Quarterstaff - What is it for?

[Rundur]

I may not just understand the DnD ruleset, but I find the staves kinda.. useless?
I was expecting the staff to be used for some kinda magic channeling or to cast magic but it genuinely just seems to be a normal wooden pole that does nothing.

Is there a reason that I should keep the quarterstaff over a magic sword for example?

[RealDealBreaker]

A quarterstaff is like you said, just a wooden beating stick. Just like a real life quarterstaff. Quarterstaff =/= magical staff.

[Crimsomrider]

There are a couple in the game which are meant for casting things.

However in the final update they made them Versatile, so I'm assuming they will be mostly intended for Monks on release and they'll probably be able to dual-wield them.

[Trap Queen 85]

What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.

[Yojo0o]

A basic staff is just that: a wooden pole designed to hit people. There's no hidden value in a basic staff. They're a simple weapon that anybody is proficient with, so if your wizard MUST hit somebody with a weapon, better the stick they know how to use than the sword they're not proficient with.

As far as magical items go, in general DnD at least, magical staffs to tend to be the weapons that actually get extra spells and such, so keep a lookout for those.

[sevensided]

Shillayle! Er... Shilleighly! Uhm... Shillelagh! *quarterstaff turns into d8 magical beatstick*

[Rundur]

Originally posted by Yojo0o:

A basic staff is just that: a wooden pole designed to hit people. There's no hidden value in a basic staff. They're a simple weapon that anybody is proficient with, so if your wizard MUST hit somebody with a weapon, better the stick they know how to use than the sword they're not proficient with.

As far as magical items go, in general DnD at least, magical staffs to tend to be the weapons that actually get extra spells and such, so keep a lookout for those.

So what you're saying is unless its magical with added bonuses on top there's zero reason for a wizard to hold onto a staff if he can decently swing a sword for example.

Interesting, I'm so spoiled by other fantasy games that seeing a staff act genuinely just as a wooden stick is a surprise to me lol

[dolby]

Quarterstaff could be cool weapon both for casters and others,, first fix, Topple attack needs damage to go with it

[xposethedarkside]

Originally posted by dolby:

Quarterstaff could be cool weapon both for casters and others,, first fix, Topple attack needs damage to go with it

The main problem with quarterstaff is it's strength based, not dex based, and most casters dump strength, but have higher dex for ac. I always drop the staffs for a dagger or something, maybe a short sword depending on if I have the proficiency for it. But in truth, cantrips in 5e are pretty good and decently strong.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

All weapons come in three types:

Non-magical. What you see is what you get. Deals bludgeoning, piercing or slashing damage.

Weapon enchantment. This is a to-hit and damage bonus, ranges from +1 - +3.

Literally anything else. Special abilities and powers, extra spells, curses, etc. Can be combined with weapon enchantment.

Armour works exactly the same.

As a melee weapon, staves are better used by Monks. Wizards typically use magical staves for their special properties, not as melee weapons.

[Nox]

Originally posted by Drengr:

I may not just understand the DnD ruleset, but I find the staves kinda.. useless?
I was expecting the staff to be used for some kinda magic channeling or to cast magic but it genuinely just seems to be a normal wooden pole that does nothing.

Is there a reason that I should keep the quarterstaff over a magic sword for example?

Bonk

[Trap Queen 85]

It's actually most important for the monk who can use the staff [versatile] as a monk weapon which means they can perform unarmed strikes while using it.

* As a monk you can use Dex instead of STR for the attack and damage rolls
* can roll a d4 in place of the normal damage of your unarmed strike or monk weapon [changes with experience up to d10 by level 17]
* Can make an unarmed strike as a bonus action after your normal attack with an unarmed strike or monk weapon

So yeah can be pretty powerful in the hands of a monk.

[Aldain]

Monks, Druids and the occasionally desperate Wizard.

...And maybe some oddball Fighter who enjoys lugging around a whoop-ass log.

[Yojo0o]

Originally posted by Drengr:

Originally posted by Yojo0o:

A basic staff is just that: a wooden pole designed to hit people. There's no hidden value in a basic staff. They're a simple weapon that anybody is proficient with, so if your wizard MUST hit somebody with a weapon, better the stick they know how to use than the sword they're not proficient with.

As far as magical items go, in general DnD at least, magical staffs to tend to be the weapons that actually get extra spells and such, so keep a lookout for those.

So what you're saying is unless its magical with added bonuses on top there's zero reason for a wizard to hold onto a staff if he can decently swing a sword for example.

Interesting, I'm so spoiled by other fantasy games that seeing a staff act genuinely just as a wooden stick is a surprise to me lol

Well yes, but wizards don't naturally get sword proficiency, so you wouldn't want to give the wizard a sword unless they're getting that proficiency elsewhere.

Honestly, a wizard's weapon rarely matters. They should just be using cantrips to attack with instead. It's extremely rare that a wizard would want to swing any weapon, regardless of their proficiency or strength/dex scores.

Just be on the lookout for magical weapons that enhance you as a caster. These are frequently staffs, though not always.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by Aldain:

Monks, Druids and the occasionally desperate Wizard.

...And maybe some oddball Fighter who enjoys lugging around a whoop-ass log.

Now that Q-staves are versatile some of the early one's you get are decent on Shadowheart as she can continue to wield a shield. I especially like Raindancer on her for setting up electrocution fields.

[sevensided]

Since BG3 doesn't deal with (at least so far) with components of spells, the real reason you see Wizards in DnD with staves doesn't apply: as an arcane focus. For wizards (and Druids), that big stick can be used in place of material components (of 50gp in value or less, and who do not get used up in the spell, terms and conditions apply, see store for details) when casting spells.