How many magic items for level 20 dwarven king?

[KingWhipsy]

I'm working on creating my first world and am beginning with the dwarven kingdom. The king is going to be a level 20 paladin/fighter who inherited the throne from his father and has fought with his brother (thinking oathbreaker) who wants the throne for himself. I currently am fleshing out the ideas behind the king but i'm wondering how many magic items you usually give your NPC's. Especially the NPC's who are the leaders of the world. Thanks in advance!

[Kane0]

One or two very rares, half a dozen rares and any uncommons available to the kingdom. Chuck in a legendary if you're going for high magic.

[KingWhipsy]

Do you think giving him the Axe of the Dwarvish Lords is a bad idea? I really like it for flavor and as a point of conflict for the brother to go after by trying to persuade the party to retrieve the weapon for him, etc.

[Kane0]

It's really up to you. Its a matter of:
1) Will this actually come into play or be mostly for flavor and immersion?
2) How does the power of it stack up against the relative power of the setting and the kingdom within it?

[Talamare]

Depends on the NPC of course, but this sounds like a pretty story critical NPC

I would probably give him a Magic Jewelry, +2 Armor, and a named Weapon (like Flametongue, or as you suggested Dwarven Lord; or plain +2 with a Fluff name).

[Unoriginal]

Keep in mind such a person might have access to a lot of magic items (since they're rich, powerful politicaly, and have the might of a legendary hero), from Common to Rare, but it doesn't mean it's their usual equipment.

Now, since you want him to be a Paladin (thoug I'd advise you to build him like a NPC, not a PC), giving him a Holy Avengert might be good.

[Feuerphoenix]

Do you think giving him the Axe of the Dwarvish Lords is a bad idea? I really like it for flavor and as a point of conflict for the brother to go after by trying to persuade the party to retrieve the weapon for him, etc.

Artifacts are really really strong. It combines several good magic items and a +3 property plus immunities, plus a „companion“ (earth elemental) plus an escape panic button (teleport). This is an extremly potent combination, and keep in mind your players may get this weapon this way too...

[Unoriginal]

Do you think giving him the Axe of the Dwarvish Lords is a bad idea? I really like it for flavor and as a point of conflict for the brother to go after by trying to persuade the party to retrieve the weapon for him, etc.

Who would try to steal an artifact weapon for an oathbreaker and think they'll keep their word?

[GorogIrongut]

Dwarves have all the shinies... And because they have a history of being exquisite craftsmen, I would actually tailor make magic items for him. Combine that with the fact that he's level 20 (i.e. one of the biggest, baddest things around), and he should have quite good magic items. Unless you're going for a low magic setting, I'd give him a legendary or two. Possibly a sentient. With a cupboard stacked full of incidental magic items. He's not stupid so most of them would be the ones that don't require attunement.

[Beelzebubba]

For a King/Queen?

I'd have four - first, an ancestral weapon, and a suit of ancestral armor, both of incredible workmanship, and that have some sort of awesome combat capabilities like a Dwarven Thrower, and some strong physical protection like providing Death Ward and resistance to Necrotic and 1-2 other damage types. I'd even consider them as a 'set' for attunement - as in, the ancestral weapon can only be welded by the wearer of the armor.

I'd also have one magic item to provide strong protection from mind control / mind reading (probably the crown), and another to increase their perception and insight (a scepter, orb, amulet, or mantle).

I'd home brew them all, and make them unique - and about as well-known as the Crown Jewels are for the British monarchy. i.e. taking them would paint world-sized targets on their backs.

I'd also have the King/Queen escorted and supported by a retinue spellcasters that provide them with ability buffs and shielding when dealing with outsiders.

[Unoriginal]

Or you could have so that the magic items are new, or at least were specificaly crafted for the king (or even by the king, if you want him to be an amazing craftman too), and have the Dwarves keep the ancestral equipment for traditional occasions only.

[KingWhipsy]

Or you could have so that the magic items are new, or at least were specificaly crafted for the king (or even by the king, if you want him to be an amazing craftman too), and have the Dwarves keep the ancestral equipment for traditional occasions only.
I like this idea. I think I'll try and come up with some items for him and save the artifact weapon for special purposes. It will still be in his possession as king, but it will be locked away in a safe spot.

[Unoriginal]

Well, the place would need to be safer than "with a lvl 20 ruler with lots of magic item, all the time".

Which is not easy to beat.

[bc56]

My thought is that you give him one (at most) legendary, maybe a sentient item, 1-2 very rare, 2-3 rare, and maybe 2 uncommon (because he doesn't carry the other 4 with him). Only 3 items should need attunement

Example: I had a Kobold king (who was a silver dragon in disguise). This is his equipment
+3 plate
Belt of hill giant strength
+2 warhammer

But in his treasure room, he had
Manual of clay golems
Crystal ball
2 bags of holding

He is intended as an NPC for.10th level chars, whom they are NOT supposed to be able to kill. If you scaled up to lvl 20, I would expect more and better items.

Whelm would be a cool McGuffin item. (DMG 218)

[Unoriginal]

Actually a lvl 20 humanoid is probably going to be around CR 13, maybe 14

[Zaferak1]

phb 2 says 760,000 gp in magic items is appropriate(p215). gives the following as an example(my suggestions/examples are in brackets):

+7 weapon (+5 acidic, flaming),

+6 full plate ( +5 death ward),

+6 heavy steel shield (+1 fortification) or +3 Amulet of nat armor, a pair of +2 dex gloves, an ioun stone (dusky rose), and 2200gp

+2 ring of protection

+4 belt of giant strength

+3 cloak of resistance

dust of disappearance, winged boots and 4350gp of other stuff

[Kane0]

Wrong edition bro

[CircleOfTheRock]

Actually a lvl 20 humanoid is probably going to be around CR 13, maybe 14 Either that, or CR 'Really Hard To Calculate', especially if you give them magic items with options, like the Rod Of Lordly Might.