Virtual Magic Bonus System (3.5e Variant Rule)

Many playgroups enjoy playing in low magic campaigns. Unfortunately, d20 does not handle low-magic or no-magic games correctly. To account for this, rather than receive ever larger magic items and ever-larger wealth, the characters receive virtual bonuses according to the table below. These items follow the level schedule laid out in the Magic Item Compendium.

Masterwork items do not appear on this schedule.

Level	Bonuses	Gold Piece Value
4.	+1 armor enhancement, +1 shield enhancement +1 enhancement to all saves
6.	+1 armor enhancement, +1 shield enhancement, +1 deflection, +1 natural armor class +1 enhancement to all saves +1 weapon enhancement
8.	+2 enhancement to one ability and Con +2 armor enhancement, +2 shield enhancement, +1 deflection, +1 natural armor class +2 enhancement to all saves +1 weapon enhancement
12.	+2 enhancement to one ability and Con +3 armor enhancement, +3 shield enhancement, +2 deflection, +2 natural armor class +3 enhancement to all saves +2 weapon enhancement
14.	+4 enhancement to one ability and Con +4 armor enhancement, +4 shield enhancement, +3 deflection, +3 natural armor class +4 enhancement to all saves +3 weapon enhancement
15.	+4 enhancement to one ability and Con +5 armor enhancement, +5 shield enhancement, +3 deflection, +3 natural armor class +5 enhancement to all saves +3 weapon enhancement
16.	+6 enhancement to one ability and Con +5 armor enhancement, +5 shield enhancement, +4 deflection, +4 natural armor class +5 enhancement to all saves +4 weapon enhancement
18.	+6 enhancement to one ability and Con +5 armor enhancement, +5 shield enhancement, +5 deflection, +5 natural armor class +5 enhancement to all saves +5 weapon enhancement

Shield bonuses only apply when using a shield, buckler, or if two-weapon fighting and using the second weapon for defense.

The gold piece value is presented to aid the DM in giving out treasure to the party.

Optional: In the SRD, a magic weapon or armor must have a +1 bonus before any other properties are applied. This rule can be waived in favor of making more flavorful weapons. A flaming holy longsword is now a legal weapon.

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