A staff (or stave) was a pole-shaped implement used by various races as a walking stick or weapon, or sometimes as a spellcasting focus. They often had magical properties or abilities.[2][3]
Description[]
Typical staffs were usually 5‒6 ft (1.5‒1.8 m) long. They were typically made of crystal, metal, or wood, and varied wildly in appearance. Most staffs could also be used as quarterstaffs.[4]
The height of a staff was roughly the same as the height of the intended user and the diameter was such that it could be grasped comfortably in the hand. Some staves[note 1] were tapered, becoming slightly narrower at the top. Often staves were metal bound on one or both ends and they could be perfectly straight or gnarly and twisted. Runes, patterns and other decorations often personalized a staff to its owner.[3]
Ornately carved staves and walking sticks were available for purchase through Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue, as well as specially ordered cane heads.[1]
Powers[]
Staves could be used to channel the spellcasting powers of druids, sorcerers, warlocks or wizards, aiding them when casting their spells. By doing so, someone using a staff as a spellcasting focus could eschew most of the more ordinary material components required for a spell.[2][5]
Notable Staves[]
A wizard carefully chooses a staff.
- Aumry's staff of the night
- Blackstaff
- Diviner's staff
- Dragonstaff of Ahghairon
- Kane's jo stick
- Kozah's Needle
- Old Staff
- Quarterstaff of battle
- Rod of cats
- Staff of the abyss
- Staff of entrapment
- Staff of ethereal action
- Staff of eyes
- Staff of fiendish darkness
- Staff of mighty sweeping
- Staff of miracles
- Staff of night
- Staff of open doors
- Staff of peace
- Staff of power
- Staff of scrivening
- Staff of skulls
- Staff of the magi
- Staff of the Woodlands
- Staff of transportation
- Staff of vision
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Notes[]
- ↑ The plural, staves, is used almost everywhere in D&D literature but staffs is also acceptable.
Appearances[]
- Novels
- The Fanged Crown
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 138. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 150–151. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 David "Zeb" Cook (1989). Dungeon Master's Guide 2nd edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 153. ISBN 0-88038-729-7.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 140. ISBN 978-0786965622.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 203. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.