How critical is equipment?

[Bonzi]

I'm currently playing in a campaign where our party for the most part has just made 3rd level. There's a couple players that are possibly going to be a little short but should at least be very close to 3rd level (the DM hasn't calculated the XP yet). For the most part we are well short of the recommended DMG level of character wealth (My character probably has about 250 gp worth of equipment right now and is more or less typical of the group). The only thing of any real value we've found so far was a cloak of resistance +1. I'm not sure if we just keep missing the treasure or what, but how much is this going to hurt us when we move up to 3rd level?

 

[Crothian]

Not a lot at third leve so it isn't something you need to be concerned with. While it does become a bigger problem at higher levels, the DM can make it so there is no problem. What I am saying is if you have a good DM and trust him this is not something you ever need worry about.

 

[Rabelais]

I'm running a game like that right now. The characters are about 4th level, there's 1 set of masterwork gear (Rapier and Chainmail) on a guy that doesn't really play with us anymore.

The characters are still thriving, the players are pretty happy. They're fine. They're about to get an Artifact dropped on their laps, but they're fine

 

[Drowbane]

I'm running a game like that right now. The characters are about 4th level, there's 1 set of masterwork gear (Rapier and Chainmail) on a guy that doesn't really play with us anymore.

The characters are still thriving, the players are pretty happy. They're fine. They're about to get an Artifact dropped on their laps, but they're fine

Happy in general, yes. Happy with the lack of gear? not so much.

At level 1 we had half minimum wealth... I could afford studded leather, but nothing else. It was kinda refreshing. Though half the group jokes about taking the Vow of Poverty... since we're already there

arti-what? ::goes off to scour his eyes clean::

Not a lot at third leve so it isn't something you need to be concerned with. While it does become a bigger problem at higher levels, the DM can make it so there is no problem. What I am saying is if you have a good DM and trust him this is not something you ever need worry about.

QFT

 

[Bonzi]

Our DM is very good, but no one is perfect. Since we are running pre-made stuff, my concern was that we hit something that could result in a TPK before things even out. Also, we aren't a very strong combat party to begin with so combined with the lack of equipment I was a little concerned but it sounds like at this point it's not too much of an issue.

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

I think the recommended wealth levels are pretty arbitrary at the lower levels. A former DM never liked giving out wealth, items, etc. because he couldn't simply rationalize it monters walking around with it or having it lying around on some dungeon floor. We had to seek it actively, and since we didn't really have the opportunity to do that (most of us being responsibly, Good characters) we were pretty poor until the 12th or 13th level.

At level 3 I wouldn't worry about it so much. There isn't much you can have at that level that can really change the balance of power.

 

[buzzard]

Our DM is very good, but no one is perfect. Since we are running pre-made stuff, my concern was that we hit something that could result in a TPK before things even out. Also, we aren't a very strong combat party to begin with so combined with the lack of equipment I was a little concerned but it sounds like at this point it's not too much of an issue.

If the DM is running premade stuff then he must be modifying things to cut the listed treasure. If so, he'd better start cutting the encouters as well soon. Certain classes are extremely equipment dependent at higher levels, and certain encounters are magnified in deadliness by a lack of equipment.

buzzard

 

[Ourph]

Our DM is very good, but no one is perfect. Since we are running pre-made stuff, my concern was that we hit something that could result in a TPK before things even out. Also, we aren't a very strong combat party to begin with so combined with the lack of equipment I was a little concerned but it sounds like at this point it's not too much of an issue.

This just makes scouting out areas, gathering info from captured enemies or through divinations and making sure you leave yourself an avenue of escape if things get tough that much more important. If you know your party is equipment-poor and vulnerable to a TPK, asking the DM to cough up more loot or adjust the encounters aren't the only answers. Good strategic play can compensate for almost any disadvantage that lack of equipment might pose. The toughness of encounters and the amount of treasure you receive isn't something you can control, the preparedness and cunning you bring to bear on the challenges you face, however, are completely under your control. Don't let worrying about the stuff you can't control distract you from maximizing the advantage of what you can.

 

[Maldor]

our group is relly poor for it's level and like most people are saying at the up levels it matters when you fight a monster with DR 15/magic and no one in the 10 lvl party has a +1 weapon it become very life threating.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

The GM might well not be cutting the wealth down. We just finished the first module in a campaign path last night. Put the party at 3rd level. Turns out we did all the 'plot critical' areas of the dungeon and missed most of the bits with loot in.

IME, other people are right, the balance of item power gets more important as you go up levels... early on it really isn't so important.