Staff implement one-handed?

[Mort_Q]

You don't need to be armed to flank in 4e... but I will grant that an OA with a staff is slightly better than an unarmed OA (treated as an improvised weapon).

I know this response is late.. but who says you would have to make an unarmed attack even? I don't recall any rules saying you can't poke someone with a wand or bash them over the head with a magic orb. It would still just be an improvised weapon, but a wizard could be wielding an orb and wand and still be able to make OA.

The last sentence of the Orbs description ( PH 238 ) specifically says you can't use one for a melee attack, and the Rods description says the same, including the notion that most implements are also disallowed.

That said, I'd allow an improvised attack, but without the proficiency bonuses, most wizards won't even come close to hitting a STR vs AC, and even if you do there isn't much damage.

 

[Caliban]

SubjectDoes a staff require 2 hands when used as an implement?
Discussion Thread Response (Support Agent)11/20/2008 08:52 AM

Caliban,

A wizard does not need to be wielding a staff in two hands to use it as an implement. He only needs two hands if using it as a weapon. As such, he can use it with a shield just fine.



Thanks, and please let me know if you need anymore help!

Josh
Online Response Crew
Wizards of the Coast
1-800-324-6496 (US and Canada)
425-204-8069 (From all other countries)
Monday-Friday 9am-6pm PST / 12pm-9pm EST

Customer (Caliban)11/20/2008 05:32 AM

Does a wizard need to wield a staff in two hands to use it as an implement?

Can a wizard use a shield and still gain the benefits of staff specialization (+1 AC, adding Con to defense 1/encounter) while holding the staff in one hand?

Thank you.

********************
Page Number: Page 157
Book Name: 4e Player's Handbook

 

[evilbob]

These seem to be pretty consistent responses. I would rule that a wizard with a staff could wield it as an implement in one hand, but could not use it as a melee weapon (take opportunity attacks) with one hand. So a dual-implement-wielding wizard (or one with a staff and a shield) could use both implements but couldn't take opportunity attacks or make other basic melee attacks with the staff (which is quite a fair trade). Perhaps they could use an unarmed attack, however? Or use the staff as an improved weapon? I doubt it would come up very often, though.

I can't remember if such a wizard would still give flanking bonuses or not when adjacent to a target - I remember those rules changed a bit but not exactly how they changed...

 

[OpsKT]

Just to avoid the confusion in my games, and not take away 50% of the weapons for small wizards, I just added the 'small' property to staffs.

Problem fixed.

 

[DracoSuave]

Going away from 'RAW' for a moment:

You only need to hold an implement, and make general motions with it to use it as an implement.

Staffs weigh one single pound.

I own a cane that weighs more than that, and I can point it at things single handed.

It's a damn stick, and a very light stick; holding it in one hand is just fine.

However, if I want to take that stick and hurt someone with it because it is light I'd have to use it in two hands because the stick's weight doesn't work in my favor, I have to use the extra hand as a fulcrum.