D&D 5E Attunement question

[Trevayne]

If this has been posted elsewhere, please point to it.

I am trying to figure out some of the "logic" behind the magic item attunement system. Why do some +1 weapons require attunement, but a plain +3 weapon does not? Why do Boots of the Winterlands require attunement, but Boots of Elvenkind do not, when both are uncommon items? Why do Eyes of the Eagle require attunement when Eyes of Minute Seeing do not? Again both are uncommon.

Also, the rule on only three attuned items seems low, when most of the magic items require attunement. Is there any explanation of the logic they are using? There are a couple of paragraphs in the DMG but I am still trying to figure them out.

 

[machineelf]

You question Magic!?

*I realize I'm not being very helpful. I'm guessing they did have a good reason for their decisions, and left items attuned that wouldn't break the game paired with three other attuned magic items. Generally, magic items that give you bonuses to attributes are going to require attunement. Beyond that, whatever might make a character overpowered combined with other items would require attunement.

 

[Jaelommiss]

"If having all the characters in a party pass an item around to gain its lasting benefits would be disruptive, the item should require attunement." -- DMG, 285
If the item grants a bonus that other items also grant, it's a good idea to require attunement so that characters don't try to collect too many of those items." -- DMG, 285

Both of those are found under the magic item creation rules.

By following the random hoard tables from level 1-20 a party of four will not have too many magic items. At most, each player will have to relinquish one item by the end. Now, if you're running a higher magic campaign then it might be a good idea to increase the limit. I'd suggest giving it a shot as is and then increasing the limit if required.