The thing is, while these sorts of items may be common among adventurers, adventurers aren't common in the world. Personal backstory not withstanding, adventurers are individuals that have risen above the common rank for one reason or another. I'd say having an arcane focus would qualify for that. I vaguely recall one handbook or another even saying somewhere that a commoner's stats usually sit around 8 or something, so even a level 1 adventurer is a cut above.
I vaguely recall one handbook or another even saying somewhere that a commoner’s stats usually sit around 8 or something, so even a level 1 adventurer is a cut above.
I already knew all of the stuff you mention in this, and this part is just actually wrong outright. I've never heard of any of the rules saying commoners would have such low traits, and have always heard it as - 10 is the average amount for a human/commoner. 7-9 is slightly below average, anything below is remarkably low, 1-2 is near death. Now, yes, even a level 1 adventurer is uncommon and more powerful on a base-line than a commoner, but IMO that shouldn't mean magic should be cheap for them. I suppose I do say uncommon at least, though. Common would probably work too, but requiring attunement would make sense considering it's supposed to be a sort of conduit for an individual's magic, and magic is usually considered very personal as far as fantasy tends to portray it.
I thought a regular person was supposed to be 10 across the board
Sure but they don't know Thieves Cant or how to harness their rage or they don't have the favour of a God or anything.
