I'm very stingy with magical items. Currently doing a custom difficulty playthrough and just hit level 4. Party of 4 only (I don't swap out companions). Paladin DU, SH as Life Cleric, Astarion Rogue, Gale Wizard.
Current items equipped - DU has a +1 Maul just recv'd at level 4 - no other magical items or armor. Durge has no scrolls and I don't allow my Durge to cast scroll spells for RP purposes.
I don't equip the Cloak received for killing Alfira because I am resisting.
DU uses Javelin for range and currently has 1 alchemist fire. I have not used it
yet and have not collected or purchased any others
- SH currently has no nmagical or +1 items (is wearing original armor) She has a Protection from G&E scroll I only allow her to cast Cleric scrolls. SH has 1 Holy Water
(purchased) and 1 Acid vial which she has had since finding it. She used 1 HW in the Scribe fight. SH has not cast Guiding Light once so far.
- Astarion (Rogue Assasin) has the Smuggler's Ring, no other magical or +1 items. No specialty arrows allowed. Not allowed to cast scrolls. He has a ordinary longbow
- Gale has Spellspakler, and Komira's locket, no other magical or +1 items, original armor. Currently has Ice Knife, Grease, and Burning Hands, scrolls. Gale
has had them since finding them and has not been awarded any other scrolls. Saving them for an emergency (barely survived Flinn fight and completely forgot I had
these)
Typically each party member travels with 1 healing potion at all times. I generally only keep 1/3 of those found and don't buy any. I only replace used healing potions at end of day. So SH mostly heals and casts sanctuary with occasional fire bolt or sacred flame for offense. I do allow Gale to craft them but he has only made 1 so far.
I collect approx 10% of other potions found, thus far I have only used 1 potion of speed (currently have none in inventory) and have used a few poisons for Asatarion attacks. I purchased 2 invisibility potions and still have in reserve, I have found/purchased and used 4 grease but only as grease I do not explode them.
I collect all Magical Items and send to camp, I do not sell them and the vast majority will never be used, I have awarded my party the above listed items plus the Watcher's Spear which I did not equip and allowed Gale to consume. I do not collect and sell weapons or armor, but do collect and sell gems etc, and collect enough gold so that each party member has approx 100-200 gp.
With that they can purchase the odd potion.
I do not use smokepowder grenades but will be forced to collect the ones necessary for freeing Nere.
As the adventure progresses I will gradually award additional Magic items but only the less OP ones and by level 5 most characters should have at least 2 magic items or +1.
Enemies are set on "Tactician" for aggression but "Balanced" for loadout (trying to reduce the Larian arrows, smokepowder grenades etc)
Gale and SH must prepare spellbook at start of day, no changes allowed once we leave camp. No going back to camp or to a trader until end of day.
Short rests only happen after major encounters and long rests only after at least 2 short rests.
I will not purchase scrolls or magical items although purchasing +1 non-magical items is allowed.
I do not use revivify scrolls, party members who die can only be resurrected by Withers although SH will eventually learn the spell.
I will not use Illithid Powers.
Its been challenging but quite manageable thus far although the Flinn fight was near run with Gale and Astarion downed, and DU reduced to 4 hp. All spell slots for all characters were gone but as mentioned I forgot about Gale's scrolls which would have been useful. I used up all healing potions (had 5 at the start) and all 4 grease I had collected. I really hate Larian's OP gnolls with 3 archery attacks. That fight took place when the party was still at Level 3.
Whether it will be workable going further remains to be seen as you really have to plan and make careful decisions in combat. No more blasting way with guiding Light for SH as strategic use of Sanctuary becomes vital. No more endless supply of powerful found or purchased scrolls, Gale has to manage his spell slots carefully. I haven't feared the Spider Matriarch since very early in EA but she will be a difficult opponent and I have to face her next. I always do the whispering depths with only 1 short rest between the phase spider and Ettercaps/ and then Matriarch. I hope the first encounter is not too resource depleting.