I guess it depends on how you play. I do admit that a barrel + fire spell is one of my "lazy" solutions to win combats, but shoot, run and hide come closser. No real need for magic missile. At level 2 spell, scorching ray might work better depending on the fight. The harpies are easier if you put to sleep a couple, for example.
But the key is to add more equipment variety to suit different game styles.
At this point the headband is the most powerful item, only compared with the drow hood and maybe the boots that give you dash for free. But I haven't found belts, just a few boots and a couple of gloves. Not many rongs either.
I get level 1-4 shouldn't have so many items, but it seems the "blue" ones are all 2 handed weapons. And the book of names or the necromancy book, are underpowered compares to their "hype". They would work better given some specific quest power and no spell at all. At least a text that says that you have learned something and that gives you insight.
The book of forgotten gods would have been interesting to offer miscelaneous bonus on religion checks and the Booal quest with the kuotoa. For example.
Anyway, it seems that the real reason for the headband is that larian wanted an intelligent ogre. It is supposed to be a "joke", just like the walking into the ogress having sex. And, naturally, players exploted that to get the loot. 😂
I mean, we were probably expected to pay for the summoning of the 3 ogres. Which might be powerful, bug not as much as the headband. And if we learned something from BG1 is that players would kill dritz fir the loot. Or anything. 😂
So add loot for all the classes. 😉
