D&D (2024) What should be the Optimization and Magic Item Assumption of PCs be?

[GMforPowergamers]

I would include Magic items in the CR calculations... a simple version would be "If 2 or more players have AC boosting magic items add 1 to the groups effective level, if half or more have attack/damage/save boosting intems add 1 as well"

then again I would add "if your party doesn't have someone that can heal subtract 1 level"

 

[Umbran]

Not having a good handle on what "low, medium, and heavy" are...

I would prefer the base assumptions be that
1) Players are intelligent enough to make the pretty obvious basic choices for character development - if you have to dig around and try several builds, or use a spreadsheet to calculate expected damage per round, to find an option, that's beyond "obvious choices".

2) Largely 5e levels of magic assumption - hit point healing magics are rather easy to get, but numerical bonuses are not assumed. Some guidelines on how those bonuses effect balance might be nice, but in complicated and complex games it can be difficult to do. I can develop my own intuition about them.

 

[Scott Christian]

hit point healing magics are rather easy to get

I have always wondered about this from a D&D nerdist's perspectives. Like, what are healing potions? I get that it relates to hit points, which I think most assume are a combination of fatigue, luck, and actual damage. So what is in that liquid? It is like the ammonia stuff powerlifters inhale before a big lift? Is it an instantaneous type of IV infusion with oxygenated red blood cells that absorbs through the digestive system? Is it like the goo they give to marathon runners? Is it some type of instant pain reliever, like oxy-whatever?

 

[James Gasik]

I have always wondered about this from a D&D nerdist's perspectives. Like, what are healing potions? I get that it relates to hit points, which I think most assume are a combination of fatigue, luck, and actual damage. So what is in that liquid? It is like the ammonia stuff powerlifters inhale before a big lift? Is it an instantaneous type of IV infusion with oxygenated red blood cells that absorbs through the digestive system? Is it like the goo they give to marathon runners? Is it some type of instant pain reliever, like oxy-whatever?

Liquid Schwartz.

 

[Umbran]

I have always wondered about this from a D&D nerdist's perspectives. Like, what are healing potions? I get that it relates to hit points, which I think most assume are a combination of fatigue, luck, and actual damage. So what is in that liquid? It is like the ammonia stuff powerlifters inhale before a big lift? Is it an instantaneous type of IV infusion with oxygenated red blood cells that absorbs through the digestive system? Is it like the goo they give to marathon runners? Is it some type of instant pain reliever, like oxy-whatever?

Any of the above, really.

I mean, I styled an Artificer's Cure Wounds spell as him slapping a little "autodoc" device on someone that had a bunch of needles of injectable herbal remedies and glues to stitch up scratches and such.

 

[Minigiant]

I have always wondered about this from a D&D nerdist's perspectives. Like, what are healing potions? I get that it relates to hit points, which I think most assume are a combination of fatigue, luck, and actual damage. So what is in that liquid? It is like the ammonia stuff powerlifters inhale before a big lift? Is it an instantaneous type of IV infusion with oxygenated red blood cells that absorbs through the digestive system? Is it like the goo they give to marathon runners? Is it some type of instant pain reliever, like oxy-whatever?

It's like all the drugs, man.

 

[Pauln6]

I have always wondered about this from a D&D nerdist's perspectives. Like, what are healing potions? I get that it relates to hit points, which I think most assume are a combination of fatigue, luck, and actual damage. So what is in that liquid? It is like the ammonia stuff powerlifters inhale before a big lift? Is it an instantaneous type of IV infusion with oxygenated red blood cells that absorbs through the digestive system? Is it like the goo they give to marathon runners? Is it some type of instant pain reliever, like oxy-whatever?

Iron Bru