How do groups generally go about dividing up magic items? The main principles that come to my mind are what is best for the strength of the group and making sure items are divvyed up evenly. I suppose there could be a finders keepers, or some random system and of course matching the item to the class.
I'm bringing it up because in my own party of 4 we made the decision to go with what is best for the party. But our party has one melee (me, the tank) and 3 casters, so the way it has played out is that I have several nice items and the others only have one or two. Then we got a ring of protection, as the tank I would get the most benefit out of it, but I also already have so much more. So I'm just having a bit of an internal conflict, on the one hand I think objectively it benefits the party most for me to also have the ring, while on the other hand I'm feeling a little guilty having noticeably more than the others in the group. We are running a standard module and all the items are what are available.
There isn't any outward group strife about it, but I don't want to create any resentment by being a dick and hording all the stuff.
As the human at the table, you shouldn't have the ring of protection.
As a party member, you shouldn't have the ring of protection.
As the actual character, everyone benefits from a ring of protection.
I think most groups do what you are already doing. Let's talk about party strength, and then let's talk about what's fair for everyone. Everyone benefits from a ring of protection just as equally, though you might see more direct benefits, the spell caster resisting a charm effect by 1 or the cleric passing their con save by 1 to keep up spirit guardians is just as important as you raising your AC by one or getting those saves as well. If I were in your situation, I'd probably be doing the same internal conflict. I want it because it'll help the party out, but at the same time I don't want to potentially be seen as hording all the good loot. Let the table have it, then make it a point when whoever has the ring of protection makes that save by one to high five or shout it out going hey, good thing you have that ring!
Anyone in a party would benefit from the ring equally. The only way a PC wouldn't benefit from it is if they were never in combat and/or never had a spell cast at them. Now with that said, I've found that there are really no universal guidelines for splitting up equipment/treasure. Even "common sense" things like assuming a scroll should go to the only spellcaster in the group may work for one party, but in a different party the fighter wants it so that it can be sold/traded for plate mail. (With the good argument that an AC of 18 benefits the party more than a single-use spell.)
In other words, just make sure to speak up if you want something and encourage others to do the same. Do your best to be fair about it, and down the line be prepared to re-visit the discussion of someone else decides they want the item also. (That can happen as well...seen it plenty of times.)
There are lots of ways to skin this cat, and not everything works equally well for every table. To give one obvious example, in a low magic setting where getting your hands on a magic item at all is rare you're almost never going to want to sell your finds (cursed doohickeys notwithstanding) because you won't find anything better - or even comparable - to spend the money on; in a setting where every medium-size city has at least one magic emporium on the other hand you're probably going to try and trade in anything nobody particularly wants. In my experience for most groups a roughly even spread matters the most; the values between PCs don't have to be equal to the last copper piece, but everyone should feel like they're getting their fair share. The DM can play a key role in this, especially when using published modules: there's no requirement to stick to the loot dictated by the module, it's much better to change an item here and there in order for all party members to come across something useful to them.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
I'm not much help. A Ring of Protection is great for anyone. I am curious though. Why would being Human disqualify you from having a Ring Of Protection?
I'm not much help. A Ring of Protection is great for anyone. I am curious though. Why would being Human disqualify you from having a Ring Of Protection?
The way we do it in the games I play in is that the item goes to whomever can get the most use out of it, while at the same time trying to divide them more or less evenly. As a ring of protection is something that is great for every character but some roles benefit from it more than others, my first instinct would indeed be to give it to someone who spends the most time in the frontline BUT not if they already have more items than the rest of the party. In your situation I would probably give it to either someone else who fights in the melee or if there’s someone with noticeably fewer items than the others, to that person.
While the ring is useful for everyone in the party, not everyone benefits from it equally, a tank that has 3 attacks directed at them every turn will get much more use from it than a ranged rogue or a wizard who generally attack from the distance and only occasionally are targeted with something. Having said that, as said rogue I would not be happy if I and everyone else had 1 magic item each and the party tank had 5, if you want the ring, maybe you can give another of your items to someone else?
