Half Staff

[Lakoda]

My second post in this thread pretty much explains why I decided to do this. What I am doing is resolving what I consider to be an inconsistency with the Staff in 4e, as well as addressing something that has bothered me for a while (two-handed weapons as one-handed implements). First, I purpose treating the quarterstaff as it should be, a long 6+ foot staff similar to a pole-arm. Second I want to introduce a second weapon to the Staff category, the half staff (a 4-5 foot staff). I haven't made any 4e weapons before so let me know if this is not balanced well.

Half Staff
Simple one-handed melee weapon
Cost: 2 gp
Damage: 1d6
Proficient: +3
Weight: 2 lb.
Properties: Versatile
Group: Staff

Second, I will house rule the Staff Fighting feat to be beneficial for both choices.

Staff Fighting: Additionally, you can treat Half Staffs as possessing the defensive keyword and increase it's damage die one size (to 1d8).

Finally, I would house rule some much needed clarification for implements.

Wielding a weapons as an implement requires the same number of hands as if wielding it as a weapon. All other implements are one-handed.

Arcane Implement, Staff: Applies to any Staff, not just the Quarterstaff.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

I agree that Halflings (or other small PC races) get the shaft in terms of weapon choices, and one of the ways that happens is they can't use a staff as a weapon, but what is the issue with using a staff one handed as an implement? Doesn't hurt anything. Quarterstaff could also be ruled a 'small' weapon, which would simply allow small characters to wield staves, which certainly wouldn't cause any problems. Frankly I don't think it would cause any problems to just house rule away the whole "small characters can't use 2 handed weapons" rule for that matter. I really don't think it would make Halflings over powerful.

 

[Lakoda]

A traditional quarterstaff is 6-10 feet long. Not really small in my book, but a half staff would work for small characters. A quarterstaff (much like a Bo staff) is long almost like a pole-arm in many cases. A shorter staff that would fit the walking stick sized staff used in the staff wizard arch-type we picture when discussing staffs as an implement are more in line with a Jo staff (which is about 4 feet long). Besides, if the quarterstaff was in fact the appropriate length to fit the imagery it would not be a very good double weapon, but if it was as long as it should be it would be too long to use as a walking staff (and I would argue it would be too long to use effectively as an implement ... because you have to do more then just hold it).