Simple question...probably been answered before. Why cant invokers use staff. As in the weapon. My mental image of an elemental mage has included the likes of Gandalf,Merlin, Raistlin, and the DnD versions all carrying quarterstaffs. I see this more for a roleplaying element. If someone else has a reason that it would be overpowered please let me know. I just cant see how an invoker could abuse pugil...less charge weapon...but that just doesnt click as a major reason to disregard the entire skill.

Debomskya.

A lot of magi get Staff, fitting the specific image you have in mind from the books you cite. On the other hand, it is a two-handed weapon, and an alternate conception of a wizard might see them wanting to keep a hand free for magical devices.

I don't see a compelling reason to give the invoker class lots of weapons (3 is pretty standard for the magi), and I don't think many invokers would want to give up one of their one-handed weapons for it. If you're worried about physical defense as an invoker, go with a touch spell- they're pretty serviceable as mage options go, and probably beat anything short of a conjurer.

valguarnera@carrionfields.com

As I said, it is not to add defense, or offense to the class. But to give them a servicable option for a roleplay oriented idea/concept. I know they CAN carry a staff right now. But must give it up immediatly if wanting to engage in combat, whether directly or in support of a group.

I emphasize the roleplay aspect of it, but at the same time not penalizing a character for wanting to use it. For me, not speaking for other mages, the actual weapon carried is normally not much of an issue combat wise, since daggers are horrid at defense, whips even worse, and maces just soso. I see what I am carrying as an extension of roleplaying. (My group wont be too upset if they miss the "pound" attack for a devastate once in a while).

Just as you see no compelling reason not to give them staff as a choice, I dont see any compelling reason >not< to give it to them.

Yes, but other people with other tastes can cite examples of wizards wielding swords and other weapons- it all depends what your favorite fantasy authors envision. If we follow that line of logic to its conclusion, we end up giving magi all sorts of weapons as an extension of roleplaying, and that's a fairly substantial powering up of the class. This also dilutes some of the flavor- they're supposed to be fairly unskilled at physical combat.

valguarnera@carrionfields.com

An invoker with the eagle inscribed staff. That would be fun.

Of course, it parried like crap. I used it on healers and thieves, mostly. Using it on a warrior was just asking for trouble.

When you think about it, there are a lot more desirable things for an invoker to be holding rather than that staff.

I conceed. Not so much a balance issue as a "we have to limit them somewhere or it can get out of hand" kinda thing. That, and I also thought that "staves" probably more properly fits my idea of what the rp staff would be.

Cheers

For an invoker, staff makes more sense to me than mace. Though, to me, I can't see transmuters, invokers, shifters and conjurers using anything but staff and dagger. Those seem like the most mage-ish weapons.

I've always wanted to see invokers have staff in their repetoire as well. Like the other guy says, it's not driven out of practical use at all, but just because I think a staff goes with a mage like maces and axes go with dwarves, or like swords and bows go with elves. I know it is somewhat "limited" to have that perspective, and it's certainly not something that I would force on people...but it would be nice to have the option of aiming for that classical image with a character. If there is *any* kind of concern over what an invoker could do with a staff in hand, creating some kind of imbalance, how about just omitting the pugil skill?

Also, I know a staff can simply be toted around and used (to horrible effect) by a really picky mage, but it shouldn't be causing them to not be able to learn their other abilities because they don't know how to use the thing. Oh yeah, probably the strongest image I can toss at you for my argument is the picture of the "wizened old wizard," you know, the one that leans on a staff, not a sledgehammer or a dominatrix's whip.

(I believe that)There are non-weapon versions of the items you seek and these can be used in the off-hand for rp "look" while the primary weapon hand can be used to channel your elemental powers.

You'll hit for scratches, but you're not going to be doing huge damage with that dagger either. If it's RP based, who cares, the IMMs might take pity on you and give the skill anyway.

Is that you will defend even more poorly than usual if using a weapon you don't know.

nt