Staves

[Lupo]

Originally Posted by Der Wanderer

- A staff requires two hand = no gestures = only spells that require no gesture!!!

Is that official?
I never interpreted it that way - spells that require gestures actually require one free hand?

[Der Wanderer]

Originally Posted by Lupo

Is that official?
I never interpreted it that way - spells that require gestures actually require one free hand?

I also allow one handed gestures BUT for a Staff to be ready for parrying it must be hold in TWO hands (One handed it would use the spear skill), so unless the mages has more than two hands he cannot make gestures. That of course is my interpretation...

[Not another shrubbery]

Originally Posted by Der Wanderer

I also allow one handed gestures BUT for a Staff to be ready for parrying it must be hold in TWO hands (One handed it would use the spear skill), so unless the mages has more than two hands he cannot make gestures. That of course is my interpretation...

We've always allowed gesture ritual requirements to be filled by the staff movement for spells cast through the staff. Note that at SL15+, gesture requirements can be swapped for vocals, and the gesture requirements are small enough that they could be ruled doable even from a two-handed grip ["speak a word or two or make a small gesture (a couple of fingers are enough)"].

[Der Wanderer]

Originally Posted by Not another shrubbery

We've always allowed gesture ritual requirements to be filled by the staff movement for spells cast through the staff.

Me too... However, then I don't allow casting without staff (or the mage has to learn the spell twice for the different gestures).

At 14-: He chooses when he buys the spell whether he can do the gestures with the staff OR with bare hand(s)...
At 15+: he can do the small gestures either with the staff, or with a bare hand, or he can use his voice...

For me, even moving a couple of fingers from a weapon grip makes the weapon unable to parry...

[Witchking]

Originally Posted by trooper6

But that house rule isn't logical. Only bladed weapons get the damage bonus for increased materials. Even having a Fine Staff won't increase damage.

So you are a ST-9 Mage...with say, DX 10...because you've spent all your points in IQ and HT. You are not spending your points on weapon master...you've got Magery and all sorts of spells to get. Let's say you only put 1 pt in the skill, as someone mentioned upthread.

So you have Staff - 9 (DX-1) [1]
Damage thrust/cr 1d, swing/cr 1d+1
You have a Staff parry of 9. And that isn't a Fencing Parry.

This Staff-wielding mage is not Uber.

Now a Staff-wielding Weapon Master Ogre with a ST20...that is something I'm pondering considering that my little Rapier fighter may have to fight one in Wrathchild's play by post Arena fight on rpol...

Here: http://rpol.net/game.cgi?gi=35464&date=1236651857

All you GURPS fighters...join!

As I explained it isnt RAW...although if someone were to construct one out of sword steel (think tesubo but moreso) it might be logical...

otherwise I actually have DX 12 and am a competent combatant...just adding to the discussion pointing out a potential flaw...not even sure I think that staves are upgunned....

[Witchking]

Originally Posted by Der Wanderer

- A staff requires two hand = no gestures = only spells that require no gesture!!!

Ummm...no reason a wizard cannot ground his staff, take one hand off, make the gesture, and then put the hand back on the staff.

[talonthehand]

Originally Posted by Witchking

Ummm...no reason a wizard cannot ground his staff, take one hand off, make the gesture, and then put the hand back on the staff.

Sure there is. Switching from a one handed grip to a two handed takes a ready maneuver unless you have Grip Mastery (MA 50).

[Der Wanderer]

Originally Posted by talonthehand

Sure there is. Switching from a one handed grip to a two handed takes a ready maneuver unless you have Grip Mastery (MA 50).

And even with Grip Mastery he cannot ground his staff cast a spell (which by itself takes at least 1 second) and ready it again for parrying in less than 3 seconds (1 ready to stick the staff into the ground (dropping would be free), cast the spell, 1 ready to take the staff back into his hand and ready it), which means no parry for at least 2 combat rounds...

[roguebfl]

Originally Posted by Der Wanderer

And even with Grip Mastery he cannot ground his staff cast a spell (which by itself takes at least 1 second) and ready it again for parrying in less than 3 seconds (1 ready to stick the staff into the ground (dropping would be free), cast the spell, 1 ready to take the staff back into his hand and ready it), which means no parry for at least 2 combat rounds...

given the frac all yo are do in effectively dropping it with one hand is a free action (contrate that turn) But what you then have is an unready staff.

you do need a ready action to either go to a proper one handed grip or back to 2 hand grip

[Der Wanderer]

Originally Posted by roguebfl

given the frac all yo are do in effectively dropping it with one hand is a free action (contrate that turn) But what you then have is an unready staff.

you do need a ready action to either go to a proper one handed grip or back to 2 hand grip

Never Mind, yes you could just hold it in one hand... But while holding it in one hand you cannot parry using the Staff skill (you would need the spear skill) AND to hold it one handed in a spear grip you would need a ready maneuver (or Grip Mastery).