As a semi-pointless exercise I decided to see what I could do to try to be ready for any contingency with just common tokens. So I picked these 12 from 2012 - let's say they sell for 25 cents each -
Dwarven Dirk, Dwarven Stout Staff, Dwarven Sling, Dwarven Short Bow
Mountain Dwarf Armor, Boots & Mitts, and Dwarven Shield
Winter Shirt, Lens of the Hawk, Ale Drinker's Belt and Bracers of Resolve.
So that gets us:
- +4 to AC,
- +2 saves vs Force, Will and Reflex (for slips and falls)
- -1 damage from cold and immune to most cold penalties except 5% spell failure, and a bonus against slipping on the ice
- +1 to hit at range, and
- +3 damage vs giants
Awesome? Well... no, not really. But there's a melee and range weapon for every class, and armor for everyone but wizard and monk, who can't wear a lot anyway. All in all, not bad for $3, and odds are there will be at least one good UC or rare token to swap in from the free pack. There are endless ways to improve on this "starter kit", limited only by your budget.
Of course, my gear will be valued a bit more than that...