The Magic Items Awarded by Level table (DMG2024 p218) notes that items are awarded per party. I read that as a party of 5 adventurers gains 11 magic items by lvl 4 (which might include consumable potions and spell scrolls) to split among themselves (2 per adventurer, with one adventurer getting 3).
Am I reading that correctly? That feels kind of low to be completely honest. Between levels 1 and 4 I feel like you might want to use more than a potion or two per person. And if you only get one rare item per party, who gets it?
And should this scale for party size? Standard party is 4 to 6 (DMG2024 p5), but a party of 4 gets more magic items per adventurer than a party of 6 by this logic.
I suppose I'm just trying to understand the reason the rules defines items per party instead of items per adventurer. Just seems to cause more questions than it answers. Am I perhaps missing something?
You,re not missing anything. The Magic Items Awarded by Level table shows the number of magic items a D&D party typically gains during a campaignis is just a guideline, you can give more or less if you want depending on the level of magic in your campaign.
The Magic Items Awarded by Level table (DMG2024 p218) notes that items are awarded per party. I read that as a party of 5 adventurers gains 11 magic items by lvl 4 (which might include consumable potions and spell scrolls) to split among themselves (2 per adventurer, with one adventurer getting 3).
Am I reading that correctly? That feels kind of low to be completely honest. Between levels 1 and 4 I feel like you might want to use more than a potion or two per person. And if you only get one rare item per party, who gets it?
And should this scale for party size? Standard party is 4 to 6 (DMG2024 p5), but a party of 4 gets more magic items per adventurer than a party of 6 by this logic.
I suppose I'm just trying to understand the reason the rules defines items per party instead of items per adventurer. Just seems to cause more questions than it answers. Am I perhaps missing something?
You,re not missing anything. The Magic Items Awarded by Level table shows the number of magic items a D&D party typically gains during a campaignis is just a guideline, you can give more or less if you want depending on the level of magic in your campaign.
XGtE also has some guidelines, also based on parties instead of individuals.
But IMHO, the 2024 DMG took all that information and presented it more clearly.
Published adventures, are probably in these waters in terms of magic item distribution or not far off.