Damage for Metal Quarterstaff?

[Tetsubo]

I would make it 1d8/1d8. Really it just becomes a heavy mace mechanically... The real question is, does it become a Martial or Exotic weapon?

 

[pawsplay]

Essentially, I would treat it as a variant on the two-bladed sword and give it appropriate EWP stats.

There are real-life metal quarterstaves. They are not used in a typical staff fighting manner. In fact, they are generally swung like great clubs, used for bashing with the center, or thrust like a spear (devastating with that much force). However, they are still used in a staff-like manner to bash hands and feet. The only such weapon I can think of that enjoyed much popularity is the Japanese version, and that's still pretty marginal. However, they are Indian and Chinese versions.

I can't say I've heard of a European weapon of that nature.

Forging such a weapon requires a knowledge of forging high carbon, springy steel, which means basically the 12th centuries and onward.

A weapon that is simply studded or plated should probably just do one die size more damage, and be treated as a martial rather than exotic weapon. It would be enhanced with steel or bronze.

OA has the three-sectioned staff, which is basically similar but probably in most respects superior.

 

[Henry]

Weren't quarterstaves frequently metal-capped in real life, to avoid splintering on the ends? I would just as well have it do the same damage, myself, because I don't think getting hit by a wooden baseball bat will hurt any less than getting hit by a steel one.

 

[pawsplay]

Weren't quarterstaves frequently metal-capped in real life, to avoid splintering on the ends? I would just as well have it do the same damage, myself, because I don't think getting hit by a wooden baseball bat will hurt any less than getting hit by a steel one.

Oh? I'll bet the wooden one is far less likely to shear off a finger, or crush a metal helmet.

 

[frankthedm]

Metal q-staff? I'd call it a Martial 1d8 x2 / 1d8 x2 Double Mace.

Usually a weapon has to be made of the material all the way through to get through DR.

 

[Arkhandus]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the fact that gold is such a soft metal that it would get destroyed the first time it connected a serious blow. It may be heavy, but it is far too maleable to be of any use as a weapon. Platinum on the other hand would be great, barring the expense.

I think you missed part of what I was saying. Magic of Faerun has rules for making weapons or armor out of gold and such, but it very specifically describes it as alchemically-treated or magically-treated metal; not normal gold. The descriptions do say that it would normally be poor material for weapons normally, but mages know its value in alchemy and magic so they alter it to be good weaponsmithing/armorsmithing material, primarily to be used later in magic weapons/armor.

 

[Arkhandus]

Weren't quarterstaves frequently metal-capped in real life, to avoid splintering on the ends?

Yep, 'twas so. One can easily assume that many quarterstaves in D&D are actually metal-capped, it doesn't really change the damage. The capped ones are probably a tad thinner and shorter, but not by much.


Now, a staff made entirely of metal, but with 'honeycombed' internal structure, isn't all that likely and would still weigh a lot more than a standard, wooden quarterstaff. It may just barely be possible for D&D weaponsmiths to make a hollow steel stave 4-6 feet long, but I dunno.....and something of more complex internal structure is rather unlikely.

I would make it 1d8/1d8. Really it just becomes a heavy mace mechanically... The real question is, does it become a Martial or Exotic weapon?

If the staff's damage is 1d8/1d8 and it retains the normal 20/x2 crits, it would probably be a martial weapon. No way would that be suitable as an exotic weapon (it's stupid enough that kamas, nunchaku, sianghams, and such are exotic; they're freakin' marginally different versions of sickles, light flails, and halfspears (3.5 shortspears)! They don't even do more damage or anything.

The two-bladed sword is exotic because each of its heads has the same stats as a one-handed martial weapon (longsword), but with the advantage of one end counting as light (which makes it better suited to two-weapon fighting, as a double weapon). It's a very minor advantage, to be sure, but that's what the EWP feat gets ya. An exotic version of the quarterstaff would have to be at least equivalent to a pair of warhammers. Wielding a heavy quarterstaff would still be easier and less risky than handling a two-bladed sword or, heaven forbid, an orc double-axe or (far worse) the absurd dire flail. Thus an exotic staff would have to be especially weighty to warrant exotic weapon status.

 

[BASHMAN]

I would make it 1d8/1d8. Really it just becomes a heavy mace mechanically... The real question is, does it become a Martial or Exotic weapon?

Actually, it is a double mace, an exotic weapon (mechanically exactly the same as a dire flail). You could just take EWP Dire Flail, and tell the players that it is a metal staff (maybe a 3-section-staff).

 

[Jhaelen]

Actually, it is a double mace, an exotic weapon (mechanically exactly the same as a dire flail). You could just take EWP Dire Flail, and tell the players that it is a metal staff (maybe a 3-section-staff).

I'd say it's an improvised weapon. A metal bar isn't really something that makes a good weapon. I don't think it should do more damage than a quarterstaff, but it will definitely be much more difficult to wield in combat.

 

[Tetsubo]

I'd say it's an improvised weapon. A metal bar isn't really something that makes a good weapon. I don't think it should do more damage than a quarterstaff, but it will definitely be much more difficult to wield in combat.

A bar of metal is no more or less suitable as a weapon then a stick. Which is what a staff (and a a club) are... they may be slightly modified sticks but sticks they be... a bar is at least as balanced as a staff... as would be a tube...