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I don’t think DM's provide useless magical items to players in any edition and if they did that’s their call.  It’s nice to roll-up items otherwise and the characters get something unusual and then figure out a creative way to use it than for me (or them) to just pick "useful" magic items.  No fun in that and I expect it would become repeative.

I don’t think anyone followed the random tables slavishly and constantly gave magic-users plate-mail...

It would have been a nice to have.

Dec 19, 2012 -- 5:30PM, Matyr wrote:

In theory the idea of random loot tables seems to make more sense as far as making the world seem more real and breaking the 4th wall less.  But in actual play (especially 4e) the slots that the players need to keep up with game math need to be less random in order to function correctly.  Can you get away with giving a character really odd belt?  Probably, and it will likely add to the fun.  Wondrous items are a great avenue for this.  But if the character is doing something specific (like a slayer charging) not hooking them up with access to a Vanguard or Avalanche weapon is a little frustrating.

Its neither here or there I guess but it’s an odd departure considering the DM would give what was needed as needed.  And random rolls fire the imagination.  It’s not like the DM is locked into being forced to roll for every item and keeping every item rolled.  But under 4e I am locked into not rolling random magic items without creating soemthing from scratch myself.  Would seem like something that would make sense to have on DDI.

Dec 19, 2012 -- 10:59PM, Salla wrote:

In theory, your players should be giving you a list of what they would like.

In practice, I have met few players willing to actually do so.

This is why I just use Inherent Bonuses and don't sweat giving out magic items more often than once every couple of levels.

I have a couple of players who are very good at making wishlists, others who are not as good.

When my players hit 3rd level they moved to using the character builder so there was some class shake-up but nothing major.  I just explained it as specializing.  However when I look at the character sheet, in particular the essential one, I see two things I was unsure of:

• Next to Abilities there is modifier and check.  Check is always higher and this is the number used in the relevant powers.  What’s the difference here?  If a character has an 18 wisdom for example that is +4 ability modifier yet check says +5.  Where does the extra 1 come from? Level?
• For the power cards I assumed that the top of the card is actually what you use for combat.  That is the top of the card is the math the bottom of the card explains the math (so 1W+WIS).  But again I see oddities here.  I see Storm Hammer on my players cleric.  It’s says +7 vs. Fort, 1d8+5.  At the bottom it says 1W+WIS (+4) lightning and thunder damage.  The +5 I assume is the Wisdom check number not the wisdom ability modifier so I assume its related to question one. In this case I only look at the 1d8+5 when actually running combat.  The 1W+WIS (+4) is just an explanation.  Correct?

Thanks in advance.