What's your magic level preference?

[d20Dwarf]

Why do you prefer what you chose? Do you like your characters loaded down with magic items, or do you prefer a few items that let your character stand out from all the magic? Do you like magic dominating high levels, or are heroic deeds your medicine of choice for what ails the fantasy world in which you adventure?

 

[Crothian]

I always perfered the character being successful by his own skill, not the ability of his magical items. But it really varies between low and medium and even a little high. As a DM it was always the ability to remove magical items from the palyers, especially those they depended on that was most fun. So, any works, just don't expect to always have them.

 

[fusangite]

I have to say that one of the two things I dislike about 3E is how much more magic there is in worlds with dense populations and cities. I'd love to see some optional rules for low-magic 3E.

 

[Neo]

I voted for low magic, not necessarily because I like magic to be more powerful than melee people but because I like magic to be special. Magic should be something aweinspiring just like Dragons should be. It should be hard to master but well worth the effort if achieved and by its very nature rare as a result imo.

Regarding magic items I like them to matter, nothing I hate worse than an "Oh another +1 sword" situation. When someone finds a magical blade it should be like finding a "sting" or "Glambring" it should be a special occasion and means something, the sword should have appeal and history and be more than just the sum of its bonus.

 

[blackshirt5]

I love a high magic, Final Fantasy style of game. Flashy magic, airships, magi-tek, but also mixed in with regular weaponry(the elves in my game look at people with magi-tek weaponry like they need some serious help). However, steel is still the equal of sorcery, somehow, in my game.

 

[d20Dwarf]

Great input so far, thanks!

 

[Neo]

I love a high magic, Final Fantasy style of game. Flashy magic, airships, magi-tek, but also mixed in with regular weaponry(the elves in my game look at people with magi-tek weaponry like they need some serious help). However, steel is still the equal of sorcery, somehow, in my game.

You could still get a lot of the things like airships, magitek etc.. in a low magic setting i'd say. People simply don't know who built them or understand anylonger how to reproduce them or repair them.

 

[Oni]

I like a lot of magic, but not necessarily a lot of magic items. Does that make sense?

[edit: By your definitions I would prefer low magic, but that isn't really how I see it. I would just prefer that characters in dnd were less dependent on magic items. I still want dragons and fireball throwing sorcerers, and gods stomping and generally mucking things up. But I wish they had done something with the fighter class for instance where he was able to compete with the avg dnd wizard not because of a backpack full of magic items, but rather by virtue of sheer skill and heroic badassness. The only exception to this is I don't mind wizards with lots of items if they made them themselves because they seem more special that way.]

 

[blackshirt5]

IMC, they know who built the airships and the magitek. It was the gnomes, with the humans helping out. You can actually go and get an airship commisioned IMC, and magitek weapons are produced(not created) by various cities. However, the regular magic items, unlike magitek, are all unique. Whereas you can find, in a shop, probably several fire-bladed swords. However, you won't find a flaming longsword in the same shop, or, if they do have one, that's probably how many your gonna find. One. Magic items, as opposed to the magitek, are seen as unique by their creators and wielders.

 

[Tcheb]

I'm with Oni - high magic but not a glut of items. Wizards are awe inspiring and powerful, and great if one is with the party, but that magic sword is an uncommon and special find. There are no shops where one can simply trade in or purchase magic stuff, PCs have to go to the source, and likely perform some task for the cranky mage before he'll even think about making them or selling them something. If said cranky mage doesn't just blow them up for the hell of it. (Who knows how the minds of wizards work?)