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Message: <blockquote data-quote="nookiemonster" data-source="post: 5324865" data-attributes="member: 94853">One of the reasons for the new magic item rarities, according to Mike Mearls The Ruinous, is so that ordinary magic items and 'character-defining' magic items can sit "close to each other" in level. Consider these two weapons, which are within one level of each other:+6 Magic sword. Level 26. Price: 1,125,000 gp. +6 to attack and damage rolls, +6d6 damage on a critical. Common item.+5 Holy Avenger. Level 25. Price: 625,000 gp. +5 to attack and damage rolls, +5d6 and spend a healing surge on a critical hit. +1d10 radiant on Radiant attacks, daily power boosting your and your buddies' defenses, also functions as a +5 magic holy symbol (level 21 item, 225,000 gp, common), increasing the weapons effective monetary value to 850,000 gold. Rare item.Now, for many characters, including many Paladin builds, the Holy Avenger is pretty ordinary, with not much to choose between it and the rather dull +6 magic sword. However, for a charisma-based paladin who has almost all of his powers use the Radiant keyword, and has lots of implement powers, such as your basic Paladin from the PHB, this sword is going to be a very nifty weapon. In fact, a much more flavourful choice for that character concept than the  over-the-counter +6 Magic sword. Palindrome the Paladin's Holy Avenger isn't just part of his gear that he'll sell when it's no longer useful; it's part of the character concept, and hence is "character defining". So it seems like the "rarity" of items is not just based on power, it's specialisation and suitability to a particular character concept as well.</blockquote>

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