Appropriate magic items by character level - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Appropriate magic items by character level

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
spoutbec
Dec 16, 2009 17:41:44 My PC is a couple of hundred XP from level 5 and has not found any magic items. The spellcaster in the party has a few(a couple of wands and a robe). Does this seem fair? Has anyone else out there made it to 5th level or higher without magic items? Do I have an especially stingy DM?

SP
#2
salla
Dec 16, 2009 20:02:59 You have an exceptionally stingy DM.
#3
dragonsblood
Dec 16, 2009 20:12:26 Very stingy DM. Starting PCs at level 5 should have at least a level 6, 5, and 4 item, and enough gold for some little ones. The parcel system (how loot is recommended to be given out) is even more generous.

Some DMs are just like that though. They think giving out magic items makes magic less "special" or some nonsense. Or even worse, they get on a power trip and enjoy depriving the players.
#4
Novacat
Dec 16, 2009 22:26:09 According to the normal treasure distribution system, in each level of adventuring, the party should find X-1 items, where X is the number of party members. If you've gone 5 levels without being able to reasonably use anything you've found, either the DM is screwing you, or you've just been exceptionally unlucky. Each level, one player should expect to not get any magic item, but for it to be the same player for 5 levels straight? That's a little hard to swallow as an accident.
#5
mccowen
Dec 17, 2009 7:43:10
You have an exceptionally stingy DM.

Not only that, but you need to bring this up with him or her. It's going to become a balance issue shortly: you can do without the flashy item powers, if need be, but you're now at least 1 point behind where the game assumes you'll be on attacks, damage, and defenses. Don't be a jerk, but let your DM know that you're feeling a little behind the curve.

I should also say that if you've been playing published mods, he/she may just have been running them as written. Keep on the Shadowfell, Thunderspire Labyrinth, and Scepter Tower of Spellgard are all fairly notorious for not even sort of following the magic item guidelines from the DMG.
#6
daegos
Dec 17, 2009 21:36:29 I just finished Shadowfell with my group. We are all ~4th Level and I think each of us found 1 item we could use. We are talking with the DM now because selling what we found at 20% sell rate for magic items does not help much if any.

I feel your pain.
#7
Novacat
Dec 17, 2009 23:20:28 A possibility is that it's not the DM being stingy, but that the modules aren't set up to distribute treasure correctly (which they're not).
#8
BRJN
Dec 24, 2009 10:57:27
Ask your DM to play some LFR modules. At the end of each, the players get to pick one item off a pre-provided list. This may help, although you cannot get just the item you are looking for (except by accident). My Star'lock1 got a Wand of Vampiric Embrace +1 which I would never get close enough to use the Vampiric Embrace, but a +1 Wand works for all Implement powers (which is most of mine) after all.

If your party's ritual users are at L4, they should pick up the Make Magic Item and Transfer Magic Enchantment (from Adventurers Vault) rituals so you can start making stuff of your level or lower. Explain to the DM that you are going to need some more cash if he won't be leaving magical items in treasure chests.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 spoutbec Dec 16, 2009 17:41:44	My PC is a couple of hundred XP from level 5 and has not found any magic items. The spellcaster in the party has a few(a couple of wands and a robe). Does this seem fair? Has anyone else out there made it to 5th level or higher without magic items? Do I have an especially stingy DM? SP
#2 salla Dec 16, 2009 20:02:59	You have an exceptionally stingy DM.
#3 dragonsblood Dec 16, 2009 20:12:26	Very stingy DM. Starting PCs at level 5 should have at least a level 6, 5, and 4 item, and enough gold for some little ones. The parcel system (how loot is recommended to be given out) is even more generous. Some DMs are just like that though. They think giving out magic items makes magic less "special" or some nonsense. Or even worse, they get on a power trip and enjoy depriving the players.
#4 Novacat Dec 16, 2009 22:26:09	According to the normal treasure distribution system, in each level of adventuring, the party should find X-1 items, where X is the number of party members. If you've gone 5 levels without being able to reasonably use anything you've found, either the DM is screwing you, or you've just been exceptionally unlucky. Each level, one player should expect to not get any magic item, but for it to be the same player for 5 levels straight? That's a little hard to swallow as an accident.
#5 mccowen Dec 17, 2009 7:43:10	You have an exceptionally stingy DM. Not only that, but you need to bring this up with him or her. It's going to become a balance issue shortly: you can do without the flashy item powers, if need be, but you're now at least 1 point behind where the game assumes you'll be on attacks, damage, and defenses. Don't be a jerk, but let your DM know that you're feeling a little behind the curve. I should also say that if you've been playing published mods, he/she may just have been running them as written. Keep on the Shadowfell, Thunderspire Labyrinth, and Scepter Tower of Spellgard are all fairly notorious for not even sort of following the magic item guidelines from the DMG.
#6 daegos Dec 17, 2009 21:36:29	I just finished Shadowfell with my group. We are all ~4th Level and I think each of us found 1 item we could use. We are talking with the DM now because selling what we found at 20% sell rate for magic items does not help much if any. I feel your pain.
#7 Novacat Dec 17, 2009 23:20:28	A possibility is that it's not the DM being stingy, but that the modules aren't set up to distribute treasure correctly (which they're not).
#8 BRJN Dec 24, 2009 10:57:27	Ask your DM to play some LFR modules. At the end of each, the players get to pick one item off a pre-provided list. This may help, although you cannot get just the item you are looking for (except by accident). My Star'lock1 got a Wand of Vampiric Embrace +1 which I would never get close enough to use the Vampiric Embrace, but a +1 Wand works for all Implement powers (which is most of mine) after all. If your party's ritual users are at L4, they should pick up the Make Magic Item and Transfer Magic Enchantment (from Adventurers Vault) rituals so you can start making stuff of your level or lower. Explain to the DM that you are going to need some more cash if he won't be leaving magical items in treasure chests.