Am I Reading This Correctly? (Crafting and Treasure)

[Cosmosis]

In the Crafting and Treasure chapter, when it reviews the standard item statblock, it mentions the Item Level listing but notes that any character of any level can still use that item. The phrasing is "the level indicates what level of adventurer the item is best suited for," but stresses there is no limit. The example given is "a 3rd-level character who finds an item of 4th level or higher while adventuring can use it normally."

Does this suggest that, practicality aside, a 1st-level character could use an 11th-level item if found?

[Cosmosis]

And just to clarify, I don't mean from a GM perspective: I *know* not to give players such an overpowered item. I mean from a mechanical perspective.

[rainzax]

Looks legit to me.

Some stories involve a low-level creature wielding a powerful artifact after all...

[Ellias Aubec]

Indeed they could use it. It is more of a guide to the GM for what sort of loot to hand out, as well as restricting the PCs from being able to craft the higher level equipment until they get that high themselves.

[Tender Tendrils]

Not to mention that if you did find such an item, it would be sort of weird if you can't use it....

Actually, on second thought, I can think of one case where it would be great

Potionseller wrote:

My potions are too powerful for you adventurer

[Cintra Bristol]

Funny story. Probably back in the 90s, a friend of mine played a convention D&D scenario that made good use of this kind of situation.

The setup was that some emergency arises, and the rulers of the area summon several (unrelated) retired high level adventurers to come solve the problem.

All the PCs were pregens, and when he read over his character sheet, his PC was a low-level character with high level magic items, and in his background information it included something like, "SECRET INFORMATION: <PC name> is actually your father, a famous adventurer, but he is out of town. Due to the present emergency, you are using his gear and you need to convince anyone you encounter, including the other PCs, that you are actually him so they'll let you help with the current crisis. The fate of the nation depends on it." And many of the magic items were given detailed descriptions including a line of important history about why this sword or wand or whatever was particularly famous.

So any given player might assume at first that they are the only imposter in the group; but it's actually the entire table with instructions like that, all playing teenagers pretending to be their famous parents. It sounded like a blast, and I've always wanted to recreate that one for a group...

[Castilliano]

Cintra,
You reminded me of a Planescape scenario where you retrieve an artifact sword by rescuing the lowly guy who stumbled upon it. The guy had risen to power by wielding this shining, amazing sword. A deity (of sorts) magically banished him, along with the sword in his possession.

Except it's all a ruse. The +1 sword's only "power" is having a permanent glow and the lowly guy is actually one of the best warriors ever (18th or so?). He's so good he can feign poor abilities and still hit "due to his sword" of course. I believe he's about 12 or so levels above the party!
Luckily, he's gracious albeit quite eager to reclaim his power and shake the power structure once he's released.

"What did we just do?"
"Make a strong ally?"
"Who will likely piss off all of our current allies!"

One of the early DMGs warned of the dangers to characters who accumulated power they couldn't protect. It was practically a curse to get an item that drew attention from enemies out of your league. And somehow they always found out (likely due to prodigious use of divination spells back in the day).