoot Jun 24, 2008 9:22:28	What I think I'll do is give them the lump sum, but limit their items to no more than one item equal to lvl+1, and one item equal to lvl. So for my 5th lvl game, they could have a 6th lvl item, a 5th lvl item and whatever they wanted of 4th and lower that they can afford with GP equal to 4th x 2. That should work. Plus this will solve the other problem I came across last night; the ranger and dual weapons.