Magic Staves got the shaft.

[Angcuru]

Very nice, Purzel. But the PDF states that the 'staff' can be a weapon or a magic staff. Would this mean that it could only be 1 1/4Staff or a Magic Staff...or any weapon? I could picture some neat concepts, such as an elven wizard who uses a longsword with a sapphire pommel stone as his 'focus'....nice potential if so.

 

[Purzel]

Very nice, Purzel. But the PDF states that the 'staff' can be a weapon or a magic staff. Would this mean that it could only be 1 1/4Staff or a Magic Staff...or any weapon? I could picture some neat concepts, such as an elven wizard who uses a longsword with a sapphire pommel stone as his 'focus'....nice potential if so.

I was thinking about making the concept more general and not only restricted to the form of a staff: a wizard would be able to choose a sword, a spellbook or a gem as his focus.

But i decided against it. The Wizard Staff is only a walking stick, quarterstaff, or cudgel, but it could be enchanted as a magic weapon or a staff.

 

[Sejs]

Anyone else felt that staves are a bit lame? They are nothing more than a big wand

I’ve toyed with the idea of making staves rechargeable.

Similar to what Dr Dan mentioned, in my games Staves are rechargeable, but rather that having to invest more exp and money into them, they have a build-in recharging criteria that they have to meet. The recharging criteria is based on what the staff does - so a staff with various fire spells is recharged by being cast into a large fire, or other extreemly hot situation. Recharging takes place at the rate of 1 charge regained per day of exposure.

 

[Angcuru]

I was thinking about making the concept more general and not only restricted to the form of a staff: a wizard would be able to choose a sword, a spellbook or a gem as his focus.

But i decided against it. The Wizard Staff is only a walking stick, quarterstaff, or cudgel, but it could be enchanted as a magic weapon or a staff.

Hmm....I think a wizard should be able to take anything as his focus, but if it isn't something wizardry-related(staff, gem, book, etc.), then once the item is chosen, it cannot be changed unless destroyed or permanently lost. For example, clerics have their holy symbols, so a cleric/mage could have a unique holy symbol that channels arcane energy as well. Expensive, but good. Whatcha think about this idea?

 

[Purzel]

Hmm....I think a wizard should be able to take anything as his focus, but if it isn't something wizardry-related(staff, gem, book, etc.), then once the item is chosen, it cannot be changed unless destroyed or permanently lost. For example, clerics have their holy symbols, so a cleric/mage could have a unique holy symbol that channels arcane energy as well. Expensive, but good. Whatcha think about this idea?

It's a good idea, i had it before too. But not all the staffpowers are useful for a book or a gem as focus. To make such a choice more attractive, i would need a longer list of options applicable on such alternative foci.

And i'm not sure, if any special powers could be abused in a way on any item beside a quarterstaff.

 

[Glen]

Multiple posts sorry

 

[Glen]

Multiple posts sorry

 

[Glen]

There was another option given in the quintessential wizard from mongoose publishing.

It had some interesting ideas.

But yes I agree that there needs to be a wizard staff that can grow with the magic user. One it can store spells in. Maybe like the spell sword (I think that is the PrC) can stow spells in their weapons.

Make it a feat
Staff
You create an intelligent magic staff that is attuned to you.
Prerequisite: Arcane knowledge 10, spell craft 10, create wondrous item or craft magic weapon.
Spend one willpower point permanently. (You can drop the skill prerequisite to 7 so that could be done at 4th level the first time an attribute increase happens.)
Benefits: all spells are harder to resist giving your spells a +2. Resist spells easier giving you a +2 to save vs. magic effects
Abilities to store spells into staff = to your level + ability modifier.


This is just off the top of my head. I think maybe making it more like a bonded weapon and giving it levels and abilities gained at each level would work well also. Especially if you have several abilities to chose from like the link earlier gives.

What do people think?