So how come even guys like Grazzt seem to have non magical weapons? I get that all their attacks are effectively magic, but almost no weapon wielding monsters seem to be able to find even a +1 weapon to use? You think being Demon lords or even just a high ranking Marilith they could swing something like that.
How come BBEG coming out never have magic weapons or items?
Because they leave it up to the DM to decide if they want to give out those magic items. Remember that if the PCs kill it, they would get those magic items. This limits what the DM may want to use, especially if they don't want to hand out certain items. As the DM, you could easily decide to give grazzit a +3 vorpal unholy avenger if you wanted to, just make sure you adjust the CR accordingly.
Oofta
Legend
I give the bad guys magical weapons depending on the campaign and whether I think I need to up the threat level a little bit. Like [MENTION=6775477]Shiroiken[/MENTION] mentioned, traditionally most people don't because the PCs will consider it as loot. In addition, the default assumption is that magic items are fairly rare.
I have a fairly high magic world so I give the bad guys weapons as appropriate. However, they are frequently cursed and only usable by evil creatures (for various reasons depending on campaign). Since I don't allow evil characters and a blade that needs to be fueled by the blood of an innocent isn't going to be have any value on the open market, I don't have the loot problem. Unless, of course I want to.
I have a fairly high magic world so I give the bad guys weapons as appropriate. However, they are frequently cursed and only usable by evil creatures (for various reasons depending on campaign). Since I don't allow evil characters and a blade that needs to be fueled by the blood of an innocent isn't going to be have any value on the open market, I don't have the loot problem. Unless, of course I want to.
G
Guest 6801328
Guest
I don't think the OP is making an argument about what treasure you should get for killing powerful BBEGs. He's saying that an immortal demon lord, after (presumably) millennia of killing good guys and taking their loot, would likely have found at least a +1 sword to use after all that time.
In other words, he's making an argument about setting consistency, not game balance.
In other words, he's making an argument about setting consistency, not game balance.
Charlaquin
Goblin Queen (She/Her/Hers)
The OP asked a question. “Why don’t BBEGs have magic items?” The answer to that question is that if BBEG has a +1 sword, the PCs have a +1 sword (once they beat him.) Whether the OP was trying to make a statement about game balance or not, that is the reason BBEGs don’t have magic items.
Well they actually do. At least in my game this is a common way of the party getting their good stuff (amongst others).
While I do like 5e no magic items needed assumption, I would use this only in a low magic campaign (Great for a pure Ravenloft campaign e.g., makes them gothic mobs much more fearsome if you have to find that silverblade to hurt them e.g.). Since my actual game is medium to high magic i tend to hand out magic items a bit more generous, and it does not hurt since the PCs are not minmax players.
While I do like 5e no magic items needed assumption, I would use this only in a low magic campaign (Great for a pure Ravenloft campaign e.g., makes them gothic mobs much more fearsome if you have to find that silverblade to hurt them e.g.). Since my actual game is medium to high magic i tend to hand out magic items a bit more generous, and it does not hurt since the PCs are not minmax players.
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