Staff Wizards and Weapon Focus Staff

[Caliban]

Re-reading the original post, it strikes me as really bizarre if TWF with a staff added the damage bonus to spells. What does *that* look like

apparently your arcane gestures are made with both ends of the staff when using that feat?

That's why I originally reported it with as a bug. Maybe they decided that "a power is a power" and rather than create more feats to increase the damage of spells, they are allowing ways for arcane casters to get the same types of damage bonuses that melee characters get.

Or maybe they are on crack, I haven't made up my mind yet.

I mainly pursued this because I'm not currently in any 4e home games, so all my 4e play is done via the RPGA. (9 active characters and counting...)

 

[WotC_Trevor]

Hey all. I just wanted to come in and let people know that the FAQ has been updated to make it clear that you do get the weapon focus bonus to implement powers when wielding a staff.

You can check out the answer here: Answer

It's Question/Answer 21 as a reminder. As far as why or what it looks like ::shrug:: He uses his complete understanding of this simple wooden stick to pull more magical energy through it?

As a side note, as long as we're talking about staff wizards, don't forget that taking Two-Weapon Defense along with Staff Fighting gives you another +1 to your wizards (probably) already high AC.

Anyway, I just wanted to point out that the FAQ had been updated and let you guys get back to the conversation.


~Almost forgot. My name is Trevor Kidd and I'm the Community Manager over at Wizards of the Coast. I'll be lurking around, making sure your feedback is getting passed to the people I work with and popping in when I have some information that might be helpful.

 

[KarinsDad]

I'm quite happy with it, since the staff power always seemed to be the weakest of the implement powers to me, especially since it is reactive rather than proactive. Sure it's good when it comes up, but my staff wizard hasn't had the opportunity to use ever yet!

When I was playing my Staff Wizard, I had a CON of 10. The Staff power wasn't a concern at all compared to +1 AC.

I think the Staff Power is so weak because +1 AC (effectively) all of the time is so strong. Wand Power is once per encounter. Orb Power is once per encounter. Even the fact that Orb can be used in two different ways does not quite make it overwhelming compared to +1 at AC all of the time.

Even so, the Staff Power also works against all defense attacks (once per encounter) and can be applied after damage is determine. That's not that shabby. It can really help out in weak Defense cases.

 

[chaotix42]

Hey Trevor, thanks for the heads-up! It's cool of you to communicate for us any signals you find amongst all the noise. Much appreciated!

 

[Plane Sailing]

I agree it isn't too shabby (after all, my 4e PC is a staff wizard; mostly because I like staffs). The AC bonus is a feelgood factor, I don't know whether it has made the difference between being hit or not yet (I don't think it has, as it happens).

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

That's why I originally reported it with as a bug. Maybe they decided that "a power is a power" and rather than create more feats to increase the damage of spells, they are allowing ways for arcane casters to get the same types of damage bonuses that melee characters get.

Or maybe they are on crack, I haven't made up my mind yet.

I think that the reason it is ruled this way is twofold:

-That's what it says in the books, even if it doesn't make sense. Weapon Focus just says "when you make an attack with the weapon"(paraphrased). You are using a staff, which is a weapon, to make an attack. Even if you aren't using it as a weapon at the time.

-WOTC has changed their philosophy on errata. They describe it in an article a short while ago. Basically, it isn't errata unless it is so broken that they NEED to errata it. If it just doesn't make sense or it is just strong, then they will not errata it. This is their "D&D has a DM, it's his job to house rule or interpret stuff he doesn't like or understand, not ours" philosophy. Anything that doesn't qualify for errata is just a rules clarification. They feel that rules clarifications fit into the domain of the DM. Unless the rule is so confusing that they are asked the question on a regular basis. Then it gets added to the FAQ.

I mainly pursued this because I'm not currently in any 4e home games, so all my 4e play is done via the RPGA. (9 active characters and counting...)

I'm impressed. I'm an Admin and I only have 6.

As a side note, the same article that said that they didn't want to have too much errata also said that having a list of "rules clarifications" for the RPGA was something they could understand a need for and might be something they'd do in the future. But it would be a ways off.

 

[Caliban]

As a side note, as long as we're talking about staff wizards, don't forget that taking Two-Weapon Defense along with Staff Fighting gives you another +1 to your wizards (probably) already high AC.

Heh, that was the original reason I was making the Staff Fighting staff wizard in the character builder.

+1 AC from Staff Implement Specialization
+1 AC (and all other defenses) with a Defensive Staff
+1 AC from Staff Fighting feat
+1 AC and Reflex from Two-Weapon Defense

With your Staff you are now getting +4 AC, +2 Reflex, and +1 to Will and Fort. I was expecting the TWF feat to basically be a dead feat, was surprised when it gave the bonus damage to my spells.

Anyway, I just wanted to point out that the FAQ had been updated and let you guys get back to the conversation.

Thanks a lot for dropping in and confirming this, it's much appreciated.

 

[Plane Sailing]

It's Question/Answer 21 as a reminder. As far as why or what it looks like ::shrug:: He uses his complete understanding of this simple wooden stick to pull more magical energy through it?

Thanks for chiming in, Trevor.

My "what does it look like" wasn't referring to the staff focus helping with spell damage as well as melee damage though.

My raised eyebrows was about the assertion that two weapon fighting was giving +1 to damage with the powers as well - although checking that out in the Character Builder I'm not seeing that applied anywhere, so hopefully it isn't actually an issue.

Cheers

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

My raised eyebrows was about the assertion that two weapon fighting was giving +1 to damage with the powers as well - although checking that out in the Character Builder I'm not seeing that applied anywhere, so hopefully it isn't actually an issue.

It should be giving the bonus if you've taken the feat to make a staff a double weapon. It gives a +1 damage when wielding 2 weapons with your primary attack. All of your spells are primary attacks with two weapons.

As dumb as it may be to apply that bonus, it's the way the feat is currently written.

 

[Plane Sailing]

It should be giving the bonus if you've taken the feat to make a staff a double weapon. It gives a +1 damage when wielding 2 weapons with your primary attack. All of your spells are primary attacks with two weapons.

As dumb as it may be to apply that bonus, it's the way the feat is currently written.

So it does!