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<blockquote data-quote="billd91" data-source="post: 5113281" data-attributes="member: 3400">I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with the Xmas tree, as long as the PCs earned the items they've got. I'm not sure it's the style I like best, though.But one thing about items, 1e and 2e were designed with the assumption that the fighting classes were more dependent on magic items than wizards. It's explicit in the 1e DMG and (at least) implied in the 2e DMG as well. The random magic item tables are significantly skewed toward magic weapons and armor (40% of the table combined in 2e) and away from wizardly items like staves and wands (4% of the table combined). One of 3e's failings, I believe, is shifting the emphasis on magic items. In 3e, magic armor and weapons make up only 20% of the random treasure. Staves are that common themselves for major items. Add in the ease with which magic items could be created by a spellcaster, and that balancing element in 1e/2e goes out the window. 3e's other major failing with magic items, easy creation, is the other main element that contributes to Xmas tree characters. While the 1e/2e DM could control magic item access, 3e gave the tools for that to the PCs. 4e may make it easier for non-spellcasters to craft items, narrowing the imbalance between the two to a feat, but it doesn't really help the Xmas tree issue exacerbated by the items being simply too easy to make from the get go.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="billd91, post: 5113281, member: 3400"] I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with the Xmas tree, as long as the PCs earned the items they've got. I'm not sure it's the style I like best, though. But one thing about items, 1e and 2e were designed with the assumption that the fighting classes were more dependent on magic items than wizards. It's explicit in the 1e DMG and (at least) implied in the 2e DMG as well. The random magic item tables are significantly skewed toward magic weapons and armor (40% of the table combined in 2e) and away from wizardly items like staves and wands (4% of the table combined). One of 3e's failings, I believe, is shifting the emphasis on magic items. In 3e, magic armor and weapons make up only 20% of the random treasure. Staves are that common themselves for major items. Add in the ease with which magic items could be created by a spellcaster, and that balancing element in 1e/2e goes out the window. 3e's other major failing with magic items, easy creation, is the other main element that contributes to Xmas tree characters. While the 1e/2e DM could control magic item access, 3e gave the tools for that to the PCs. 4e may make it easier for non-spellcasters to craft items, narrowing the imbalance between the two to a feat, but it doesn't really help the Xmas tree issue exacerbated by the items being simply too easy to make from the get go. [/QUOTE]

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