I ran a 1E druid to level 12 in the 90s after reading a Dragon article.
That spell table lvl 3 spells at 3rd level and everything else was nice. Ended up with a scimitar of speed and -7 AC.
Loved it.
Pathfinder Weapon Badly converted to 5.0.
I'm tweaking an adventure (level 11). Its a Bhaalist weapon vs a Vampires weapon and the level 12 part has a few fiends. I want to dump the must be used by a Rogue part.
The Hollow Blade Very Rare Weapon (requires attunement)
The hollow blade is a +3...
Very rare though.
Greek hoplutes were somewhat unique but very few had full set of armor. Minimum requirement was shield and spear. Front line has best equipment.
Roman legions had the big shields. Most of their opponents lacked heavy infantry.
Alot of society only the elite had it...
The fighter nerf originates in the 2E to 3.0 transition.
Universal xp tables, no nerfs to spells some got buffed.
No engine used. Big disparities in saving throws, BAB.
Poor saves scaling. Fighters saves were fast in AD&D.
Spell DCs based on intelligence scores and level of spell. DCs...
Yeah +3 weapons could be low expert levels while +2 were late basic.
Not just Gygax adventures either. Frostbrand might drop level 5 you would still be using it 5-10 levels later.
We figured out they're a better mage at levels that matter.
They usually ended up draped in bracers, cloaks etc and using whatever left over.
Then as now few people played wizards so wizard type loot usually ended up on fighters, thieves and bards or druid.
Our one gave everyone something like +8 to hit and damage. Early on +4.
She missed something and it was gonna be +16. Party full of archers with rapid shot for two or 3 of them.
Just straight bard.
I rated all the D&Ds earlier.
I gave 5.5 comparatively high rating in a vacuum (judged by itself, ignoring WotC corporate stupidity).
BUT because its a revision its hard to get excited after 10 years of 5.0.