D&D 5E Does any one else think staff is overpowered and houserule it?

[Coroc]

I guess I'm also houseruling when I rule that they cannot in my games... want a lantern? Need a spare hand. Want to cast spells? Need a spare hand. And I rule that the Staff is the only strictly 2-handed weapon which allows that.

That's a houserule yes, but it makes the staff even more overpowered. I know that a staff especially an iron shod quarterstaff is a very deadly weapon, and it has reach and it is very fast, can be used in all kinds of moves like tripping vaulting etc. But still that requires the use of both hands, yes you can let go to extend your reach using only one hand for a short time, but I see no way of efficiently fighting with a staff and a shield. So that should not cause the same range like a shortsword eg

 

[Caliban]

Since I haven't seen an over abundance of staff oriented fighters in Adventure League, I don't think it's overpowered.

I mainly see monks using them, because it's a D8 monk weapon.

I may be biased though - I actually do have an Adventure League character that is focused around the staff and takes advantage of all the little rules quirks I could find regarding it. But it's by no means common.

 

[Oofta]

I think the main reason staves can be effectively wielded one-handed is because that's the way it was depicted in LOTR.

I agree with the OP, a stave should be a reasonable weapon but if you want to do fancy tricks with it, it requires special training (a feat). Versatile, to me, indicates special training. A quarterstaff is a simple weapon so it doesn't require any.

 

[Smarmot]

The only issue I see is using the staff with a shield and polearm master. That feels particularly silly to me and I see it fairly often.

I would also prefer a d4/ d6 versatile damage dice, but I can live with the higher die.

 

[Coroc]

Since I haven't seen an over abundance of staff oriented fighters in Adventure League, I don't think it's overpowered.

I mainly see monks using them, because it's a D8 monk weapon.

I may be biased though - I actually do have an Adventure League character that is focused around the staff and takes advantage of all the little rules quirks I could find regarding it. But it's by no means common.

I would have less problems with the staff being 1d8 for monks only or fighters or
maybe rogues or clerics with. staff weapon of faith. But a staff is to easy to obtain. Imagine a ds campaign everyone and their mom would run along with staves

 

[JonnyP71]

That's a houserule yes, but it makes the staff even more overpowered. I know that a staff especially an iron shod quarterstaff is a very deadly weapon, and it has reach and it is very fast, can be used in all kinds of moves like tripping vaulting etc. But still that requires the use of both hands, yes you can let go to extend your reach using only one hand for a short time, but I see no way of efficiently fighting with a staff and a shield. So that should not cause the same range like a shortsword eg

Is it overpowered though? I've already said that I make it 1d6 with 2H only, and with no reach - so no shield, no spare hand in melee. I guess I need to also add that we don't play on a grid, so combat is much less tactical. My players see it as nothing more than a last resort weapon for Wizards when they cannot avoid melee - which is not often.

I'm redoing a list of weapons for possible future 5E games and am considering adding a 1 handed staff.

Jo Stick, simple weapon, 1d4 bludgeoning, light, finesse

 

[Coroc]

[MENTION=6788862]JonnyP71[/MENTION] sorry I did not connect your two posts just read that you are the same opinion like me with 2h 1d6 in that way I am totally ok with your houserule.

 

[Xeviat]

The great club should have been Heavy so it could be 1d10. I don't like one-handed staff use either.


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[Cap'n Kobold]

We houserule that the quarterstaff is a two-handed weapon. Not really because we think that its overpowered, just that we think that it represents a quarterstaff - those are not wieldable in only one hand. No, we don't care what the actor portraying Gandalf looked like he was doing.

I guess I'm also houseruling when I rule that they cannot in my games... want a lantern? Need a spare hand. Want to cast spells? Need a spare hand. And I rule that the Staff is the only strictly 2-handed weapon which allows that.

So you rule that it takes both hands to support the weight of a 6lb greatsword when not actually fighting with it?

I'm redoing a list of weapons for possible future 5E games and am considering adding a 1 handed staff.

So, a club then?

 

[Satyrn]

I have no idea about the staff's balance. I've never seen it used, even though the paladin had a magic staff for a while . . . wait, the druid must have attacked with his magic staff at some point but I don't remember him doing so, and he would've been using shillelagh at the time anyway, so that'd be more about tbe cantrip than the weapon.

Huh. Half the party has had a staff, yet it's presence has made no impact on me.