On the Subject of Magical Items

Lets list the items that exist specifically in the game:
Ep6
Dagger of Venom - Chapel 1L

EP 7
wand of winter - talis the white EP 7
+1 scale mail - talis the white EP 7
Dragongleam Spear - Ep 7 armory (daylight)
+1 chain mail - EP7 talis Bedchamber
Arrow Catching Shield - EP 7 Peryton Roost

EP8
Tankard of plenty EP 8 Parnast
Bag of holding EP 8 (area 22)
+1 longsword EP 8 Dragon hoard
+1 longbow EP 8 Dragon Hoard
+1 leather armour EP8 Dragonhoard
Bracers of Defense EP8 Dragon hoard (+2 ac)
Hazirawn- rezmir
insignia of claws - rezmir +1 unarmed

LIKELY MISS
black dragon mask - rezmir
Staff of fire - rath modar
Talis's equipment if PCs accept deal or miss lodge

RISE OF TIAMAT ITEMS
dragontooth dagger - - +1 extra d6
+1 armor
+1 weapon
arrow of dragon slaying
bag of holding
belt of hill giant str (21 str)
driftglobe
elemental gem (conjure elemental)
plate armor of lightning resistance
ring of cold resist
ring of poison resist
staff of fire - rath modar
wand of fear


So within HotDQ there are not a whole lot of items and even then they dont show until Ep 7. when PCs are normally level 6 or 7 and should have picked up some before then.

So I wanted to make sure that my characters got some items before then as well as making sure they didn't outshine the magical items already in place. So I looked at a few tables

From the DMG

MAGIC ITEM RARITY
Rarity      Character Level   Value
Common       1st or higher    50-100 gp
Uncommon     1st or higher    101-500 gp
Rare         5th or higher    501 -5,000 gp
Very rare   11th or higher    5,001 - 50,000 gp
Legendary   17th or higher    50,001+ gp

From an enworld thead analyzing magical item distribution in the DMG

Consumable Items

Level   Every Level 
1-5     1 common 
6-10    1 uncommon 
11-15   1 rare 
16-19   1 very rare 
20      1 legendary 

Permanent Items

Level   During this range 
1-4     1st uncommon 
5-7     2nd uncommon 
8-10    1st rare 
11-13   2nd rare 
14-16   1st very rare 
17-19   1st legendary 

From the looks of it, it seems to be common to award consumable magical items (like scrolls and potions) around once every level. So mostly potions of healing/climbing, and spell scrolls of 1st level or cantrips. Then finding 1 uncommon by level 4. That works out really well since i was thinking of awarding them as prizes as part of Ontharr Frume's games in EP4. Figured it might be fun to give them an item tailored somewhat to them and it may make sense as well.

Some uncommon items I picked out as possibilities:

10x +1 arrows ROGUE

quiver of elonha ROGUE

adamantium armor (negate crit) CLERIC OR FIGHTER

mithral armor (allow stealth)CLERIC OR FIGHTER

bracers of archery (+2) ROGUE

Bag of Tricks 

Boots of elven kind (silent)

Boots of striding and sprinting WIZARD

Circlet of Blasing (scorching ray once)

Cloak of elvenkind

Cloak of Protection

necklace of adaptation

robe of useful items 

armor of resistance

Staff of woodlands or swarming insects DRIUD

Staff of the Addler DRUID

Later on I might roll for something to put in Pharblex's chest in his sanctem (EP6) as the 2nd uncommon, otherwise its an empty chest. How cruel. In EP8 I might have something in the white dragon's hoard in skyreach castle as their first rare.

Being their first time, I want to keep the loot reasonable, so they don't scoff at a +1 weapon or something later.