It is very important - IMO - that DMs follow the rules for Treasure Parcels. It sounds like your 2nd level characters were way behind the rules in regards to magic items.
I'm curious. Why do you hold that opinion? I can't say sa I agree.
Not really. All that matters is the enhancement bonus you "should" have for your level.
Hi Morrus,
I say that because it seems to me that the game designers have built the game's challenges (monsters, traps, etc) around the assumption of characters' power access (class powers, feats, magic items, etc.) based on character or party level.
A party of five second level characters is supposed to have - as a group - 1 level 5 magic item, 1 level 4 magic item, 1 level 3 magic item, and 1 level 2 magic item (plus some coins, gems, and maybe a potion or two).
This makes sure that those second level characters are prepared to take on higher level challenges.
It is my understanding that distribution of magic items as shown on the Treasure Parcel tables is very important to follow less the game becomes unbalanced.
The way I see it is that it is the DM's job to balance encounters to suit the party that will face them and magic items is only one tool of many that can be used to do this. If the party has fewer magic items then the challenges that are designed should reflect that. There is also nothing wrong with giving out more magical goodies than the rules suggest as long as the encounters are adjusted for that. The itemization in the rulebook is merely a baseline to use for planning and can be altered to suit the tastes of any group.