Question about ST cost when using a staff occult attack

[Helborn]

Originally Posted by Skarg

Your ruling that you could hit with a staff to do the damage without using ST seems reasonable enough to me, though I don't think the rules say that. It is an upgrade of capabilities - e.g. compare Staff I, where otherwise there would usually be almost no reason to spend 1 ST, since hitting with the staff would usually be the same effect, but not cost ST with your ruling. Or see hcobb's ST 6 cacklers above.

I look at the 3d damage from picking up someone else's staff and think that 1d damage from touching with it is not out of line. To extend the effect by pointing it costs 1 ST. At Staff I it makes no difference, but when you get to a 2 hex range (Staff III), then pointing it and using 1 ST begins to make sense. Also at Staff IV, when it becomes a free action, then the cost remains IFF you aren't using the Staff as a weapon and touching - which means you have to come within striking distance of your enemy.

Right now I'm playing around with a Wizard who took Pole Weapons and is using a Spear (silver) as a Staff. That gives her a 2 hex jab on top of the occult strike as well as the other benefits of Pole Weapons.