1) legsweep only cares about skill % for success. Trip cares about a few other things. That all being said, the lag for them is the same.

2) You cannot thrust with every spear, you can crescent with every spear. Obviously you cannot pugil with a spear.

3) Misdirect lags you for 3 rounds and your victim for 2 rounds. One of the best parts of misdirect is that there are practically 0 ways to avoid it for the victim.

4) There is a slight difference in their ability to parry. Staffs tend to be a little lighter than spears which is an upside in PK situations where people try to maledict.

5) Crossing 30 is where things start to get more complicated in terms of mobs being "scarier" in a lot of situations. They start to hit more often and harder, as well as having more skills/abilities they do. The best way to learn is to keep slowly plugging away at it.