Why would wizards want wands?

[Steve Plambeck]

Originally Posted by Shostak

Heck, holding a wand in the same hand as a book or scroll shouldn't even be a problem.

Agreed - that's even better.

[Axly Suregrip]

Originally Posted by Shostak

Heck, holding a wand in the same hand as a book or scroll shouldn't even be a problem.

Yes, agreed.

[Axly Suregrip]

I would say a wand-staff at level 1 staff spell cannot be used to defend. ITL 110 says it has no weight, therefore this cannot deflect a blow.

Now if you want to argue that level 2 staff makes a staff unbreakable, then I can see a level 2 wand-staff being used for defending. But, I still would not allow it for this reason: Level 2 staff spell makes a staff secured from breaking or dropping from only two situations: critical fails and spells. Just like a level 2 staff is not immune from a quarterstaff from disarming it, if you make a level 2 staff out of something that is so flimsy, that it would break normally (not a critical failure), than simply never will stand up to the rigors of combat. So, a wand staff of any level should not be allowed to do a defend.

[Bill_in_IN]

A simple question as to why a wizard would want to have a wand has yielded many reasons and some practical aspects of having it.

Another interesting thread.

[hcobb]

Are you happy to see me or did you just cast Staff to Snake on your hidden wand?
(Still an excellent spell for an IQ 10 wizard, followed by Illusion duplication if IQ 11.)

[pzmcgwire]

If a wand/staff can explode for 3 dice damage, as well as being able to deal 1d6 of damage, its physical weight isn't indicative of its power.

[Steve Plambeck]

Originally Posted by pzmcgwire

If a wand/staff can explode for 3 dice damage, as well as being able to deal 1d6 of damage, its physical weight isn't indicative of its power.

Exactly! It really should be thought of as more a magical taser, at least that's how I've always seen it.

[Rolando]

Tiny wands may be booby traps, leave one in someones desk drawer and wait.

Pencil sized booby traps.

[Shostak]

But then the intention is for someone to pick it up, thus creating a situation in which the staff won't explode (see the wording about the wizard's will on ITL 18).

[Skarg]

That seems like a philosophical argument to me, at best.

Seems to me that most wizards would be capable of putting a staff somewhere and then not having it be their will that someone pick it up, even if they mean it as a trap.