D&D (2024) Wrapping up first 2-20 2024 campaign this week, some of my thoughts

[Oofta]

Do the new rules make any of the suggestions you just did? You know, for the new players and DMs those books are targeting?

Just seems like a smart idea.

I've always thought it was odd that the modules I looked at never talk about adjusting difficulty level. I don't use modules so as far as I know they don't.

 

[Quickleaf]

We did have a lot of magic. At current time my PC (Arcane Trickster 9/Fey Warlock 7/Bard 1/Paladin 1) is rocking a forsight shortsword (MCDM weapon that gives advantage on first attack against a creature and does max damage on the weapon die), a vicious dagger, Rod Of Lordly Might (used as shortsword), Effreeti Bottle, Cloak of Protection (currently not attunded), Rod of the Pact Keeper +2, +3 shield and a slew of potions and scrolls. I am still using a non-magic breastplate. I don't actually have all the rings. With Uncanny Dodge, Sheild spell, Absorb Elements and Evasion I decided I did not need them, I only have two - Psychic Resistance and Necrotic Resistance if I remember correctly.

For everyone saying "that's too many magic items", consider the 2024 magic items by level guidelines. By 18th level, the party can be expected – according to those guidelines from 2024 DMG – to have accumulated (not created) the following between them all during the campaign...

• 19 Common items
• 29 Uncommon items
• 23 Rare items
• 19 Very Rare items
• 11 Legendary items

If split evenly between 4 PCs, Edit: 5 PCs (sorry, misread OP) it works out to something like this per PC...

• 3-4 Common items
• 5-6 Uncommon items
• 4-5 Rare items
• 4 Very Rare items
• 2 Legendary items

@ECMO3 's you said your PC had the following:

• unknown rarity (1): Foresight Shortsword
• Uncommon Items (1): Cloak of Protection
• Rare items (2): Rod of the Pactkeeper +2, Vicious Dagger
• Very Rare items (2): Efreeti Bottle, Shield +3
• Legendary Items (1): Rod of Lordly Might
• ?? Potions & Scrolls

So you'd need something like Edit: 11-13 potions & scrolls to be hitting those 2024 DMG guidelines for "the number of magic items a D&D party typically gains during a campaign."

Based on what I know, that seems like you were maybe about par for the course with 2024 guidelines?

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

For everyone saying "that's too many magic items", consider the 2024 magic items by level guidelines. By 18th level, the party can be expected – according to those guidelines from 2024 DMG – to have accumulated (not created) the following between them all during the campaign...

• 19 Common items
• 29 Uncommon items
• 23 Rare items
• 19 Very Rare items
• 11 Legendary items

If split evenly between 4 PCs, it works out to something like this per PC...

• 4-5 Common items
• 7 Uncommon items
• 5-6 Rare items
• 4-5 Very Rare items
• 3-4 Legendary items

@ECMO3 's you said your had the following:

• unknown rarity (1): Foresight Shortsword
• Uncommon Items (1): Cloak of Protection
• Rare items (2): Rod of the Pactkeeper +2, Vicious Dagger
• Very Rare items (1): Efreeti Bottle, Shield +3
• Legendary Items (1): Rod of Lordly Might
• ?? Potions & Scrolls

So you'd need something like 18-20 potions & scrolls to be hitting those 2024 DMG guidelines for "the number of magic items a D&D party typically gains during a campaign."

Based on what I know, that seems like you were maybe about par for the course with 2024 guidelines?

@Quickleaf in the initial post, it's stated that the group has five PCs, not four.

Also, @ECMO3 , did you include crafted items in the set of 100 recommended items by level 20? If not, how many items did your crew accumulate between found and crafted items? I think that info will give folks a better sense of the baseline you were working with when they compare your results with those of their own campaigns.

 

[Quickleaf]

@Quickleaf in the initial post, it's stated that the group has five PCs, not four.

Also, @ECMO3 , did you include crafted items in the set of 100 recommended items by level 20? If not, how many items did your crew accumulate between found and crafted items? I think that info will give folks a better sense of the baseline you were working with when they compare your results with those of their own campaigns.

Ah, my mistake, thanks. Corrected my post.

 

[TwoSix]

For everyone saying "that's too many magic items", consider the 2024 magic items by level guidelines. By 18th level, the party can be expected – according to those guidelines from 2024 DMG – to have accumulated (not created) the following between them all during the campaign...

• 19 Common items
• 29 Uncommon items
• 23 Rare items
• 19 Very Rare items
• 11 Legendary items

If split evenly between 4 PCs, Edit: 5 PCs (sorry, misread OP) it works out to something like this per PC...

