Ralif Redhammer
Legend
I know what a jo staff is, and how to fight with one (rusty at it that I am). I was trained to do so two-handed, I might add (though certainly, other fighting styles are out there).
I've got a PC in my one group doing the shield+quarterstaff+polearm master at the moment. Though stylistically it rankles, it's okay by RAW, and hasn't proven to be unbalancing. After all, the character looses the greater damage die. And there are for more nonsensical exploits out there.
In any case, I guess I could call it a jo staff but then people would look at me funny and ask me what a jo staff is*. Maybe I should call it a fighting cane? But yes, a half staff is roughly half the size of a quarterstaff.
*And of course someone would inevitably point out that I don't know squat about martial arts weapon categorizations (true enough) and my eyes would glaze over as they discuss the various permutations.
I've got a PC in my one group doing the shield+quarterstaff+polearm master at the moment. Though stylistically it rankles, it's okay by RAW, and hasn't proven to be unbalancing. After all, the character looses the greater damage die. And there are for more nonsensical exploits out there.