Identify Magic Items

[chris.m.durham]

In order to keep it simple and keep the mystique I've made a house rule that Identifying is an Arcana check with DC10+[Item Level]. +2 bonus if you've used the item before (healing potions, etc.). If you fail you can re-check whenever it makes sense (usually daily, but not always - DM's discretion).

 

[Just Another User]

Umm, completely untrue.

Ummmm, no, it is not, by the RAW every level you find 1 item of your level+1, 1 item of your level +2, etc etc

This mean that at 10th level you never find a 5th level item (by the rules, of course), but this means one of two things, either you actually don't find them, (and it don't make sense, simple logic say that there should be more low level magc items than high level ones in the world and if a NPC have a level 10 magic items why should not he have some other lower level ones? Even if he can personally use them they are worth a lot of money and some items, like bags of holdings or everlasting provision, are useful at any level ), or you just ignore them, which it don't make a lot of sense either, but is stil more sensible than the alternative.

 

[Jhaelen]

Ummmm, no, it is not, by the RAW every level you find 1 item of your level+1, 1 item of your level +2, etc etc.

Well,
1. Did you bother reading the rest of my post? It is NOT true that everything you find will be magical.
2. RAW is fine for philosophical rule discussions on internet boards. A DM interested in actually playing the game would do well to not let herself be limited by myopic interpretations.
3. The treasure parcel system is just a recommendation. It also happens to work very well. If you prefer a more complicated system, just add up all of the gp values and distribute them however you like. As long as every pc gets his 'big three' items of the appropriate level you should be fine.

simple logic say that there should be more low level magc items than high level ones in the world and if a NPC have a level 10 magic items why should not he have some other lower level ones? [...] or you just ignore them, which it don't make a lot of sense either, but is stil more sensible than the alternative.

Methinks you're arguing from a simulationist point of view.

'Simple logic', huh?

I'd say, what is 'logical' when you're talking about magic is extremely campaign-specific. There are lots of settings which do not even have low-level magic items, only one-of-a-kind artifact-type items. I wonder what would be 'logical' in one of these settings?

If you're worried where the lower level items went: they've been cashed in or turned into residuum to buy or craft one or more of the items the npc happens to carry.