The Bladestaff: How to incorporate this into TFT?

[Bill_in_IN]

Originally Posted by TippetsTX

Thanks. And I made the new thread broader than this particular topic.

Thanks.

I saw it and added something to chew on and something else to cringe over.

[larsdangly]

Originally Posted by Bill_in_IN

Now add that a quarterstaff does 1D+2 in both versions of ITL, This is now where my confusion lies. It;s my understanding that a quarter is a well-balanced piece of hard wood with no sharp edges. Am I correct? So, why would a piece of wood do the same amount of damage as a piece of wood with a blade like the naginata.

A quarterstaff does 1d+2 because it requires a ST of 11 to use and the relationship between damage and ST prerequisite is one of the cornerstones of the balance in Melee and TFT generally. It is fine to question whether it realistically should do more or less damage than a spear or other polearm, but if you end up concluding it should do 1d-1 or something then you better also house rule that its ST prerequisite is lower.

[Bill_in_IN]

Originally Posted by larsdangly

A quarterstaff does 1d+2 because it requires a ST of 11 to use and the relationship between damage and ST prerequisite is one of the cornerstones of the balance in Melee and TFT generally. It is fine to question whether it realistically should do more or less damage than a spear or other polearm, but if you end up concluding it should do 1d-1 or something then you better also house rule that its ST prerequisite is lower.

I had just chalked up to the quarterstaff being in the Unusual weapon category.

[hcobb]

ST 11 two handed maul (1d+2)
ST 11 quarterstaff by some fool who wasted a memory point (1d+2)

[Bill_in_IN]

Originally Posted by hcobb

ST 11 two handed maul (1d+2)
ST 11 quarterstaff by some fool who wasted a memory point (1d+2)

Unless that fool was a wizard that wanted a more substantial damage staff that can give 1D+2 physical damage as opposed to 1D.

Although, a Wizard with a maul seems like an interesting yet odd combo. LOL!

[larsdangly]

Originally Posted by hcobb

ST 11 two handed maul (1d+2)
ST 11 quarterstaff by some fool who wasted a memory point (1d+2)

The quarterstaff can do a disarm attack

[hcobb]

Originally Posted by larsdangly

The quarterstaff can do a disarm attack

Quarterstaff: roll at DX -4 to give the foe a saving throw to retain the weapon.
Maul: roll at DX -4 to force the foe to drop their weapon with no saving throw. (As rolling 1 +2 = 3 hits at minumum)

[phiwum]

Originally Posted by hcobb

Quarterstaff: roll at DX -4 to give the foe a saving throw to retain the weapon.
Maul: roll at DX -4 to force the foe to drop their weapon with no saving throw. (As rolling 1 +2 = 3 hits at minumum)

That's a pretty interesting point that the optional Aimed Shot rule makes the quarterstaff ability less significant. However, if disarming is your aim, then a quarterstaff is still slightly more effective than a maul.

(1) For unarmored or lightly armored opponents, both quarterstaff and maul can be used in an aimed shot, with 3 or more damage resulting in a dropped weapon, no save roll. Both do the same damage, so no real difference.

(2) For well-armored opponents, the quarterstaff has the option of using its special disarming attack, which may have a better chance of succeeding.

Still, disarm attacks don't come up too often in my games, aside from those aimed at staff-wielding wizards.

[hcobb]

Originally Posted by phiwum

Still, disarm attacks don't come up too often in my games, aside from those aimed at staff-wielding wizards.

Who are the only ones who are immune to disarming attacks. (Even Weapon Mastery only applies to a few retain weapon cases.)

[Shostak]

Originally Posted by hcobb

Who are the only ones who are immune to disarming attacks. (Even Weapon Mastery only applies to a few retain weapon cases.)

No. As has been pointed out a multitude of times, the advanced wizards' staves are not immune to disarming maneuvers. Rather, they are immune to the Drop Weapon and Break Weapon spells and to those results from critical failures on attack rolls.