How much is too much?

[pbd]

How many magic items and, of what power, should a character have? This is just curiosity on my part.

For sake of an example take a fighter of Level 4, 8, and 12. How many and what kind/power of items should he have?

 

[Piratecat]

Luckily, 3e's wealth by level makes this calculation MUCH easier. Simply add up the costs of items and compare it to the chart in the DMG. It's not perfect, but it's a pretty good approximation for the presumed "average" level of magic items.

 

[francisca]

How many magic items and, of what power, should a character have? This is just curiosity on my part.

For sake of an example take a fighter of Level 4, 8, and 12. How many and what kind/power of items should he have?

Well, if you strictly adhere to the CR system and the theory behind it, take a look in the NPC section of the DMG.

If you run a higher or lower level of magic than is described in the core books (and very subjective, and open to debate), then your mileage may vary.

Not much of an answer, but it the best practical advice I can give you.

 

[pbd]

Unfortunately...

I don't have the DMG. I am just a lowly player wondering what a character might have.

 

[Whisper72]

I don't have the DMG. I am just a lowly player wondering what a character might have.

Hmmm... then the correct anser is: as much as your DM want's you to have

Actually, regardless of the tables in the DMG, this is one of the harder things to juggle. A DM has to balance the amount of magical items he gives out keeping many things in mind:
- not too many that the power of the PC's is so dependent upon the 'stuff' they carry, that their own powers are negligible
- not too many that players become jaded 'oh... ANOTHER magical wand of x'
- not too few, as gaining cool magical items is one of the better rewards for players during adventures

Then there is the whole debate on 'high versus low magic' in the campaign as well as in terms of power of magical items, as the pervasiveness / distribution of items, which is a matter entirely dependent upon the individual tastes of players and DM's...

In short, there is IMHO no real answer to your question...

 

[the Jester]

It depends on whether he's a pc or an npc, for one thing. For a pc, a 4th level character should have about 5400 gp in gear, an 8th level pc should have about 27,000 gp, and a 12th level pc should have about 88,000 gp in gear.

 

[Wystan]

Fighter at level 4 8 12

Here is my take as a GM.

Level 4 Fighter:
2-4 Minor Permenant Magic items
1 Weapon of +1-2 quality
1 Armor (+1 max)
1 Ring (Low Powered)
1 misc Item of less than 5000GP value Each
2-4 Potions (Usually of healing)

Level 8 Fighter:
2-4 Minor Permenant Magic Items
1-2 Medium Powered Magic Items
1 Weapon of +2-3 Quality
1 Weapon of +1-2 Quality
1 Armor (+3 Max)
1-2 Rings (low Powered if 2 or Medium if only 1)
1-2 Misc Items of less than 7500GP Value Each
4-7 Potions (Again usually healing)

Level 12 Fighter
1 Major Permenant Magic Item
4-5 Minor Permenant Magic Items
2-3 Medium Powered Magic Items
1 Weapon of +4-5 Quality
1 Weapon of +2-3 Quality
1 Armor (+3-4 max)
1-2 Medium Powered Rings or Amulets
2-3 Misc Magic Items of less than 20000GP Value Total
7-10 Potions and one shot magic items
1 Misc Magic Item of less than 20000GP (Major Item)


This is just my take and would make a relatively Good powered fighter that should have interesting stories to tell. If I had a player hand me a Lvl 12 fighter with that number of items and no stories where he got them I would probably set him to the level 8 item rules.

 

[Arnwyn]

I don't have the DMG. I am just a lowly player wondering what a character might have.

The answer is "whatever the DM wants you to have". It will never, ever be the same for different groups (even for different campaigns!). Thus, as others mentioned, there is no answer to your question.

The "Wealth by Level" table in the DMG is only a guideline, and the DM can modify it however he/she wishes. If the DM wants to run a low-magic campaign, then it will be quite different than what's listed (and vice-versa for a high-magic campaign).

Being a player, you shouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[jmucchiello]

Being a player, you shouldn't worry about it too much.

Agreed. About you that you might care about is that it is similar to the rest of the PCs in the party -- so no player outshines another based on their stuff.

 

[Wystan]

No further input, I am interested as well as I am usually called a "Monty Haul" GM (Or Monty Hall if you prefer).


Please give guidlines that you would ask the players to live by.