Staffs use the wielder's ability score and relevant feats to set the DC for saves against their spells. Unlike with other sorts of magic items, the wielder can use his
caster level when activating the
power of a staff if it's higher than the
caster level of the staff.
This means that
staffs are far more potent in the hands of a powerful spellcaster. Because they use the wielder's ability score to set the save DC for the spell, spells from a staff are often harder to resist than ones from other magic items, which use the minimum ability score required to cast the spell. Not only are aspects of the spell dependant on
caster level (range, duration, and so on) potentially higher, but spells from a staff are harder to dispel and have a better chance of overcoming a target's
spell resistance.
Furthermore, a staff can hold a spell of any level, unlike a
wand, which is limited to spells of 4th level or lower. The minimum
caster level of a staff is 8th. Standard
staffs are described below.
Abjuration: Usually carved from the heartwood of an ancient oak or other large tree, this
staff allows use of the following spells:
Charming: Made of twisting wood ornately shaped and carved, this
staff allows use of the following spells:
Conjuration: This
staff is usually made of ash or walnut and bears ornate carvings of many different kinds of creatures. It allows use of the following spells:
Defense: The
staff of defense is a simple-looking
staff that throbs with
power when held defensively. It allows use of the following spells:
Divination: Made from a supple length of willow, often with a forked tip, this
staff allows use of the following spells:
Earth and Stone: This
staff is topped with a fist-sized emerald that gleams with smoldering
power. It allows the use of the following spells:
Enchantment: Often made from applewood and topped with a clear crystal, this
staff allows use of the following spells:
Evocation: Usually very smooth and carved from hickory, willow, or yew, this
staff allows use of the following spells:
Fire: Crafted from bronzewood with brass bindings, this
staff allows use of the following spells:
Frost: Tipped on either end with a glistening diamond, this rune-covered
staff allows use of the following spells:
Healing: This white ash
staff, with inlaid silver runes, allows use of the following spells:
Illusion: This
staff is made from ebony or other dark wood and carved into an intricately twisted, fluted, or spiral shape. It allows use of the following spells:
Illumination: This
staff is usually sheathed in silver and decorated with sunbursts. It allows use of the following spells:
Life: Made of thick oak shod in gold, this
staff allows use of the following spells:
Necromancy: This
staff is made from ebony or other dark wood and carved with the images of bones and skulls. It allows use of the following spells:
Passage: This potent item allows use of the following spells:
Power: The
staff of power is a very potent magic item, with offensive and defensive abilities. It is usually topped with a glistening gem, its shaft straight and smooth. It has the following powers:
•
Wall of force (in a 10-ft.-diameter hemisphere around the caster only) (2 charges)
A
staff of power can be used for a retributive strike, requiring it to be broken by its wielder. (If this breaking of the
staff is purposeful and declared by the wielder, it can be performed as a
standard action that does not require the wielder to make a Strength check.) All charges currently in the
staff are instantly released in a 30-foot radius. All within 2 squares of the broken
staff take points of
damage equal to 8 x the number of charges in the
staff, those 3 or 4 squares away take 6 x the number of charges in
damage, and those 5 or 6 squares distant take 4 x the number of charges in
damage. All those affected can make DC 17 Reflex saves to reduce the
damage by half.
The character breaking the
staff has a 50% chance of traveling to another plane of existence, but if he does not, the explosive release of spell energy destroys him. Only certain items, including the
staff of the magi and the
staff of power, are capable of being used for a retributive strike.
After all charges are used up from the
staff, it remains a
+2 quarterstaff. (Once empty of charges, it cannot be used for a retributive strike.)
Strong varied; CL 15th;
Craft Staff,
Craft Magic Arms and Armor,
magic missile, heightened
ray of enfeeblement, continual flame, levitate, heightened
fireball, heightened
lightning bolt, cone of cold, hold monster, wall of force, globe of invulnerability; Price 211,000 gp.
Size Alteration: Stout and sturdy, this
staff of dark wood allows use of the following spells:
Swarming Insects: Made of twisted dark wood with dark spots resembling crawling insects (which occasionally seem to move), this
staff allows use of the following spells:
Transmutation: This
staff is generally carved from or decorated with petrified wood and allows use of the following spells:
Woodlands: Appearing to have grown naturally into its shape, this oak, ash, or yew
staff allows use of the following spells:
The
staff may be used as a weapon, functioning as a
+2 quarterstaff. The
staff of the woodlands also allows its wielder to
pass without trace at will, with no
charge cost. These two attributes continue to function after all the charges are expended.