D&D 5E (2014) Buying magic items, yes or no?

[prabe]

ANY MAGIC ITEM IS AVAILABLE IF YOU GIVE THE DM ENOUGH MONEY

 

[Stormonu]

No to 3E style magic marts.

However, I do have places that sell minor magics - a temple for blessed items or minor healing potions, an alchemist's shop for potions or a smithy or retired adventure who might part with an item or two, or might have the skill to help imbue an item with the right player input. Larger cities might have better access to existing items being available, but the method of magical investiture I use (more than just gold and a spell or two) means that its not worth making an item just to hang on a rack for sale.

 

[J-H]

High level game: +1s can be found, and certain villages/cities have specific other magic items for sale.

Low-level game (currently 4th level): Most uncommon items can be bought, but there's a time lag and markup involved in getting them from the city a week's travel a way. Anything above uncommon is much less likely to be available.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Never-ish. A common magic item might show up here and there, but never anything beyond that. However, what I will often do is have an NPC that could create a magic item...if only they had the right materials. And that always leads to an adventure.

 

[MNblockhead]

Depends on the campaign. Both are fun. I do like the setting to give some thought about what a world with "magic marts" would be like (which is why I'm a fan of Eberron), but I'm don't get too hung up on incongruities that tend to be inherent in high-magic settings.

 

[Oofta]

Forgot to add to my second post - I came up with a base price for most magic items based on rarity and the idea of minor/major magic items in Xanathar's. Use it, ignore it, tell me I wasted my time, but here it is. Hopefully some people find it useful

Spoiler: Big block o' text

Purchasing Costs​

General cost by rarity (prices may vary, all items may not be available)

Consumables (potions, scrolls) cost half of the lower. Permanent items can normally only be purchased at the maximum price, if they can be purchased at all.

Note that magical arrows and crossbow bolts are considered consumable (the magic is gone after they are used).

If you are purchasing magical armor, add the cost of standard armor to the purchase cost.

Rarity	Consumable	Minor	Major
Common	50	100
Uncommon	150	300	500
Rare	2,000	4,000	15,000
Very Rare	15,000	25,000	40,000
Legendary	N/A

Items that increase a stat work a little differently than listed in the book. Instead of replacing your ability score, it increases it up to a maximum score.

Scroll Cost by Level:

• Cantrip: 12 GP
• 1st: 25 gp
• 2nd: 50 gp
• 3rd: 100 gp
• 4th: 250 gp
• 5th: 1,200 gp
• 6th: 2,500 gp
• 7th: 7,500 gp
• 8th: 12,500 gp
• 9th: 25,000 gp

Common Items​

Consumable Items: 50 GP

Item	Type	Attune?
Bead of nourishment	Wondrous item	No
Bead of refreshment	Wondrous item	No
Mystery key	Wondrous item	No
Perfume of bewitching	Wondrous item	No
Pot of awakening	Wondrous item	No
Potion of climbing	Potion	No
Potion of healing	Potion	No
Walloping ammunition	Weapon	No

Common Items​

Permanent: 100 GP

Item	Type	Attune?
Armor of gleaming	Armor	No
Boots of false tracks	Wondrous item	No
Candle of the deep	Wondrous item	No
Cast-off armor	Armor	No
Charlatan’s die	Wondrous item	Yes
Cloak of billowing	Wondrous item	No
Cloak of many fashions	Wondrous item	No
Clockwork amulet	Wondrous item	No
Clothes of mending	Wondrous item	No
Dark shard amulet	Wondrous item	Yes (warlock)
Dread helm	Wondrous item	No
Ear horn of hearing	Wondrous item	No
Enduring spellbook	Wondrous item	No
Ersatz eye	Wondrous item	Yes
Hat of vermin	Wondrous item	No
Hat of wizardry	Wondrous item	Yes (wizard)
Heward’s handy spice pouch	Wondrous item	No
Horn of silent alarm	Wondrous item	No
Instrument of illusions	Wondrous item	Yes
Instrument of scribing	Wondrous item	Yes
Lock of trickery	Wondrous item	No
Moon-touched sword	Weapon	No
Orb of direction	Wondrous item	No
Orb of time	Wondrous item	No
Pipe of smoke monsters	Wondrous item	No
Pole of angling	Wondrous item	No
Pole of collapsing	Wondrous item	No
Prosthetic Limb	Wondrous item	No
Rope of mending	Wondrous item	No
Ruby of the war mage	Wondrous item	Yes (spellcaster)
Shield of expression	Armor	No
Smoldering armor	Armor	No
Staff of adornment	Staff	No
Staff of birdcalls	Staff	No
Staff of flowers	Staff	No
Talking doll	Wondrous item	Yes
Tankard of Plenty	Wondrous item	No
Tankard of sobriety	Wondrous item	No
Tattoo, Illuminators	Wondrous item	Yes
Tattoo, Masquerade	Wondrous item	Yes
Unbreakable arrow	Weapon	No
Veteran’s cane	Wondrous item	No
Wand of conducting	Wand	No
Wand of pyrotechnics	Wand	No
Wand of scowls	Wand	No
Wand of smiles	Wand	No

