[Pathfinder] What items 'should' PCs have?

[Arbane]

I hear all the time that D&D's math and Wealth-by-Level rules expect PCs to have certain items at specific levels - but what are they? When should PCs have a +1 sword, a +2 Cloak of Resistance, or their +4 headband of stat-boosting?

[NightbringerGGZ]

Usually when somebody says you should have X item by Y level they mean that's the most reasonable level at which you could afford the item based on the wealth by level chart (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/character-advancement). Keep in mind that at a particular level you can't buy an item worth more than half your total wealth.

So a +1 Weapon will usually cost a bit more than 2300 gold. So you should be able to afford one around level 4.

[Faily]

Some of the items are also based on what sort of monsters the PCs are starting to face at their level. Around level 3-4, incorporeal opponents as well as opponents with DR/Magic starts to become more common than it was before, meaning that the party should either invest in a magical weapon for the warrior or it will have been bought/found as according to WBL per individual character.

[Psyren]

I hear all the time that D&D's math and Wealth-by-Level rules expect PCs to have certain items at specific levels - but what are they? When should PCs have a +1 sword, a +2 Cloak of Resistance, or their +4 headband of stat-boosting?

Under the chart (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/gamemastering.html#table-12-4-character-wealth-by-level), in the text, they provide percentage guidelines, but these are kept very broad - in part, because they're going to vary substantially by class (a wizard will generally care much more about consumables like wands than about weapons, for instance), and in part, because intelligent play can help you stay above the curve for a great deal of time.) For example, a +1 magic sword is a significant investment at low levels (1000 gp.), but a few oils of magic weapon at 50 a pop can do the job just as well if you can anticipate your combats well enough to apply it (or even if you can't, one lost round typically won't kill you in actual play.)

For more detailed guidance, a couple of posters such as OldTrees1 have taken those percentages and extrapolated what you would likely afford and when (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=16416299&postcount=21) if they were applied to the various magic item prices and levels.

[Arbane]

For more detailed guidance, a couple of posters such as OldTrees1 have taken those percentages and extrapolated what you would likely afford and when (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=16416299&postcount=21) if they were applied to the various magic item prices and levels.

That's useful. Thanks!

[The Grue]

On a related note: I read a thread somewhere on this forum where a poster had drawn up a system that took the weapon, save and AC bonuses characters were assumed to have by a given level and rolled them in as "inherent" progression bonuses that scaled with total character level. I've not since been able to find said thread; does anyone here know what I'm on about?

Anyway, seems somewhat relevant to the discussion.

[zergling.exe]

On a related note: I read a thread somewhere on this forum where a poster had drawn up a system that took the weapon, save and AC bonuses characters were assumed to have by a given level and rolled them in as "inherent" progression bonuses that scaled with total character level. I've not since been able to find said thread; does anyone here know what I'm on about?

Anyway, seems somewhat relevant to the discussion.

Would this (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?357810-Chopping-Down-the-Christmas-Tree-Low-Magic-Item-Rules) happen to be what you were looking for?

[The Grue]

No; however it is superior in every relevant way to the one I was thinking of, so I will accept it instead with thanks. :D