D&D 5E Access to Ability Boosting Items in your game

[Astrosicebear]

The problem does exacerbate at higher levels as I am sure there will be Belt of Giant Strength that might raise the caps to 20/22.

 

[Paraxis]

The whole limit of three items that are attuned doesn't seem like an issue to me. There seem to be so many magic items that don't need attunement, that by the time the party has found enough items that do need it that someone is hitting the 3 cap we are talking very high levels of play.

 

[ExploderWizard]

One of these items might appear randomly in a treasure hoard.

The idea that someone builds a character that needs a specific magical item is just asking for trouble. I think that's true for any edition of the game.

DA TROOF!!!

I dislike these type items for a few reasons.

It messes with organized play, you could find one before the level where you can respec and build your character around it.

So what? You respec, and build your entire character around some trinket you found in a pile of ogre dung. In two weeks time the item gets lost, destroyed, or stolen. Congrats!

It never goes to the class or character you think it should, the strength gauntlets end up with the priest since the fighter has already spent his ability score increases to get to a 20, all this does is piss off the fighter's player.

If a player gets pissed off because another character can actually gain benefit from an item that wouldn't help them, it is time to burp them and put them down for a nap.

They don't work for everyone, it is weird that a headband that makes everyone else smarter doesn't make the smart wizard any smarter.

They work for anyone who has the stat in question at a level below 19. The lower the stat is the more benefit is gained.


I don't have an issue with these or any other magic items. They can be as rare as the DM wants to make them, cannot be cranked out via PC enchantment, and are subject to loss & destruction just like any other material goods.

 

[jodyjohnson]

I'd like to see it recalibrate the stat porn so that a 14 is good, a 16 is solid and spending feat slots on getting that 18 or 20 is a waste.

I'll probably assume each class would have access to its Stat booster when it reaches name level (10th-ish).

I'd rather have players taking feats than chasing a 20 for the majority of the game (which realistically is going to spend a lot of time from 4th to 10th).

 

[the Jester]

Can't you see any way to exploit this,
come on, trying to exploit the rules is a common D&D past time (for many, i do not support this END OF DISCLAIMER),
Are you telling me you can't see a way?


Find stat boosting item, say a figther finds a strength item, (chance are its not to much use, he's already close to max)
Next character to die negotiates for item,
Then places his best rolls, where the booster isn't,

Yeah, that would never fly at my table. The new pc enters the game and the remaining old members of the party don't even know him/her, much less well enough to give away their precious loot.

My group doesn't pull crap like that. If I overheard that kind of conversation, I'd ban giving the incoming pc any existing gear, period. Harsh? Maybe, but I cannot imagine an adventurer who has consistently risked it all for loot giving one of the best pieces of said loot away to a stranger. Sorry, no.

 

[Agamon]

The problem does exacerbate at higher levels as I am sure there will be Belt of Giant Strength that might raise the caps to 20/22.

I wouldn't worry about this. The cap is a firm ceiling and items don't have levels, just rarities.

 

[Eejit]

I wouldn't worry about this. The cap is a firm ceiling and items don't have levels, just rarities.

It does beg the question of what a Belt of Storm Giant Strength is meant to do over Gauntlets of Ogre Power. Advantage on Str checks? Underwhelming. Proficiency in Str saving throws? Ditto.

The cap isn't entirely firm, don't forget the Barbarian level 20 ability.

 

[Agamon]

It does beg the question of what a Belt of Storm Giant Strength is meant to do over Gauntlets of Ogre Power. Advantage on Str checks? Underwhelming. Proficiency in Str saving throws? Ditto.

I didn't know there was with certainty going to be a belt of giant strength in the DMG. I haven't had a chance to look at it yet.

The cap isn't entirely firm, don't forget the Barbarian level 20 ability.

I'm not that knowledgeable on L20 abilities, as I'll probably never see them in play, so I don't remember this. But I assume it's short term exception and not a permanent boost?

 

[ExploderWizard]

It does beg the question of what a Belt of Storm Giant Strength is meant to do over Gauntlets of Ogre Power. Advantage on Str checks? Underwhelming. Proficiency in Str saving throws? Ditto.

The cap isn't entirely firm, don't forget the Barbarian level 20 ability.

I would expect such an item to confer the strength of a storm giant on the wearer. Seeing as how gauntlets of ogre power grant the wearer the strength of an ogre, it would make sense.

 

[Eejit]

I didn't know there was with certainty going to be a belt of giant strength in the DMG. I haven't had a chance to look at it yet.

Belts of X Giant Strength are pretty iconic, I think it's a fairly safe assumption that they'll exist in 5E.

I'm not that knowledgeable on L20 abilities, as I'll probably never see them in play, so I don't remember this. But I assume it's short term exception and not a permanent boost?

Nope, it's permanent. At 20 Barbarians get +4 to Str and Con and their new maximum for those is 24.