I’d like to add a comment regarding the generousity of GMs which is a double bladed sword that can often cut one’s hand if wielded by the wrong end. You should keep your eye on the future instead of just the next Beholder when dispensing magical marvels.

For Enterprising DMs, it’s fun to plot challenges for players who have 54,000XP in magical equipment to start including Haversacks, Boots of Speed, Scabars of Keen, and a pot or two of Nolzur’s Magnificent Pigments.

However, for the Casual DM, you should know that each item you give will likely increase the work you have to prepare to keep your PCs entertained and challenged. If left unchecked you may end up with 5 PCs who have AC 32+ and can beat on 6 Oni Demons with DR 10/magic, HF 5+, and massive stength, well before they are level 10.

Think before you award magic items that will render PC’s hard earned physical skills (Climb, Open Locks, Disable Device) redundent or you will be adventuring with grimacing rogues and tempermental barbarians.

*Keep in mind which GM you are when dispensing rewards items, you’re the one who will have to work around them.

The solution in that circumstance is likely a ‘triple threat’ or 3 successive challenges (the ‘triple’) that keep the players from recovering totally (by circumstance or by choice) while the anticipate another successive challenge (the ‘threat’) before their goal is reached.

The power of numbers cannot be ignored especially in desperate rescue of an honored Clan Leader from an enemy encampment of a 1000+. Even with Cleave, each PC is ultimately vulnerable when the flow of buffs/curative/abjuration countermeasures slows or stops flowing. Even 30 Level 4-6 fighers can even challenge an acolyte of the Power attack feat tree.

Additionally, PCs divided always increases the CR of an encounter from what I have seen (barring players that play their PCs like a modern day SWAT team).

One of the most useful items in the games I played was the Staff of Eralion which cast Daylight and Levitate when commanded to. For a group of ‘humans, haflings and half-elves’ … it paid for itself many times over.

See you Sunday Night!

Just remember though that sometimes what the players want, isn’t necessarily what the characters want. I’ve run for some players who want to make sure their characters suffer crippling tragic turns for the session, hanging on to the hope that the characters will turn out victorious several sessions down the road.

But ultimately, your message rings true. If everyone’s happy with the game, then you’ve done your job as a GM.