Uncommon Items​

Consumable Items: 150 GP

Item	Type	Attune?
Oil of slipperiness	Potion	No
Dust of disappearance	Wondrous item	No
Dust of dryness	Wondrous item	No
Dust of sneezing and choking	Wondrous item	No
Elemental gem	Wondrous item	No
Keoghtom’s ointment	Wondrous item	No
Philter of love	Potion	No
Potion of animal friendship	Potion	No
Potion of fire breath	Potion	No
Potion of healing, greater	Potion	No
Potion of growth	Potion	No
Potion of hill giant strength	Potion	No
Potion of poison	Potion	No
Potion of resistance	Potion	No
Potion of water breathing	Potion	No

Uncommon Items, Minor​

Permanent Items: 300 GP

Item	Type	Attune?
Alchemy jug	Wondrous item	No
Ammunition, +1	Weapon	No
Bag of holding	Wondrous item	No
Cap of water breathing	Wondrous item	No
Cloak of the manta ray	Wondrous item	No
Decanter of endless water	Wondrous item	No
Driftglobe	Wondrous item	No
Eyes of minute seeing	Wondrous item	No
Goggles of night	Wondrous item	No
Helm of comprehending languages	Wondrous item	No
Immovable rod	Rod	No
Lantern of revealing	Wondrous item	No
Mariner’s armor	Armor	No
Mithral armor	Armor	No
Periapt of health	Wondrous item	No
Ring of swimming	Ring	No
Robe of useful items	Wondrous item	No
Rope of climbing	Wondrous item	No
Saddle of the cavalier	Wondrous item	No
Sending stones	Wondrous item	No
Wand of magic detection	Wand	No
Wand of secrets	Wand	No

Uncommon Items, Major​

Permanent Items: 500 GP

Item	Type	Attune?
Adamantine armor	Armor	No
All-Purpose Tool (+1)	Wondrous item	Yes
Amulet of proof against detection and location	Wondrous item	Yes
Amulet of the Devout (+1)	Wondrous item	Yes
Arcane Grimoire (+1)	Wondrous item	Yes
Bag of tricks	Wondrous item	No
Barrier Tattoo (+1)	Wondrous item	Yes
Bloodwell Vial (+1)	Wondrous item	Yes
Boots of elvenkind	Wondrous item	No
Boots of striding and springing	Wondrous item	Yes
Boots of the winterlands	Wondrous item	Yes
Bracers of archery	Wondrous item	Yes
Brooch of shielding	Wondrous item	Yes
Broom of flying	Wondrous item	No
Circlet of blasting	Wondrous item	No
Cloak of elvenkind	Wondrous item	Yes
Cloak of protection	Wondrous item	Yes
Coiling Grasp Tattoo	Wondrous item	Yes
Deck of illusions	Wondrous item	No
Eldritch Claw Tattoo	Wondrous item	Yes
Eversmoking bottle	Wondrous item	No
Eyes of charming	Wondrous item	Yes
Eyes of the eagle	Wondrous item	Yes
Feywild Shard	Wondrous item	Yes
Figurine of wondrous power (silver raven)	Wondrous item	No
Gauntlets of ogre power	Wondrous item	Yes
Gem of brightness	Wondrous item	No
Gloves of missile snaring	Wondrous item	Yes
Gloves of swimming and climbing	Wondrous item	Yes
Gloves of thievery	Wondrous item	No
Guardian Emblem	Wondrous item	Yes
Hat of disguise	Wondrous item	Yes
Headband of intellect	Wondrous item	Yes
Helm of telepathy	Wondrous item	Yes
Instrument of the bards (Doss lute)	Wondrous item	Yes (bard)
Instrument of the bards (Fochlucan bandore)	Wondrous item	Yes (bard)
Instrument of the bards (Mac-Fuirmidh cittern)	Wondrous item	Yes (bard)
Javelin of lightning	Weapon	No
Medallion of thoughts	Wondrous item	Yes
Moon Sickle (+1)	Weapon	Yes
Nature’s Mantle	Wondrous item	Yes
Necklace of adaptation	Wondrous item	Yes
Pearl of power	Wondrous item	Yes (spellcaster)
Periapt of wound closure	Wondrous item	Yes
Pipes of haunting	Wondrous item	No
Pipes of the sewers	Wondrous item	Yes
Quiver of Ehlonna	Wondrous item	No
Rhythm-Maker’s Drum (+1)	Wondrous item	Yes
Ring of jumping	Ring	Yes
Ring of mind shielding	Ring	Yes
Ring of warmth	Ring	Yes
Ring of water walking	Ring	No
Rod of the pact keeper, +1	Rod	Yes (warlock)
Sentinel shield	Armor	No
Shield, +1	Armor	No
Slippers of spider climbing	Wondrous item	Yes
Staff of the adder	Staff	Yes (cleric, druid, or warlock)
Staff of the python	Staff	Yes (cleric, druid, or warlock)
Stone of good luck (luckstone)	Wondrous item	Yes
Sword of vengeance	Weapon	Yes
Trident of fish command	Weapon	Yes
Wand of magic missiles	Wand	No
Wand of the war mage, +1	Wand	Yes (spellcaster)
Wand of web	Wand	Yes (spellcaster)
Weapon of warning	Weapon	Yes
Weapon, +1	Weapon	No
Wind fan	Wondrous item	No
Winged boots	Wondrous item	Yes

