How critical is equipment?

[Plane Sailing]

I'd say that equipment is critical at medium-high levels, but at low levels it isn't - because you are fighting more foes which can be defeated with wit, cunning and a good sword arm at low levels. At high levels there are completely different kinds of challenges to overcome, and they often revolve around equipment (at least for the non spellcasters)

Cheers

 

[Joker]

On the flipside, our 15th level party has much more money than the standard wealth for our level but that doesn't mean we blow through encounters easily.

It all depends on how the encounters are set-up by the DM and how tactically minded the group is, if we're talking about combat oriented encounters.

 

[Bardsandsages]

Being poor doesn't alway mean you are poorly equipped. My current group are escaped slaves from the underdark. They started the game with ZERO gear except for the clothes on their back and their craft tools. But as slaves they all had good craft skills, so they made a lot of the stuff they needed. They made weapons from bone and stone, used herbalism rolls to identify plants and fungus for various salves and potions, make armor from the hides of creatures they killed.

Ultimately it comes down to whether the characters are dependent on their own skills and abilities, or the magical items they carry.

 

[Stalker0]

I'd say the biggest pain your going to have is for heavy fighters. Normally they have their full plates by 2nd or 3rd level, with 250 gp they'll probably still have some not so great medium armor. Other than that it shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[Agamon]

Ah, this is about phat loot. I thought it was about mundane equipment. I'll tell you what's critical in that area: alchemist's fire, rope, holy water and torches. I've been in too many games where the players look at each other saying, "What, nobody has <insert one of the above items>?!"

To answer the OP, it depends on what the DM throws at you. DR is hard to overcome at low levels without magic weapons. And a shortage of healing scrolls/potions (and other useful scrolls/potions) could hurt in long battles/excursions. Whether the treasure is extemely well hidden or not there, the DM obviously thinks you can get along without it, so it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Lanefan]

Search. For. Secret. Doors.

It's amazing how much gets missed in adventures by parties who don't bother - or forget - to do this mundane little task...

Lanefan

 

[Bonzi]

I'd say the biggest pain your going to have is for heavy fighters. Normally they have their full plates by 2nd or 3rd level, with 250 gp they'll probably still have some not so great medium armor. Other than that it shouldn't be a big deal.

I'm the only melee fighter of the group and I have a chain shirt. heh

Several people kind of mentioned the DR issue which was my biggest concern when I posted. A couple campaigns ago we were playing in a low magic world, we had a TPK when we met a monster with (I think) DR 10/magic and we were 5th or 6th level but no one had a magic weapon. First round the mage got taken out and that was that. Retreat wasn't possible either because we had just passed through a magical one-way barrier.

edit:

Oh and I don't think any treasure was cut, I think we have missed a few things due to IC time constraints and we've been hitting the healing potions hard because we're not really a combat oriented party.

 

[Kormydigar]

Ah, this is about phat loot. I thought it was about mundane equipment. I'll tell you what's critical in that area: alchemist's fire, rope, holy water and torches. I've been in too many games where the players look at each other saying, "What, nobody has <insert one of the above items>?!"

Yeah. We had quite a situation once with a 1st-2nd level party. Flaming oil was needed and no one had flint&steel. It was sunrods all around for light sources. Since Tim the Enchanter was not with the group they were in pretty bad shape

 

[Driddle]

re "How critical is equipment?": Doesn't equipment have a crit threat range of 15-18? I don't have the PHB handy to check.

 

[Harmon]

A lot of GMs (myself included) like to restrict magic for a little while so that it will force the PCs to think instead of over power the monsters. Not sure if that is the case with your GM, but one never knows.

My suggestion- talk to the GM, do not complain or bitch about it, just mention that you want some magic weapons for the party. Ask if you guys have missed anything, as well as- when all the monsters are dead in the "dungeon" search it from top to bottom. When you come to a monster like you did in your last campaign that no one can hurt (I am assuming that part as it seemed to be what you have implied) then play out the scene to the best of your ability- should your character die then make a new one.

I have a character right now reaching for 12th lvl that was 9th and had no magic weapons, a +1 Mythral Chain Shirt, and a few trinket magic items when we ran into a golem none of the PCs could do anything to it (3e DR) because no one could roll max and get even a single point through. An NPC had to kill it while we watched, at the time I was mad, but soon there after I had enough money to magic a bow and his sword.

Take care, and have fun, that is what its about.