• 3-4 Common items
• 5-6 Uncommon items
• 4-5 Rare items
• 4 Very Rare items
• 2 Legendary items

@ECMO3 's you said your PC had the following:

• unknown rarity (1): Foresight Shortsword
• Uncommon Items (1): Cloak of Protection
• Rare items (2): Rod of the Pactkeeper +2, Vicious Dagger
• Very Rare items (2): Efreeti Bottle, Shield +3
• Legendary Items (1): Rod of Lordly Might
• ?? Potions & Scrolls

So you'd need something like Edit: 11-13 potions & scrolls to be hitting those 2024 DMG guidelines for "the number of magic items a D&D party typically gains during a campaign."

Based on what I know, that seems like you were maybe about par for the course with 2024 guidelines?

Hmm...it's interesting to me that the guideline doesn't seem to account for party size. That would imply a PC in a 3 person party should have twice as many magic items as a PC in a 6 person party.

Does the DMG speak to any expectations of party size?

 

[Quickleaf]

Hmm...it's interesting to me that the guideline doesn't seem to account for party size. That would imply a PC in a 3 person party should have twice as many magic items as a PC in a 6 person party.

Does the DMG speak to any expectations of party size?

Someone else will have to field that, as I didn't get 2024 books, and am only going off of Roll20/DnDBeyond sources that are publicly available.

 

[Oofta]

For everyone saying "that's too many magic items", consider the 2024 magic items by level guidelines. By 18th level, the party can be expected – according to those guidelines from 2024 DMG – to have accumulated (not created) the following between them all during the campaign...

• 19 Common items
• 29 Uncommon items
• 23 Rare items
• 19 Very Rare items
• 11 Legendary items

If split evenly between 4 PCs, Edit: 5 PCs (sorry, misread OP) it works out to something like this per PC...

• 3-4 Common items
• 5-6 Uncommon items
• 4-5 Rare items
• 4 Very Rare items
• 2 Legendary items

@ECMO3 's you said your PC had the following:

• unknown rarity (1): Foresight Shortsword
• Uncommon Items (1): Cloak of Protection
• Rare items (2): Rod of the Pactkeeper +2, Vicious Dagger
• Very Rare items (2): Efreeti Bottle, Shield +3
• Legendary Items (1): Rod of Lordly Might
• ?? Potions & Scrolls

So you'd need something like Edit: 11-13 potions & scrolls to be hitting those 2024 DMG guidelines for "the number of magic items a D&D party typically gains during a campaign."

Based on what I know, that seems like you were maybe about par for the course with 2024 guidelines?

The PCs had 10 rare rings of resistance each. Then again the guideline from the DMG doesn't specify whether or not any of the items are consumable and, if we're talking permanent only, far too many items in my opinion.

 

[Zardnaar]

The PCs had 10 rare rings of resistance each. Then again the guideline from the DMG doesn't specify whether or not any of the items are consumable and, if we're talking permanent only, far too many items in my opinion.

The rings were excessive/doesn't work.

Apart from that equipments not excessive by DMG standards.

My PCs are level 7 something like this is more typical.

Cacophony - bg3.wiki

Cacophony is a rare +1 Quarterstaff that grants the wielder the Thunderous Smite spell.

bg3.wiki

Spellcasters have a +1 uncommen item eg amulet of devotion or wand of the warmage.

Or this

Gold Wyrmling Staff - bg3.wiki

Gold Wyrmling Staff is a rare +1 Quarterstaff that deals additional Fire damage with melee strikes and grants its wielder the Fire Bolt cantrip.

bg3.wiki

Thought the game was a bit generous you can get gold Wrymling Staff around level 2 or 3. DMG does indicate rares can be available tier 1.

 

[TwoSix]

The PCs had 10 rare rings of resistance each. Then again the guideline from the DMG doesn't specify whether or not any of the items are consumable and, if we're talking permanent only, far too many items in my opinion.

If a lot of those items aren't consumables, than those are some crazy numbers, lol. Almost 3 legendaries per character by 20th level?

Level 10 seems a bit more around where I would expect. 2 Rares a PC (with one character replacing it with a lucky Very Rare), 5 Uncommons, and 4 Commons.

 

[Zardnaar]

If a lot of those items aren't consumables, than those are some crazy numbers, lol. Almost 3 legendaries per character by 20th level?

Level 10 seems a bit more around where I would expect. 2 Rares a PC (with one character replacing it with a lucky Very Rare), 5 Uncommons, and 4 Commons.

Level 10s end of tier 2. 1 very rare and 6 rares is dm guidelines.

I don't think rarity matters as much as what you're handing out.

I wouldn't put a vicious greatsword or finesse weapon into the game. It's probably fine for sword and board. First +3 items could also turn up towards end of tier 2.