Staff implement one-handed?

[KarinsDad]

Since the main benefit of the staff is as a defensive bonus - I don't see like as effective when only used in one hand.

I would allow it to be used as an implement in one hand but to gain the implement effect I would require both hands (or do we want Wizards with a light shield in one hand and a staff in the other).

But then why would you not allow any PC to carry a staff in two hands and get a defensive bonus from it?

The bonus is not combative in nature, otherwise, anyone could do it.

It's magical in nature. Even another Wizard cannot gain that bonus if he is not able to use the Staff implement. Think of it as a mini invisible force field that Staff Wizards can put up.

And yes, if a Staff Wizard takes Str 13 and the Light Shield feat, I would allow him to have +2 to AC. Why not? He paid for it and gave up something else to acquire it.

 

[icarusfallz]

A wizard's staff is a walking stick. It doesn't HAVE to be able to be used like a quarterstaff. I have seen lots of short walkingsticks. They are called canes. Perfect for the Halfling wizard, and great flavor. Maybe even a cane sword. It's a game, do it however it's fun for you AND the other players.

 

[FadedC]

I think the important thing to remember is that a staff is not a quarterstaff. I think this is where the confusion comes in right away. People assume they are the same thing.

If a wand could be used as a two handed sword, it does not mean that it is one.

I would personally think that' a bit of a stretch. If it requires two hands to use in battle, I don't think it suddenly shrinks down to a one handed stick when your not hitting people with it. The reason they say counts as a quarterstaff instead of is a quarterstaff is because quarterstaves can't be used as implements.

Not that this necesarily answers the final question of if you can just hold it one hand while your casting a spell. I personally think evidence points to no, but I grant it's still a grey area.

 

[KarinsDad]

I personally think evidence points to no, but I grant it's still a grey area.

What evidence might that be?

 

[Plane Sailing]

I would personally think that' a bit of a stretch. If it requires two hands to use in battle, I don't think it suddenly shrinks down to a one handed stick when your not hitting people with it.

Why do you think that is a bit of a stretch?

In order to use it effectively in battle, sure you've got to have two hands available to swing your 6ft staff.

But most of the day you carry it in one hand, using it like a big walking stick (see every wizard picture ever drawn ). When using it as an implement, I'd be completely happy with the wizard just presenting the staff strongly in his hand (c.f. Gandalf in LotR, cf Dragonslayer where it is sometimes held in two hands and sometimes in one hand).

It seems reasonable to me that using the staff as an implement doesn't have to be the same as using it to duel with someone.

Cheers

 

[FadedC]

What evidence might that be?

The primary evidence are the custserv rulings. There is also the fact that you have to wield an implement to gain it's bonuses, the fact that quarterstaves require two hands to wield and the fact that all staves count as quarterstaves.

But like I said I acknowledge it's a grey area, especially given that the custserv rulings are sometimes unreliable. I just feel there is some evidence to support no, and no evidence to support yes.

 

[FadedC]

Why do you think that is a bit of a stretch?

In order to use it effectively in battle, sure you've got to have two hands available to swing your 6ft staff.

But most of the day you carry it in one hand, using it like a big walking stick (see every wizard picture ever drawn ). When using it as an implement, I'd be completely happy with the wizard just presenting the staff strongly in his hand (c.f. Gandalf in LotR, cf Dragonslayer where it is sometimes held in two hands and sometimes in one hand).

It seems reasonable to me that using the staff as an implement doesn't have to be the same as using it to duel with someone.

Cheers

Like I said it's not the wizard holding the staff in one hand that's a stretch from a logical perspective. It's claiming that it's just a short one handed staff that morphs into a 2 handed quarterstaff when you whack somebody with it that is.

As for using a 2 handed staff in 1 hand while casting spells, If you go back and read what I said, you will note I had no problem with that from a logic perspective.

 

[Anthony Jackson]

But then why would you not allow any PC to carry a staff in two hands and get a defensive bonus from it?

I would allow any PC to take a feat to get a +1 shield bonus to AC with a staff, and I would rule that a staff wizard has that feat. I can't see any easy abuses for that rule (in fact, I can't see anyone ever bothering to take the feat).

The encounter power, however, I would call magical.

 

[toxicspirit]

There is also the fact that you have to wield an implement to gain it's bonuses, the fact that quarterstaves require two hands to wield and the fact that all staves count as quarterstaves.

I would have thought that if Halflings were barred from using the Staff as an Implement, it would have been stated somewhere. Being that it is not, and therefore Halflings can indeed wield the Staff as an Implement (even though it can also be used as a quarterstaff, but a quarterstaff itself cannot be wielded by a Halfling), then that would lead me to believe that wielding a Staff Implement is not quite the same as wielding a quarterstaff in the normal two-handed offensive manner.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Like I said it's not the wizard holding the staff in one hand that's a stretch from a logical perspective. It's claiming that it's just a short one handed staff that morphs into a 2 handed quarterstaff when you whack somebody with it that is.

Why would it have to morph though?