In my group it's the other way around, I'm the only real melee character in the group, and I'm the one with the least magic items, actually I have zero items so far, and we're level 4.
If you as a party really feel that the ring should go to your character, then maybe you have the character give up one of his other items to the party in exchange? If not useful to any of them, sell it so they can buy something useful, maybe?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Specifically for Ring of Protection, it is always good for any character, not just "tanks".
I use a custom google sheet to see at a glance roughly what people have and then try to have loot that would best fit the character that has the least. https://i.imgur.com/ki8N86J.png
Or for always good items like the ring's case, just have one of the people with less items take it
In my games the parties are generally pretty good about loot. If we pick something up and it's clearly best used in the hands of someone else, well they'll be pretty agreeable about it. Nobody is super greedy or loot obsessed so we haven't had any issues except for occasionally slight in character moments of say, one person being jealous of those slippers of spider climb lol. But generally it's just 'who would best use this' and the party is diverse enough class wise that there isn't at one of overlap honestly.
As the DM, I let the party decide how they want to spread the wealth. We have a rogue, a wizard and a blood hunter, so there is very little competition. And I feel free to change what items they find if I think it is time for them to get more useful items.
The way we do it in the games I play in is that the item goes to whomever can get the most use out of it, while at the same time trying to divide them more or less evenly. As a ring of protection is something that is great for every character but some roles benefit from it more than others, my first instinct would indeed be to give it to someone who spends the most time in the frontline BUT not if they already have more items than the rest of the party. In your situation I would probably give it to either someone else who fights in the melee or if there’s someone with noticeably fewer items than the others, to that person.
While the ring is useful for everyone in the party, not everyone benefits from it equally, a tank that has 3 attacks directed at them every turn will get much more use from it than a ranged rogue or a wizard who generally attack from the distance and only occasionally are targeted with something. Having said that, as said rogue I would not be happy if I and everyone else had 1 magic item each and the party tank had 5, if you want the ring, maybe you can give another of your items to someone else?
So yeah, it will go to the squishy wizard who was the next best option.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
How do groups generally go about dividing up magic items? The main principles that come to my mind are what is best for the strength of the group and making sure items are divvyed up evenly. I suppose there could be a finders keepers, or some random system and of course matching the item to the class.
I'm bringing it up because in my own party of 4 we made the decision to go with what is best for the party. But our party has one melee (me, the tank) and 3 casters, so the way it has played out is that I have several nice items and the others only have one or two. Then we got a ring of protection, as the tank I would get the most benefit out of it, but I also already have so much more. So I'm just having a bit of an internal conflict, on the one hand I think objectively it benefits the party most for me to also have the ring, while on the other hand I'm feeling a little guilty having noticeably more than the others in the group. We are running a standard module and all the items are what are available.
There isn't any outward group strife about it, but I don't want to create any resentment by being a dick and hording all the stuff.
As the human at the table, you shouldn't have the ring of protection.
As a party member, you shouldn't have the ring of protection.
As the actual character, everyone benefits from a ring of protection.
I think most groups do what you are already doing. Let's talk about party strength, and then let's talk about what's fair for everyone. Everyone benefits from a ring of protection just as equally, though you might see more direct benefits, the spell caster resisting a charm effect by 1 or the cleric passing their con save by 1 to keep up spirit guardians is just as important as you raising your AC by one or getting those saves as well. If I were in your situation, I'd probably be doing the same internal conflict. I want it because it'll help the party out, but at the same time I don't want to potentially be seen as hording all the good loot. Let the table have it, then make it a point when whoever has the ring of protection makes that save by one to high five or shout it out going hey, good thing you have that ring!
Anyone in a party would benefit from the ring equally. The only way a PC wouldn't benefit from it is if they were never in combat and/or never had a spell cast at them. Now with that said, I've found that there are really no universal guidelines for splitting up equipment/treasure. Even "common sense" things like assuming a scroll should go to the only spellcaster in the group may work for one party, but in a different party the fighter wants it so that it can be sold/traded for plate mail. (With the good argument that an AC of 18 benefits the party more than a single-use spell.)
