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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mengu" data-source="post: 4698266" data-attributes="member: 65726">I have an opposing stance on this, at least for the game I'm running. I know my players' characters as well as they do if not better. But there is more. I know what they are going to be facing. This prior knowledge makes me the best qualified person at the table to provide them with the items they need. For instance, if they are going to be fighting a bunch of undead and necromancers, I'll give them items that boost some radiant powers, and resist some necrotic damage. This also makes it a lot easier for me to remove items I don't want them to use without having to keep a list of them. It makes it easier for me to keep player equipment balanced since not all of them are system masters, and most of them wouldn't know what to ask for. Besides, how else would I be able to create magic items specific to my campaign? My players don't know these, and couldn't be expected to wish for them. When I give items, I also try to create situations where the item might shine for a moment. I try to make sure no one person is stacked with a bunch of items that have daily powers, since in order to be able to use 5 items with daily powers, you'll need to go through 9 encounters. Not likely. So I spread out the items with simple properties, or encounter powers among the party. Also when I plant equipment in the treasure pile, I usually have an idea who will end up with the item, but not always. There are 2 people in the party who wear leather armor, 2 people who use heavy shields, and two people who use holy symbols. And some of the neck/waist/etc slot items can be worn by anyone. So I let the party dynamics work out the distribution. I realize for a DM who doesn't want to spend the time, coming up with an item list is a lot easier when they have a wish list. So I think each DM/group will have to make their own decission on whether they want to use wish lists or not. If I was running a living FR campaign or some such where I had a revolving door of a dozen players, who could have a half dozen different DM's, wish lists would be the only way to go.</blockquote>

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