The only thing i could criticize in that post is that you wrote "good item" or "bad item" as if there is some general way to measure everything ...
There are a few... Like numbers, but a deeper analysis and comparison can also help to understand the choices we have with such an item design.
There are 5 magical uncommon greataxes in the game.
- Great Bloodaxe = 2-18 damages (average 10) when you're under 50% HP. 1-12 if you have more (average 6.5)
- Exterminator Axe = 2-18 damages (average 10) against plants, insects, small creatures. 1-12 against every other creatures (average 6.5)
- Doom Axe = 1-12 damages (average 6.5), but the target cannot regain HP and undead have disadvantage against the wielder.
- +1 Great Axe = constant 2-13 damages (average 7,5) + 5% to hit.
This is our choices if we're playing with greataxes.
=> 1 of them are "reward but only under HP condition"
=> 2 of them are "reward but only against specific creatures" ((there aren't a lot of undead in act 1 and many creatures don't even try to heal)
=> only 1 of them have
decent and constant bonuses.
Allow me to doubt that most players would find those choices absolutely exciting.
But obviously, no one should play with greataxes considering how bad they are so let's have a look at greatswords...
- Everburn blade = constant 3-16 damages (average 9,5)
- Greatsword +1 and Sussur Greatsword = constant 3-13 damages (average 8) + 5% to hit (sussur is just a blue rather than green +1 greatsword)
- Githyanki Greatsword = 3-16 damages (average 9,5) when you're under 50% HP. 2-12 if you have more (average 7)
- Sword of Justice = 3-13 damages (average 8) + 5% to hit + a spell that gives the wielder +2AC once/battle.
=> 3 (4) of them have
decent to good constant bonuses.
=> 1 of them is a "reward under HP condition" that is not better than another one.
Sword of Justice is definitely an improvement compared to other +1 greatsword. The Everburn blade deals constant and high damage.
Personnal opinion : it's good to have to choose between more bonuses or more damages. Except for "role play" or "gameplay" purpose, Greataxes and the Githyanki Greatsword are mostly useless.
Then we could also think about items like the reworked (I think) Dragon's Grasp and Firestocker (deals +1D4 fire damages against burning creatures).
It means that to have your 1D4 damage : you have to spend an action and deal damages, then have "the chance" to burn your target and deal damages... And then IF your target is still alive, your bonus will be usefull.
It's a lot of ressources and a lot of "chance to have" before eventually have a 1D4 damage boost...
I won't ever argue that some players like being challenged by their items (i.e survive under 50% hp), that some like keeping a few weapons in their bags to switch when they face some creatures (I also like it sometimes, but in exemple to fight dragons... not "insects") and that some like also gameplay variation depending their items.
But ALL RPGs I can think of reward the player by giving him "better" items. Better in terms of damages, in terms of versatility, in terms of constant bonus and variety ,...
A LOT of BG3's items (especially in patch 7) firstly add "gameplay variations" and often nothing more for 25 hours.
This break some "code" of what looting is imo and according to me, it also break the appeal of looting.
I like to choose between various interresting bonuses but in BG3, I often have the feeling that I'm choosing between a gameplay or another, a condition or another, a negative effect or another rather than between interresting bonuses.
Ofc I'm not saying everything is bad. There are many items I find very interresting.
