I'm making a game that'll be played primarily by 13-15-year-olds, and I want the equipment list to be pretty cool, since one of the main rewards of the game is... that's right, gathering loot to buy stuff with.

However, having cool weapons and armor on the list only goes so far.

When you were that age, what kind of stuff did you like to buy for your character? And also, what kind of things that weren't on the equipment list did you wish they'd had?

What genre/setting is it? Fantasy? Is magical stuff OK, or is it purely mundane stuff for the equipment list?

Fantasy. And magic stuff is sorta-okay - that is, no "wand of a billion wishes", but "cloak of invisibility, one use" is okay.

Animals, animal companions, etc..

We always had fun buying, then filling up, wagons.

Seanchai

I wish I could help you, but I've never experienced that. I only started playing RPGs when I was 21, and that would be thirty years out of date come November, when I started.

-clash

The price of services provided by ladies of the night. We were always cheeky boys and girls at that age....sometimes even now.

Regards,
David R

A lot depends on the kids:

Strange (exotic) alcohol-- Dragon's Milk Brew, Dwarf Fire Ale, Wyvern's Sting

Unique items that there is only one of: Magical cloak, swords, etc, but where it has a name and is "mine" (for the characters) something that fits the character--these may be random in a class based game, like the Cloak of Sorcery (grants a spellcaster an extra spell, more spell points, etc) to the Untameable Armor of Erhghon the Invincible--essentially fantasy power armor for a warrior (grants berserker abilities)

Make sure its something they can buy, really an eclectic shop of strange things, some guy on the street whispering "I've got something special to show a warrior like you...something you've never seen before, magical, and powerful!"

Hi!
  Well, smarter people than me have done some real research and made a whole game/site based on what tweens like to buy
http://www.gaiaonline.com/

  On a more serious note, look for:
Sword canes, etc. stuff that you can use to bring a tool with you where you shouldn't be able to (and make sure the rules back you up)
Stuff you can buy that changes the game - e.g., poison, masks, etc... The reality is some stuff that is mysteriously absent in RPG book (because of potential balance issues) is not that hard to get a hold of in most settings...
Cheap, effective alternatives - For example properly constructed boiled leather breast plate was nearly as effective as a bronze breast plate. But, for the sake of balance, it is either not included or nerfed...
Stuff you can buy that sets the mood - Don't include crampon is mountaineering is not part of the game setting. On the other hand, include all that and more if it is a big part of the game...

  Good luck man!

Quote from: David RThe price of services provided by ladies of the night. We were always cheeky boys and girls at that age....sometimes even now.

Regards,
David R

  I remember wanting a detailed price list for variety of services from all kinds of people, i.e. mercs, making unique items, etc.

Pokemon?

I wasn't into RPGs yet at that age, but I was playing CCGs. Consider having spellcasters earn their summoning lists, by unique summoning scrolls or powerful outsiders bound to mundane objects... actually... a magic lamp/ring/bottle could do the trick nicely.