Quarterstaff?

[Staffan]

Any weapon, in the hands of an expert, can kill in RL. Any weapon, in the hands of a rank amateur, can kill in RL. Neither of these two factors was accurately translated into D&D, nor do I think they can be.

Remember that Joe Schmoe, 1st level commoner, only has 1d4 hp. A 1d6 hit from a staff is quite serious.

 

[Plane Sailing]

How many feats and other stuff need to be spent to make the staff an effective weapon? I'm interested in it as a flavour thing, but I'd like to know if it's a complete waste of time or not (especially in regards to it being used as a double weapon). I'm thinking of using it for an 8th-lvl monk NPC.

A monk with high strength can get more out of a staff than anyone else.

1) they can use flurry of blows with it (starts out like TWF but gets much better)

2) they get full strength bonus with both ends - something that nobody else fighting with a double weapon or two weapons can do.

A nasty foe could be an 8th half-orc monk with 22 Str (racial mods, +2 level additions), power attack, expertise and improved trip/improved disarm. He can attack 2H at +12/+7 for 1d6+9 or use his flurry and attack at +11/+11/+6 for 1d6+6 each. A magical ghost touch/Ki strike staff is particularly useful.

This is, of course, less damage than he would be doing with his bare hands, but it has an undeniable style to it.

Cheers

 

[Wolffenjugend]

Let's say this 8th-lvl monk was also, oh I don't know, a vampire (heehee). Could said vampire/monk attack once with a slam (to get its energy drain attack) and then once (or more with flurry) with the staff? What about w/o a staff?

 

[pawsplay]

I've never really understood the penalty for fighting using both ends of a quarterstaff.

It's not that you can't use either end. It's just that Joe Commoner has trouble bringing both ends to bear in a single round. Using it as a standard weapon is saying "I will smack you with some part of this staff." Using it as a double weapon says "I will smack you in the face and smash the other end on your toe."

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

The quarterstaff has great versatility in combat, I think. A Ftr could do worse than to choose a quarterstaff as his weapon of choice.

It's a double weapon for starters, good for trip attacks

Unless I've missed something, you can't Trip with a Quarterstaff (as a Fighter at least)

AR

 

[Diirk]

I fail to see how a monk is potentially better than anyone else.. flurry of blows at max adds 2 extra attacks? whereas with TWF and the followups, you can get an extra 3 attacks with the opposite end..

so a 20 monk would get +15/+15/+15/+10/+5 BAB, and a 20 ranger/fighter would get +18/+18/+13/+13/+8/+8/+3... 4 of which get full str bonus, and 3 of which get half.. so 5.5x str bonus compared to a monks 5x anyway.

 

[Camarath]

Unless I've missed something, you can't Trip with a Quarterstaff (as a Fighter at least)

You are right, the Quarterstaff does not say that it gives it's wielder the ability to use it to make Trip attacks.