In other words, just make sure to speak up if you want something and encourage others to do the same. Do your best to be fair about it, and down the line be prepared to re-visit the discussion of someone else decides they want the item also. (That can happen as well...seen it plenty of times.)
If you have more magic items than the rest of the party then the ring should go to NOT you.
The GM should also up his game and balance out loot drops.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
There are lots of ways to skin this cat, and not everything works equally well for every table. To give one obvious example, in a low magic setting where getting your hands on a magic item at all is rare you're almost never going to want to sell your finds (cursed doohickeys notwithstanding) because you won't find anything better - or even comparable - to spend the money on; in a setting where every medium-size city has at least one magic emporium on the other hand you're probably going to try and trade in anything nobody particularly wants. In my experience for most groups a roughly even spread matters the most; the values between PCs don't have to be equal to the last copper piece, but everyone should feel like they're getting their fair share. The DM can play a key role in this, especially when using published modules: there's no requirement to stick to the loot dictated by the module, it's much better to change an item here and there in order for all party members to come across something useful to them.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
I’d go with whoever has the lowest ac getting the ring. Someone who can’t wear armor would be first choice, imo.
I'm not much help. A Ring of Protection is great for anyone. I am curious though. Why would being Human disqualify you from having a Ring Of Protection?
<Insert clever signature here>
I meant the person, not the Human race in D&D.
The way we do it in the games I play in is that the item goes to whomever can get the most use out of it, while at the same time trying to divide them more or less evenly. As a ring of protection is something that is great for every character but some roles benefit from it more than others, my first instinct would indeed be to give it to someone who spends the most time in the frontline BUT not if they already have more items than the rest of the party. In your situation I would probably give it to either someone else who fights in the melee or if there’s someone with noticeably fewer items than the others, to that person.
While the ring is useful for everyone in the party, not everyone benefits from it equally, a tank that has 3 attacks directed at them every turn will get much more use from it than a ranged rogue or a wizard who generally attack from the distance and only occasionally are targeted with something. Having said that, as said rogue I would not be happy if I and everyone else had 1 magic item each and the party tank had 5, if you want the ring, maybe you can give another of your items to someone else?
In my group it's the other way around, I'm the only real melee character in the group, and I'm the one with the least magic items, actually I have zero items so far, and we're level 4.
We generally go with what's best for the group.
Altrazin Aghanes - Wizard/Fighter
Varpulis Windhowl - Fighter
Skolson Demjon - Cleric/Fighter
If you as a party really feel that the ring should go to your character, then maybe you have the character give up one of his other items to the party in exchange? If not useful to any of them, sell it so they can buy something useful, maybe?
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Specifically for Ring of Protection, it is always good for any character, not just "tanks".
I use a custom google sheet to see at a glance roughly what people have and then try to have loot that would best fit the character that has the least.
https://i.imgur.com/ki8N86J.png
Or for always good items like the ring's case, just have one of the people with less items take it
Site Info: Wizard's ToS | Fan Content Policy | Forum Rules | Physical Books | Content Not Working | Contact Support
How To: Homebrew Rules | Create Homebrew | Snippet Codes | Tool Tips (Custom) | Rollables (Generator)
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Feats | Spells | Magic Items
Other: Beyond20 | Page References | Other Guides | Entitlements | Dice Randomization | Images Fix | FAQ
In my games the parties are generally pretty good about loot. If we pick something up and it's clearly best used in the hands of someone else, well they'll be pretty agreeable about it. Nobody is super greedy or loot obsessed so we haven't had any issues except for occasionally slight in character moments of say, one person being jealous of those slippers of spider climb lol. But generally it's just 'who would best use this' and the party is diverse enough class wise that there isn't at one of overlap honestly.
As the DM, I let the party decide how they want to spread the wealth. We have a rogue, a wizard and a blood hunter, so there is very little competition. And I feel free to change what items they find if I think it is time for them to get more useful items.
Thanks for your input everyone. I thought this one was most persuasive for me.
So yeah, it will go to the squishy wizard who was the next best option.