Rare Items​

Consumable Items: 2,000 GP

Item	Type	Attune?
Ammunition, +2	Weapon	No
Bag of beans	Wondrous item	No
Bead of force	Wondrous item	No
Elixir of health	Potion	No
Potion of clairvoyance	Potion	No
Potion of diminution	Potion	No
Potion of fire giant strength	Potion	No
Potion of frost giant strength	Potion	No
Potion of gaseous form	Potion	No
Potion of heroism	Potion	No
Potion of invulnerability	Potion	No
Potion of mind reading	Potion	No
Potion of stone giant strength	Potion	No
Potion of healing, superior	Potion	No
Oil of etherealness	Potion	No
Scroll of protection	Scroll	No
Necklace of fireballs	Wondrous item	No

Rare Items, Minor​

Permanent Items: 4,000 GP

Item	Type	Attune?
Chime of opening	Wondrous item	No
Folding boat	Wondrous item	No
Heward’s handy haversack	Wondrous item	No
Horseshoes of speed	Wondrous item	No
Portable hole	Wondrous item	No
Quaal’s feather token	Wondrous item	No

Rare Items, Major​

Permanent Items: 15,000 GP

Item	Type	Attune?
Alchemical Compendium	Wondrous Item	Yes
All-Purpose Tool (+2)	Wondrous Item	Yes
Amulet of health	Wondrous item	Yes
Amulet of the Devout (+2)	Wondrous Item	Yes
Arcane Grimoire (+2)	Wondrous Item	Yes
Armor of resistance	Armor	Yes
Armor of vulnerability	Armor	Yes
Armor, +1	Armor	No
Arrow-catching shield	Armor	Yes
Astral Shard	Wondrous Item	Yes
Astromancy Archive	Wondrous Item	Yes
Atlas of Endless Horizons	Wondrous Item	Yes
Barrier Tattoo (+2)	Wondrous Item	Yes
Bell Branch	Wondrous Item	Yes
Belt of dwarvenkind	Wondrous item	Yes
Belt of hill giant strength	Wondrous item	Yes
Berserker axe	Weapon	Yes
Bloodwell Vial (+2)	Wondrous Item	Yes
Boots of levitation	Wondrous item	Yes
Boots of speed	Wondrous item	Yes
Bowl of commanding water elementals	Wondrous item	No
Bracers of defense	Wondrous item	Yes
Brazier of commanding fire elementals	Wondrous item	No
Cape of the mountebank	Wondrous item	No
Censer of controlling air elementals	Wondrous item	No
Cloak of displacement	Wondrous item	Yes
Cloak of the bat	Wondrous item	Yes
Cube of force	Wondrous item	Yes
Daern’s instant fortress	Wondrous item	No
Dagger of venom	Weapon	No
Devotee’s Censer	Wondrous Item	Yes
Dimensional shackles	Wondrous item	No
Dragon slayer	Weapon	No
Duplicitous Manuscript	Wondrous Item	Yes
Elemental Essence Shard	Wondrous Item	Yes
Elven chain	Armor	No
Far Realm Shard	Wondrous Item	Yes
Figurine of wondrous power (bronze griffon)	Wondrous item	No
Figurine of wondrous power (ebony fly)	Wondrous item	No
Figurine of wondrous power (golden lions)	Wondrous item	No
Figurine of wondrous power (ivory goats)	Wondrous item	No
Figurine of wondrous power (marble elephant)	Wondrous item	No
Figurine of wondrous power (onyx dog)	Wondrous item	No
