Equipment blahs

[Jenn Taylor]

I feel like I'm behind in managing my armor and weapons. I'm told essentials are expensive things like enchanting my weapon, getting masterwork everything, and grabbing at least one wand if I can use magic.

But all that is a serious drain on expenses that loot doesn't make up for and I prefer to buy useful stuff or items for character flavor.

I joined my campaign for plot, but all we've been finding is food, clothes, and non-magical rods.

Is this something to expect? How much should I focus on making sure my armor and AC and HP are at their best? At what level should I focus on them? At what level can I focus on looking at other equipment?

[Crosswind]

Hey. Here's Crosswind's Super Brief Guide to Itemization in Pathfinder.

Here's a pair of priority lists, in descending order of what you should buy.

Caster Priority List:
+Casting Stat Item
Scrolls
Random Stuff. Doesn't really matter. Equipment matters very little for casters, relative to melee types.

Order is more important for warriors. In general, the most effective way to upgrade is to keep just about everything you own at the same + level, because of the bonus-squared cost structure.

Warrior Priority List:
Mundane Armor
Masterwork Weapon
Primary Weapon
Cloak of Resistance
Enchanted Armor/Shield
Attack Stat Item
Ring of Protection/Amulet of Natural Armor
Random Stuff.

--------------------
Basically, at early levels, mundane equipment gets you the most bang for your buck. Your weapon is the thing you use most, so you'll upgrade that first. Aside from that, bonuses to saves are generally more useful than bonuses to armor, and they cost the same: 1k*bonus^2. Same with armor and shield enhancements, which is why you buy them before Rings of Protection and Amulets of natural armor, which are 2k*bonus^2.

As a general rule, straight plusses on armor, weapons, etc, are at least as good as other choices.

-Cross

[Lincoln Hills]

There is no such thing as being behind in 'managing armor and weapons.' Carry whatever gear you find or can loot, and cache whatever valuables you accumulate so that if something tempting becomes available for sale, you can snap it up.

The mindset that a campaign world consists of an 'Adventurers' Wholesale Warehouse' with the rest of the world existing as an afterthought to provide an excuse to get gold so you can go back to shopping doesn't appeal to me. Even if that's the mindset of your group, you shouldn't let them affect your sense of fun.

(As anyone can see, I obviously never read the Conan story where he said, 'By Crom! The Forbidden Jewels of Pintoozler! I shall hock them and upgrade my loincloth!')

[Kayerloth]

I guess I'm wondering why you feel you are behind in managing these things? Are you getting hit so frequently you feel like every fight is going to be your last one? Is the fight a whiffing contest between you and your foes where you feel you take forever between damaging blows. In particularly, if not in relation to the other party members then I wouldn't be to concerned. What is on your list of "useful" things? (considering a better weapon is a pretty useful thing for a melee type for example).

[Evil Lincoln]

What's a non-magical rod?

[wraithstrike]

Talk to your GM. He may be running a low magic campaign. If so, hopefully he told you and you missed it by accident.