Is Giving Out A +3 Weapon Generous?

[Xyrlove Woodsoul]

Is giving out a +3 Luckblade to an all-ready tough, newly turned 10th level swordmage, being generous? It will be the best sword that I have given out thus far, +1 better than I have given out previously. She definitely deserves it, I think. But I just kind of want to get an idea if that would be being generous? My stance on awarding magic items, is that i randomly generate it according to the RAW axioms, and if they can use the item, they can accept it, or decline it. But if its for one of their empty slots, then they have to take it. They can only buy magic items up to the level of the Artificer in the organization (who is only 8th level btw). I guess I would say I was medium-low on the magic items, no wishing really. By the way, this isn't for real players, but characters, in my pretend group, because my friends don't play DnD anymore and i'm a bad typist

 

[Gruns]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I think you might be doing it wrong...
No, wait... I guess there isn't a right or wrong. But I still found this post to be a bit odd...
Now let's see if I can be constructive! Your Swordmage is level 10. A +3 Luckblade is a lvl 13 item. Slightly over the character's level, but certainly within the realm of feasible usability for the character. Nothing wrong with that at all. I have to ask if you have the DMG and follow the parcel guidelines there?
Hmm...
Gruns

 

[fba827]

if a +3 luckblade is a level 13 magic item (going based on what the above poster said, i don't have the book handy) then it actually falls within the given guidelines as an appropriate treasure for a level 10 party. In fact, (I think) a level 13 treasure item can be found as a treasure parcel for even a level 9 party.

Mind you, this is in reference to party level (not individual level) which I guess (since you have nonequal party member levels) might best be determined by the average of them all?

That's not to say all treasure for a level 10 party should be level 13, but it is listed as appropriate for one of the treasure parcels given to a party of that level.

 

[mkill]

As fba827 said: It's perfectly acceptable to hand out a magic item of up to average party level +4, at least if you follow the treasure parcel guidelines in the DMG.

Well, if you don't follow the DMG guidelines, you obviously know what you are doing and then you don't need to ask...

I've just finished a campaign arc for a bunch of level 10 characters and I've handed out +3 items left and right. They really needed them. Maybe it's because the chars weren't really optimized and I handed them a number of tough encounters... A party of 4 level 10 characters should be able to handle an encounter with 3 level 13 elites, though.

 

[Flipguarder]

I actually gave an artificer in the party I DM a +4 wand at level 9. The catch was every time he crit he was dominated (save ends) by some unknown evil entity.

 

[Xyrlove Woodsoul]

Do you think it is wrong for an artificer to carry a bunch of wands just for using the possible daily powers attributed to them? Normally, I would look down at almost any character carrying a bunch of wands, but for an artificer it seems, acceptable, given that they are into magical "gadjets" and such.

 

[Obryn]

Do you think it is wrong for an artificer to carry a bunch of wands just for using the possible daily powers attributed to them? Normally, I would look down at almost any character carrying a bunch of wands, but for an artificer it seems, acceptable, given that they are into magical "gadjets" and such.

Nope. Just remember the milestone-based limitations on daily item use. The problem solves itself.

-O

 

[Colmarr]

Nope. Just remember the milestone-based limitations on daily item use. The problem solves itself.

Agreed.

And as for the original question, as others have pointed out: a weapon that is 3 levels above the character's level is well within normal treasure range.

 

[Camelot]

Do you think it is wrong for an artificer to carry a bunch of wands just for using the possible daily powers attributed to them? Normally, I would look down at almost any character carrying a bunch of wands, but for an artificer it seems, acceptable, given that they are into magical "gadjets" and such.

That's why artificers get a level 2 utility power, use magic item, that lets them use a magic item daily power without it counting towards their limitation.

 

[Marshall]

if a +3 luckblade is a level 13 magic item (going based on what the above poster said, i don't have the book handy) then it actually falls within the given guidelines as an appropriate treasure for a level 10 party. In fact, (I think) a level 13 treasure item can be found as a treasure parcel for even a level 9 party.

Mind you, this is in reference to party level (not individual level) which I guess (since you have nonequal party member levels) might best be determined by the average of them all?

That's not to say all treasure for a level 10 party should be level 13, but it is listed as appropriate for one of the treasure parcels given to a party of that level.

This is especially true when you are talking about Weapons/Implements. The variations within the level bands are so huge that handing out a 15th level "weapon" to a 8th level party can be significantly less unbalancing/powerful than an 12th level(maybe even 11th) item would be. Vicious may be boring, but it compares well to the highest levels in every band.