Figurine of wondrous power (serpentine owl)	Wondrous item	No
Flame tongue	Weapon	Yes
Fulminating Treatise	Wondrous Item	Yes
Gem of seeing	Wondrous item	Yes
Giant slayer	Weapon	No
Glamoured studded leather	Armor	No
Heart Weaver’s Primer	Wondrous Item	Yes
Helm of teleportation	Wondrous item	Yes
Horn of blasting	Wondrous item	No
Horn of Valhalla (silver or brass)	Wondrous item	No
Instrument of the bards (Canaith mandolin)	Wondrous item	Yes (bard)
Instrument of the bards (Cli lyre)	Wondrous item	Yes (bard)
Ioun stone (awareness)	Wondrous item	Yes
Ioun stone (protection)	Wondrous item	Yes
Ioun stone (reserve)	Wondrous item	Yes
Ioun stone (sustenance)	Wondrous item	Yes
Iron bands of Bilarro	Wondrous item	No
Libram of Souls and Flesh	Wondrous Item	Yes
Lyre of Building	Wondrous Item	Yes
Mace of disruption	Weapon	Yes
Mace of smiting	Weapon	No
Mace of terror	Weapon	Yes
Mantle of spell resistance	Wondrous item	Yes
Moon Sickle (+2)	Weapon	Yes
Necklace of prayer beads	Wondrous item	Yes (cleric, druid, or paladin)
Outer Essence Shard	Wondrous Item	Yes
Periapt of proof against poison	Wondrous item	No
Planecaller’s Codex	Wondrous Item	Yes
Protective Verses	Wondrous Item	Yes
Reveler’s Concertina	Wondrous Item	Yes
Rhythm-Maker’s Drum (+2)	Wondrous Item	Yes
Ring of animal influence	Ring	No
Ring of evasion	Ring	Yes
Ring of feather falling	Ring	Yes
Ring of free action	Ring	Yes
Ring of protection	Ring	Yes
Ring of resistance	Ring	Yes
Ring of spell storing	Ring	Yes
Ring of the ram	Ring	Yes
Ring of X-ray vision	Ring	Yes
Robe of eyes	Wondrous item	Yes
Rod of rulership	Rod	Yes
Rod of the pact keeper, +2	Rod	Yes (warlock)
Rope of entanglement	Wondrous item	No
Shadowfell Brand Tattoo	Wondrous Item	Yes
Shadowfell Shard	Wondrous Item	Yes
Shield of missile attraction	Armor	Yes
Shield, +2	Armor	No
Staff of charming	Staff	Yes (bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard)
Staff of healing	Staff	Yes (bard, cleric, or druid)
Staff of swarming insects	Staff	Yes (bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard)
Staff of the woodlands	Staff	Yes (druid)
Staff of withering	Staff	Yes (cleric, druid, or warlock)
Stone of controlling earth elementals	Wondrous item	No
Sun blade	Weapon	Yes
Sword of life stealing	Weapon	Yes
Sword of wounding	Weapon	Yes
Tentacle rod	Rod	Yes
Vicious weapon	Weapon	No
Wand of binding	Wand	Yes (spellcaster)
Wand of enemy detection	Wand	Yes
Wand of fear	Wand	Yes
Wand of fireballs	Wand	Yes (spellcaster)
Wand of lightning bolts	Wand	Yes (spellcaster)
Wand of paralysis	Wand	Yes (spellcaster)
Wand of the war mage, +2	Wand	Yes (spellcaster)
Wand of wonder	Wand	Yes (spellcaster)
Weapon, +2	Weapon	No
Wings of flying	Wondrous item	Yes

