If this has been asked elsewhere please delete this thread. After looking through the Magic Item listings I began to wonder if there was any logic in trying to match the levels of the items to PC levels. An example, would Minor magic items correspond to PC levels 1-5; Medium magic items correspond to PC levels 6-12 or 6-15; Major magic items correspond to PC levels 13 or 16-20+?
I am not trying to complicate matters, just trying to get a feel for what items might be appropriate for what levels. I believe it would also depend on what ideas the GM had for his/her particular campaign. This is just for the benefit of anyone else interested in this question. I am not looking to start a flame war or cause any disruption of these boards, so if you cannot be civil don't comment.
If this has been asked elsewhere please delete this thread. After looking through the Magic Item listings I began to wonder if there was any logic in trying to match the levels of the items to PC levels. An example, would Minor magic items correspond to PC levels 1-5; Medium magic items correspond to PC levels 6-12 or 6-15; Major magic items correspond to PC levels 13 or 16-20+?
I am not trying to complicate matters, just trying to get a feel for what items might be appropriate for what levels. I believe it would also depend on what ideas the GM had for his/her particular campaign. This is just for the benefit of anyone else interested in this question. I am not looking to start a flame war or cause any disruption of these boards, so if you cannot be civil don't comment.
The MiC did that, but instead of creating blanket rules I think it would be better to look at each item individually. Normally an item's price is pretty well in line with when the players should be able to purchase or find it, but I am sure there are some exceptions.
If I had to guess which is what I am doing now I would say minor item are for levels 1-10, medium items are for levels 7-11, and major item are for levels 11-20.
I came up with this by using the WBL chart in the core book. I allow my players at the time of character creation to spend 30-33% of their starting wealth on any one item. Some DM's allow up to 50% so your results may vary.
I have to concur. I've always used the 'wealth by level' chart to determine what the range of magic items are supposed to be.
I, however, am fairly stingy with magic items (as several TPK's have shown). so I'm not the best person for advice. I do raise effective CR's becuase I know the team has one magic weapon, (and it will be a dagger) but as a golden rule, I prefer magic items to be unique, and preferably something other than 'Item of do job better +X'
If you are looking for an alternative, every item has a level restriction upon creation. Just save giving out items until the PC's are within 1 level of that prerequisite. (though by that logic, potions of cure light have to wait until level 2) so effectively most magic weapons wait until level 4 (one level before the prerequisite of craft magic arms and armour)
Batts
The MiC did that, but instead of creating blanket rules I think it would be better to look at each item individually. Normally an item's price is pretty well in line with when the players should be able to purchase or find it, but I am sure there are some exceptions.
If I had to guess which is what I am doing now I would say minor item are for levels 1-10, medium items are for levels 7-11, and major item are for levels 11-20.
I agree that the MiC (Magic Item Compendium) did a pretty good job of listing what magic items were appropriate for each level. However, I was asking for a general layout that could be used with only the Pathfinder Rule book by using the charts in the Magic Item Chapter.
I am not looking to create “blanket rules” that supposedly cover every situation. Just an idea of what others might think about how to figure out when to provide Minor, Medium, and Major magic items.
Thank you for your responses.
If you are looking for an alternative, every item has a level restriction upon creation. Just save giving out items until the PC's are within 1 level of that prerequisite. (though by that logic, potions of cure light have to wait until level 2) so effectively most magic weapons wait until level 4 (one level before the prerequisite of craft magic arms and armour)
Some of the default caster levels (especially on wondrous items) are rather strange. By this algorithm, the wizard isn't going to get a first level pearl of power until 16th level, since the default caster level on that is 17th.
Or did you just mean the minimum level for the creation feat? That also won't work well. Just about every one gets a Ring of Protection +1 fairly early, but your formula wouldn't let them get it until level 11. That's nine levels after the 9th level pearl of power becomes available.
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I have to concur. I've always used the 'wealth by level' chart to determine what the range of magic items are supposed to be.
I, however, am fairly stingy with magic items (as several TPK's have shown). so I'm not the best person for advice. I do raise effective CR's becuase I know the team has one magic weapon, (and it will be a dagger) but as a golden rule, I prefer magic items to be unique, and preferably something other than 'Item of do job better +X'
If you are looking for an alternative, every item has a level restriction upon creation. Just save giving out items until the PC's are within 1 level of that prerequisite. (though by that logic, potions of cure light have to wait until level 2) so effectively most magic weapons wait until level 4 (one level before the prerequisite of craft magic arms and armour)
Batts
The Caster Level is not a requirement for making the item. Rather, it's a default Caster Level for found versions of that item. This was clarified in 3.5, and Sean Reynolds also clarified it in another thread on these boards for the Pathfinder RPG.
In any case, caster level is only a requirement if it is listed in the Requirements section of the item. The number listed at the top for each item does not matter for crafting purposes.