Staff Fighters!

[Kzach]

September 22nd is a good day. It's the day the Dragon article "Staff Fighters" is released on DDI.

I am yet to find a system that does staff-fighting any justice and yet it is one of the most endearing and long-lived fantasies I've had for a character.

My favourite TV show when I was a pre-teen was a show called "Monkey Magic". I think it was called something else in other parts of the world. Basically, it followed the story of a monkey god who was cast out of heaven. As part of his redemption, he is tasked by Buddha to protect a priest, Tripitaka, along with two other mystically powerful companions, Piggsy and Sandy. Later on in the series they also adopt a horse who turns into a human... or a human who turns into a horse

The show is... seriously awful as an adult. I mean, really, really, really bad. On the level of Power Rangers bad, only Power Rangers had better props. But the point is, the three main protectors of the priest were all staff/polearm fighters who were always getting into massive battles and beating everyone up, and so it initiated a life-long desire to play such characters in fantasy RPG's.

Oh please, oh please, oh please let this article finally give realisation to my dreams of making an uber staff-wielder. If only for the twenty-year long dream of playing 'Monkey'

 

[ppaladin123]

That's an animated version of the classic Chinese Novel, "Journey to the West."

Journey to the West - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The original Dragon Ball series (not Dragon Ball Z) is actually a very loose adaptation of the story as well.

 

[Aegeri]

I hate to seem so antagonistic here, but I wouldn't get excited if I were you because lately the Dragon articles have been two pages of very disappointing fluff and a terrible feat (or handful of terrible feats).

 

[ppaladin123]

Also, you can (in the meantime) make a pretty decent staff fighter using tempest technique and the staff fighting feat.

Of course, I prefer the monk with an accurate staff of ruin, hafted defense, and staff fighting.

 

[Almacov]

I had a bunch of ideas for staff-fighter feats and powers a long while ago, but didn't ever end up submitting a pitch.
It'll be interesting to see how similar this author's thinking is to mine. =)

In any case, staff fighting was definitely a niche that needed mechanical help.

 

[Mad Hamish]

That's an animated version of the classic Chinese Novel, "Journey to the West."

If the original poster is thinking of the one I'm thinking of it was live action, not (apart from some special effects like long shots of riding on a cloud iirc) animated

Monkey (TV series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
has some details.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

If the original poster is thinking of the one I'm thinking of it was live action, not (apart from some special effects like long shots of riding on a cloud iirc) animated

Monkey (TV series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
has some details.

Well, there have been a number of versions that have come out. Journey to the West is pretty much THE most classic Chinese adventure tale, it gets references in a lot more stuff than people realize. Cool story.

I guess I've actually always wondered what is missing in terms of staff builds in 4e now? You can do a pretty good job of it. Not optimizer heaven, but also not mechanically lame. One or two more feats would be cool, a few powers, maybe a PP. Definitely room for a good article there no doubt but if it is a character concept you want to go with, just do it, you're definitely not going to be gimped.

 

[Mad Hamish]

I guess I've actually always wondered what is missing in terms of staff builds in 4e now? You can do a pretty good job of it. Not optimizer heaven, but also not mechanically lame. One or two more feats would be cool, a few powers, maybe a PP. Definitely room for a good article there no doubt but if it is a character concept you want to go with, just do it, you're definitely not going to be gimped.

I think it basically comes down to a lack of feat and power support.
Other weapon groups have much more in the way of options that you can pick up
(I've created a greatspear fighter for a campaign that'll be starting up in a month or two and I'll eventually be sliding, pushing, pulling, knocking prone, attacking reflex on opportunity attacks etc all the time)
Hammers and heavy blades also have a fair amount of feat support staffs have basically nothing.

 

[Plane Sailing]

That's an animated version of the classic Chinese Novel, "Journey to the West."

There may have been an animated version, but I'm sure he's thinking of the live action version starring Masaaki Sakai in the title role.

 

[ppaladin123]

There may have been an animated version, but I'm sure he's thinking of the live action version starring Masaaki Sakai in the title role.

Even more cheesy and even more awesome.