Very Rare Items​

Consumable Items: 15,000 GP

Item	Type	Attune?
Ammunition, +3	Weapon	No
Arrow of slaying	Weapon	No
Bag of devouring	Wondrous item	No
Nolzur’s marvelous pigments	Wondrous item	No
Oil of sharpness	Potion	No
Potion of cloud giant strength	Potion	No
Potion of flying	Potion	No
Potion of invisibility	Potion	No
Potion of longevity	Potion	No
Potion of speed	Potion	No
Potion of healing, supreme	Potion	No
Potion of vitality	Potion	No

Very Rare Items, Minor​

Permanent Items: 25,000 GP

Item	Type	Attune?
Horseshoes of a zephyr	Wondrous item	No

Very Rare Items, Major​

Permanent Items: 40,000 GP

Item	Type	Attune?
Absorbing Tattoo	Wondrous Item	Yes
All-Purpose Tool (+3)	Wondrous Item	Yes
Amulet of the Devout (+3)	Wondrous Item	Yes
Amulet of the planes	Wondrous item	Yes
Animated shield	Armor	Yes
Arcane Grimoire (+3)	Wondrous Item	Yes
Armor, +2	Armor	No
Barrier Tattoo (+3)	Wondrous Item	Yes
Belt of fire giant strength	Wondrous item	Yes
Belt of giant strength (frost/stone)	Wondrous item	Yes
Bloodwell Vial (+3)	Wondrous Item	Yes
Candle of invocation	Wondrous item	Yes
Carpet of flying	Wondrous item	No
Cauldron of Rebirth	Wondrous Item	Yes
Cloak of arachnida	Wondrous item	Yes
Crystal ball (very rare)	Wondrous item	Yes
Crystalline Chronicle	Wondrous Item	Yes
Dancing sword	Weapon	Yes
Demon armor	Armor	Yes
Dragon scale mail	Armor	Yes
Dwarven plate	Armor	No
Dwarven thrower	Weapon	Yes (dwarf)
Efreeti bottle	Wondrous item	No
Figurine of wondrous power (obsidian steed)	Wondrous item	No
Frost brand	Weapon	Yes
Ghost Step Tattoo	Wondrous Item	Yes
Helm of brilliance	Wondrous item	Yes
Horn of Valhalla (bronze)	Wondrous item	No
Instrument of the bards (Anstruth harp)	Wondrous item	Yes (bard)
Ioun stone (absorption)	Wondrous item	Yes
Ioun stone (agility)	Wondrous item	Yes
Ioun stone (fortitude)	Wondrous item	Yes
Ioun stone (insight)	Wondrous item	Yes
Ioun stone (intellect)	Wondrous item	Yes
Ioun stone (leadership)	Wondrous item	Yes
Ioun stone (strength)	Wondrous item	Yes
Lifewell Tattoo	Wondrous Item	Yes
Manual of bodily health	Wondrous item	No
Manual of gainful exercise	Wondrous item	No
Manual of golems	Wondrous item	No
Manual of quickness of action	Wondrous item	No
Mirror of life trapping	Wondrous item	No
Moon Sickle (+3)	Weapon	Yes
Nine lives stealer	Weapon	Yes
Oathbow	Weapon	Yes
Rhythm-Maker’s Drum (+3)	Wondrous Item	Yes
Ring of regeneration	Ring	Yes
Ring of shooting stars	Ring	Yes (outdoors at night)
Ring of telekinesis	Ring	Yes
Robe of scintillating colors	Wondrous item	Yes
Robe of stars	Wondrous item	Yes
Rod of absorption	Rod	Yes
Rod of alertness	Rod	Yes
Rod of security	Rod	No
Rod of the pact keeper, +3	Rod	Yes (warlock)
Scimitar of speed	Weapon	Yes
Shield, +3	Armor	No
Spellguard shield	Armor	Yes
Staff of fire	Staff	Yes (druid, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard)
Staff of frost	Staff	Yes (druid, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard)
Staff of power	Staff	Yes (sorcerer, warlock, or wizard)
Staff of striking	Staff	Yes
Staff of thunder and lightning	Staff	Yes
Sword of sharpness	Weapon	Yes
Tome of clear thought	Wondrous item	No
Tome of leadership and influence	Wondrous item	No
Tome of understanding	Wondrous item	No
Wand of polymorph	Wand	Yes (spellcaster)
Wand of the war mage, +3	Wand	Yes (spellcaster)
Weapon, +3	Weapon	No

