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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jaelommiss" data-source="post: 6840658" data-attributes="member: 6775925">I don't think that handing out a +3 weapon at first level is really a problem. Now before everyone jumps me for this, I'd like to explain.You, [MENTION=6716779]Zardnaar[/MENTION], understand how magic items work in 5e. I can tell that from your posts. You know that this would be very powerful for the character and likely last them for their entire career. As such, you also wouldn't hand such items out like candy and are therefore unlikely to significantly harm game balance. Let's think about what this item would be. A +3 weapon is listed as Very Rare. Giving an extra attack on a kill (thought I will echo those who suggest making it take a bonus action) and dealing +1d6 damage is more than enough to bump it up to legendary. Yes, I still think that giving a legendary item to a first level character is fine.Now that we know that this is a legendary item, let's create a history to explain why it is so powerful. This is an item that wars would be fought over and could very well attract the attention of plane-hopping adventurers. As JonnyP71 said, 15th level PCs would jump at a chance to gain something like this. Its bond with nature suggests that it would be associated with some great druid or ranger. Its ability to make an additional attack against an adjacent enemy reminds me somewhat of the ranger's Horde Breaker ability. Lastly, the fact that such a desirable item was undiscovered until now suggests to me that it was lost in a spectacular fashion.We now have enough information to make a rough history behind the item. For instance, the ranger, a guardian of the natural world, stood alone against an endless tide of demons while his allies worked to dismantle the portal through which they poured. For hours he held them back, until the demonic commander grew tired of his interference and dueled him. In the end the ranger could not stand against the balor alone and was felled, but not before breaking the demon's blade / putting out his eye / removing his hand / other noticeable scar. However, at this time of defeat the other adventurers managed to seal the portal, dragging the balor and his minions back into the Abyss. The demon was not slain, and there he broods in his anger at the mortals who dared inflict [previous injury] upon him. One day he shall return. At that time, legends, say, that the ranger's blade will be found again and taken up by a new champion, this time to permanently defeat the demon.With that, I would let the players find this +3 shortsword from legends. I wouldn't have anyone recognize it for a couple sessions, and when it IS recognized then the campaign can really kick off. Some NPCs will want to take the sword so that they can be the great hero. Others will fear the approaching doom, causing mass hysteria. I suppose my advice boils down to: use the massively overpowered magic weapon, and build the game around it. "Rarity shouldn't get in the way of your campaign's story. If you want a ring of invisibility to fall into the hands of a 1st-level character, so be it. No doubt a great story will arise from that event." -- DMG, 135</blockquote>

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