Defending on both ends of a two-headed weapon?

[Felix]

Sure, but unless you learn how to cast spells while attacking with both ends of the staff (i.e. TWF), it's only marginally useful to a wizard.

Would not using the Total Defense action qualify as wielding both ends of the quarterstaff?

You wouldn't be able to cast a Standard Action spell, but you could get away with some Immediate, Swift, or Free Action spells...

 

[the Jester]

Sure, but unless you learn how to cast spells while attacking with both ends of the staff (i.e. TWF), it's only marginally useful to a wizard.

Still Spell.

 

[Felix]

Still Spell.

To get the bonus from the Defending property from the second head of the weapon, I believe the weapon must be "wielded". Which can be different from "holding" the weapon; that's why I asked if the Total Defense action worked: because you spend an action using the weapon to ward yourself from blows, it may be that this will allow you to reap the benefits of the Defending property from both ends instead of just the one.

At any rate, I think you'll simply be "holding" the weapon, or at most, wielding one end of the double weapon, if you cast a [Still] spell.

 

[green slime]

Great, so now every wizard is using staffs of double defending...

 

[Darklone]

He should enchant both ends to be dancing weapons. Then they would be defending dancing and he could cast. Huhu.

Do you need to enchant both ends of a doubleweapon with dancing to make it a dancing weapon? Strange otherwise.

 

[Felix]

Do you need to enchant both ends of a doubleweapon with dancing to make it a dancing weapon? Strange otherwise.

I'd think that if you did, the weapon would be able to attack twice. Otherwise: only once, and only that end which had the enhancement.

 

[Zomg Zombies]

I'd say it would work normally, as in both ends add to your AC, whether whirling 'round your head like a monk, casting spells, or dancing rag-time; as long as it isn't strapped to your back/stowed in a pouch. after all the character dumped 145200 gps into getting both ends magiced.

Absolutely worst came to worst, I'd say that if the character still threatened against AoO, the defending weapon (whatever form it takes) should be considered attacking.