Staff Killer

[hcobb]

With ST as a dump stat and Mana it's replacement. The best way to start a duel is to blow up the other guy's staff.

Human Wizard ST 8 DX 10 IQ 14 MA 10
Two-handed Maul Staff (1d/1d)
Aid, Lightning, Literacy, Missile Weapons(3), Rope, Staff I-III, Telepathy

Cast 3d Lightning at adjDX 13 and blows up the other wizard's staff 42% of the time.

[Terquem]

Yes, but you must begin each duel by naming the other wizard and politely telling them

"...your staff is broken."

[larsdangly]

Where did you look in the rules for the numbers governing a missile weapon attack aimed at an object like a staff, and the damage points required to destroy a staff?

[hcobb]

Destruction of Magic Items on page 167 for a wooden staff.

[Skarg]

Yes, lightning is a much-needed counter for magic item bloat, and staff mana.

It's not really a starting-character duel situation, though, as all PCs start with zero staff mana, each point of staff mana costs 200 XP, and starting attributes are only 100 XP. But your character design is of course a good way for a starting character to be able to be a threat to experienced wizards with strong Staffs of Power.

[hcobb]

The hidden joke is that with ST as a dump stat an undeflected 3d lightning bolt is a death sentence. The staff will turn back into a hunk of wood eventually.