Legendary Items, Consumable​

Item	Type	Attune?
Potion of storm giant strength	Potion	No
Sovereign glue	Wondrous item	No
Universal solvent	Wondrous item	No

Legendary Items, Permanent​

Item	Type	Attune?
Apparatus of Kwalish	Wondrous item	No
Armor of invulnerability	Armor	Yes
Armor, +3	Armor	No
Belt of cloud giant strength	Wondrous item	Yes
Belt of storm giant strength	Wondrous item	Yes
Blood Fury Tattoo	Wondrous Item	Yes
Cloak of invisibility	Wondrous item	Yes
Crystal ball (legendary)	Wondrous item	Yes
Cubic gate	Wondrous item	No
Deck of many things	Wondrous item	No
Defender	Weapon	Yes
Efreeti chain	Armor	Yes
Hammer of thunderbolts	Weapon	Yes (Giant’s Bane)
Holy avenger	Weapon	Yes (paladin)
Horn of Valhalla (iron)	Wondrous item	No
Instrument of the bards (Ollamh harp)	Wondrous item	Yes (bard)
Ioun stone (greater absorption)	Wondrous item	Yes
Ioun stone (mastery)	Wondrous item	Yes
Ioun stone (regeneration)	Wondrous item	Yes
Iron flask	Wondrous item	No
Luck blade	Weapon	Yes
Plate armor of etherealness	Armor	Yes
Ring of air elemental command	Ring	Yes
Ring of djinni summoning	Ring	Yes
Ring of earth elemental command	Ring	Yes
Ring of fire elemental command	Ring	Yes
Ring of invisibility	Ring	Yes
Ring of spell turning	Ring	Yes
Ring of three wishes	Ring	No
Ring of water elemental command	Ring	Yes
Robe of the archmagi	Wondrous item	Yes (sorcerer, warlock, or wizard)
Rod of lordly might	Rod	Yes
Rod of resurrection	Rod	Yes (cleric, druid, or paladin)
Scarab of protection	Wondrous item	Yes
Sphere of annihilation	Wondrous item	No
Staff of the magi	Staff	Yes (sorcerer, warlock, or wizard)
Sword of answering	Weapon	Yes (creature of same alignment as sword)
Talisman of pure good	Wondrous item	Yes (creature of good alignment)
Talisman of the sphere	Wondrous item	Yes
Talisman of ultimate evil	Wondrous item	Yes (creature of evil alignment)
Tome of the stilled tongue	Wondrous item	Yes (wizard)
Vorpal sword	Weapon	Yes
Well of many worlds	Wondrous item	No

EDIT: forgot to put in spoiler to make it easier to ignore. Oops!

 

[jmartkdr2]

I allow buying and selling, but no "shops." You get a broker or go to an auction. It's like buying fine art - a process that only the wealthy are allowed to participate in.

But once you're rich enough to be a part of it (ie mid-level), there's no hard limit on what's available. Just how long it takes and how much it costs.

 

[CleverNickName]

Since you clarified that you weren't talking about things like Potions of Healing, my vote is "Occasionally." There aren't any magic shops in towns, but there's usually a scribe and an alchemist. Every now and then, someone will roll into town claiming to sell magic swords or whatever, and...well, they aren't always cursed, or fakes.

 

[DND_Reborn]

I choose Rarely/ Never if you exclude the default potion of healing available in the PHB for 50 gp, but frankly I am even thinking of removing it or reducing it to just 1 hp. Then it will still stabilize a creature which is dying, but won't serve much greater purpose.

Otherwise, I want magic items to be (or at least feel) unique in my games. We dropped generic +X weapons a while ago, and even things like COPS and ROPS are dropping out of my game. I don't mind AC boosting items, or +X items which replace your ability or proficiency, instead of stacking on them. I've considered going that route, too.

I am more likely to award a magic item to a party by the local ruler, etc. instead of just having one "for sale". The rarely comes in maybe if it is something illegal that someone is pawning off on the PCs. Treasure in my games is sparse enough that you aren't going to be spending gold to buy magic items.

 

[Cadence]

In the current campaign I'm running, there are probably a wide variety available in the three metropolises - and anything common or uncommon is probably findable as well as the more widely useful rares. Outside of the huge cities, there might be a common and maybe a random uncommon thing here or there.