Quarterstaff and TWF

[brehobit]

Carrying two weapons no longer gives you two attacks except in the case of some Ranger powers. Carrying two weapons is now mostly a special effect.

There are no penalties or benefits to using two weapons other than being able to use either weapon when you attack. There are also a couple of feats that allow you to take advantage of the other weapon and give yourself +1 to damage and +1 to AC/REF when you dual wield.

Because of the changes in two-weapon wielding, there is no more need to consider a staff a double weapon.

There are also some powers. Personally, I'd say that using a staff either as written or as a d6/d6 double weapon would be a fine house rule, or perhaps a feat and make it d8/d8.

 

[Dragonblade]

There are also some powers.

Which I mentioned.

Personally, I'd say that using a staff either as written or as a d6/d6 double weapon would be a fine house rule, or perhaps a feat and make it d8/d8.

Yes, I could see a reasonable houserule being to allow a staff to qualify for use as two weapons for purposes of taking those feats or using with the Ranger powers that focus on two weapon fighting.

 

[oberixie]

This

I will be adding the trait, Double Weapon to specific weapons in the list and allow them to be used by TWF characters. It's ridiculous to get rid of them. Especially concerning polearms which often require the use of the entire weapon to be effective.

with a limit that you can't use Reach with any attack that envloves attacking with 2 weapons.

 

[Anguirus]

I hope we'll see some future powers and feats that interact with the quarterstaff...and unarmed attacks...and one-handed weapons without a shield or an off-hand weapon. Add them to my list of fixable pet peeves with the PHB.

(Personally, I hope to see a new martial defender or striker that rewards use of these styles, call it the Martial Artist or something.)

 

[Gloombunny]

I'm really happy with the quarterstaff changes. Flailing away with both ends is not how you use a staff!

 

[VannATLC]

I love the Urgosh.

So I've put it back in.

Long-staves now exist.

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

It's the two-headed weapons that were ridiculous.

A quarter staff is mostly used for thrusting, but there is no reason you can't describe your attacks in any ways you want.

But I wouldn't allow a staff to be treated as two distinct weapons. Beside not making sense (You can attack twice with most sword in the time it takes you to use both end of a quarterstaff), it unbalances the economy. In 3e, a double-weapon cost twice as much as two different weapons. Not in 4e.

 

[Gloombunny]

The removal of different damage types for different kinds of weapon also makes me happy. Now a spear or polearm wielder is free to narrate her attacks as being made with either the pointy end or the butt end of the weapon and it doesn't need to be represented mechanically. So even if you do want to hit people with both ends of your staff, you can do so and you don't even get penalized with double item costs for it.

 

[hong]

The removal of different damage types for different kinds of weapon also makes me happy. Now a spear or polearm wielder is free to narrate her attacks as being made with either the pointy end or the butt end of the weapon and it doesn't need to be represented mechanically. So even if you do want to hit people with both ends of your staff, you can do so and you don't even get penalized with double item costs for it.

Hm. It must be a female thing, to hit people with both ends of your staff!

 

[Elsidar]

I'm really happy with the quarterstaff changes. Flailing away with both ends is not how you use a staff!

The removal of different damage types for different kinds of weapon also makes me happy. Now a spear or polearm wielder is free to narrate her attacks as being made with either the pointy end or the butt end of the weapon and it doesn't need to be represented mechanically. So evein if you do want to hit people with both ends of your staff, you can do so and you don't even getpenalized with double item costs for it.

Why is it more acceptable to strike with both ends of a spear than it is to "flail away" with both ends of a staff? A spear is nothing more than a staff with a single pointy end, and a staff is nothing more than a spear missing a pointy end. A character with TWF weilding either weapon could fight identically, and still tear up the battlefield.