Return the Staff to the base type

[Egon the Monkey]

First off, I would like to say the staff change was a really cool idea and a cunning way to mod weaponry without haks. It's only a pity it doesn't seem to have worked out that well, as fewer people use staves in combat now. That said, the fact it's possible to do means perhaps the method could be re-used to give Light Hammers and Tridents x3 Criticals or something else to help out an underused weapon.

Thing is, the Staff's a Simple weapon that acts as a non-finesseable low damage double weapon and needs 2 feats to use. Even with the addition of bonus feats to many drops, it's only really of any use to Strength rogues who fancy an extra sneak attack a round because of the weakness of the offhand attack. Or Rangers looking to save on weapon buffs for dual-wielding.

Previously I found the Staff quite a useful and flavourful weapon. The simple walking stick for an old priest, or the backup weapon for when you're facing Nightrisers. It's gone from the easy peasant weapon anyone can use, to effectively a light version of an Exotic weapon. The Staff is a cool weapon. Case in point, "The Badass With a Broom Handle", Old Man Franco. These days, though, it's just the Clerical equivalent of "Yo, I have 2 daggers for spell slots" on a Wizard. A shame, as it's gone from a weak but useful and cool weapon, to one that is so restrictive next to no PC uses it :(.

What I'd like to know, is would it be possible to have a perk that changes the staff to the EfU custom type when selected? Or that requires Two Weapon Fighting/a Ranger Level and grants you an extra attack at -5 AB (like for Imp 2-wep) when you are wielding a staff? Some way to have it both ways.

[Listen in Silence]

The optimal would be to have both options and a choice, of course. Considering the many different ways in which someone could fight with a quarterstaff depending on skill.

Though I'd personally prefer for it to be kept a double handed weapon if the 2-option deal isn't possible.

[Damien]

im not effected by the change, use a spear if you want a 1d8 weapon

[PlayaCharacter]

im not effected by the change, use a spear if you want a 1d8 weapon

Wizards can't use spears.

I never liked the change and would prefer that staffs return to their original function.

[Divine Intervention]

I've not seen anyone actually seriously used this as a weapon since the change.

[The Answerman]

I've not seen anyone actually seriously used this as a weapon since the change.

Oh come on, did you ever see anyone use it seriously as a weapon BEFORE the change?

[Wrexsoul]

I love the dual-wield staff idea, and I would hate to see it go. I have several concepts in the back of my head where a quarterstaff the way it is currently implemented would be in focus, and even on my current character, I would love to use one, I just haven't seen many around. Perhaps more combat staves should be added? Though then again, I don't run scripted quests often, so there might be plenty around for all I know.

[PlayaCharacter]

Oh come on, did you ever see anyone use it seriously as a weapon BEFORE the change?

I certainly did. Also, it is an amazing monk weapon, particularly when used with Improved Disarm.

[derfo]

there aren't enough weapons that serve the same purpose oh wait

[Underbard]

While a good idea, it does seem that changing the stave really didn't accomplish anything.  Perhaps just changing it back and shrugging it off would be for the best.

[AllMYBudgies]

Although I love the idea of the changes, I don't believe that it adds anything substantial and could really just be changed back.

[TheImpossibleDream]

I wonder if throwing stars were to be changed somehow would as many people crawl out of the woodworks and claim they "used them all the time" and ask for them to be changed back.

[Egon the Monkey]

Not likely. Throwing stars are so completely crap, nobody seriously relies on them as everything else works better. Not to mention you swiftly run out any saved good ones. I played a halfing rogue using them in the Dealer's Choice crew, so I've some experience.

On the other hand a Staff is the only 2-handed weapon a wizard or rogue can use, not to mention their classic tool of the mage's trade. It is the favoured weapon of many deities. It's a traditional peasant  and traveller's weapon that every class in the game can wield. It's a Simple 2-handed bludgeoning weapon savvy Pcs kept on hand to swat Risers. It has both flavour and utility. Finally, lots of PCs have staves that they have proficiency with, have combat bonuses on as well as bonus spell, but that they swap out at the first sign of a fight because they couldn's hit a Transition Cube from inside the Cube ;).