Are staffs are inferior to wands? - Guild Wars Forums

cce · Mar 11, 2005, 06:50 PM // 18:50

I pretty much categorically ignore staffs, the ones I've found in previous BWEs do just about the same as wands found in the same area. But to make things worse, you can't use a focus with a staff. So I ask, are staffs just there for role-playing?

Perhaps one way to make a staff more valuable than a wand is by making its range equivalent to a long-bow. I'd carry a staff if it had a much better range than a wand. If you think about it, the analogy is good, you give up carrying a focus so you can deal longer-distance damage. Also, from a game perspective it is good; a staff is bigger, more cannon like

Your thoughts?

Bgnome · Mar 11, 2005, 06:55 PM // 18:55

i have seen many staves with a +en modifier, which is basically what a focus gives you. also, you can upgrade staves with parts salvaged from other staves. i do not believe you can do so with wands. i am pretty sure you cannot customize a wand at the weaponsmith either, but do not know if this is the case with staves. not really sure about the damage difference..

Mar 11, 2005, 07:25 PM // 19:25

you can attack with staves

ratatass · Mar 11, 2005, 07:25 PM // 19:25

I have yet to use a two handed staff in any profession. And I have never seen anybody use one either. No staff, ever would make up for the Energy + items....so far as I have seen

Ratatass

Liquid · Mar 11, 2005, 07:31 PM // 19:31

You can upgrade staffs!

Weezer_Blue · Mar 11, 2005, 07:39 PM // 19:39

yep. you can't upgrade wands but you can upgrade staves with staff heads and stuff like that. but all and all, i'd take a wand and an upgraded focus anyday.

Bgnome · Mar 11, 2005, 07:43 PM // 19:43

i dont think you can upgrade a focus either.

Ensign · Mar 11, 2005, 07:46 PM // 19:46

A top-notch staff can compete with wand+focus, easily - you lose out on a couple of rare mods, but the fact that a good staff is upgradable should make up for that. Staves have inherent +energy modifiers that go up to +10 (to the best of my knowledge), so you're already in wand+focus territory before upgrades.

The problem is that finding a good staff is the hardest thing to do in the entire game. They have a ton of useless rare modifiers, making finding a useful rare staff hard enough, plus you have to consider that, like most other weapons, most rare staves spawn with upgrade parts already in place. Staves have more potential upgrades than any other item, and most of them are absolutely godawful.

Considering that a decent wand + focus beats any rare staff that doesn't have room for good upgrades, and it's pretty obvious why no one uses staves - good, usable staves are 100,000 gold items that just aren't available.

Peace,
-CxE

Dreamsmith · Mar 11, 2005, 07:51 PM // 19:51

Hmm. From what I've seen, it's six of one or a half dozen of the other. You can either use a wand for a weapon and a focus for energy, or you can use a staff that works as a weapon and gives you energy, the difference being... uh... well...

Of course, I only started seeing staves with energy bonuses in the last BWE -- I'm not sure how they stack up in general with the wand/focus combo. But I was using a staff in pre-Searing Ascalon for a while because it was better than the best wand and focus I had found (it did the same damage but gave me more energy).

Mar 11, 2005, 08:06 PM // 20:06

ugh, confused wand and staff :/

Scaphism · Mar 11, 2005, 08:41 PM // 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bgnome

i am pretty sure you cannot customize a wand at the weaponsmith either

You definitely can customize wands. Every character who did the old tutorial mission had a chance to do so when they saved the weaponsmith, or at any other weaponsmith.

Keramon · Mar 11, 2005, 11:34 PM // 23:34

Yes, you can CUSTOMIZE wands ... just can't UPGRADE them...

Freyas · Mar 12, 2005, 04:49 AM // 04:49

Staves can be superior to wand/focus if you get the right ones- the only problem is getting a staff that's as good or better than a wand+focus is far more difficult than getting a decent wand and focus. Staves have an inherent energy bonus that can go up to +10 I believe, and you can add an insightful staff head for more energy- giving a higher energy bonus than a focus can, without the +15 energy, -1 energy regen modifier.

In addition, you can get some nice modifiers on staves that are unavailable for wands/focuses- like +20% enchantment duration. If I want to play an enchantment-based healer, I'd much prefer to go with a 15 energy staff with 20% enchantment duration than to use a wand/focus with 12 energy and decreased casting speed and a bit of extra armor.

ratatass · Mar 12, 2005, 05:00 AM // 05:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freyas

Staves have an inherent energy bonus that can go up to +10 I believe, and you can add an insightful staff head for more energy- giving a higher energy bonus than a focus can, without the +15 energy, -1 energy regen modifier.

Could you elaborate on what you mean with inherent energy bonus ? I thought you found a staff with a set energy bonus. Are there items that "unlock" with level, meaning at level 1 it is a+1 at level 5 a +5 , at level 10 a + 10.

I know it's kinda a stupid questiom, but I just want to make sure.

I picked up a staff in the WPE and have never used one since. What I seem to remember is that with a staff your range was redcued to zero and you ended up in the face of your enemy, and hey I was no tank.

another stupid question I guess - so is the range the same as the Wands now ?

Ratatass

Weezer_Blue · Mar 12, 2005, 05:21 AM // 05:21

he means that some staves have an already existing energy bonus without you having to customize it or waste slots of customization armour of +10 (en).

Ensign · Mar 12, 2005, 05:24 AM // 05:24

In the last couple of months they've changed staves to have between +3 and +10 energy as a natural modifier - basically they work as a combination Wand/Focus. If there are still +energy staff heads in the game then you can easily get more energy out of a staff without the pip penalty - if Insightful staff heads have been removed, then you still have energy close to what you can get from a focus, and room for upgrades.

Overall you end up giving up the ability to mix and match, plus a couple of rare mods, for a pair of upgrade slots. At least in theory - in practice finding an upgradable staff that you want to upgrade is the hardest thing in the game.

Peace,
-CxE

Weezer_Blue · Mar 12, 2005, 05:30 AM // 05:30

Attribute wise it has been determined that staves are just as good if not better than wands, but what about strategy wise? Would it be just as easy to use the focus trick that the neverending well of knowledge and useful tricks has posted with a staff rather than a wand + focus?

FrogDevourer · Mar 14, 2005, 10:06 AM // 10:06

As mentioned by Charles, finding a perfect staff is very hard but they can have very good mods and some custom components are quite helpful.

Like Freyas, my monk used to rely on a +17 energy (base+head) +17% enchant duration (grip). It was very useful. Much more than a basic wand/focus combination.

For a spell caster who uses his weapon for attack, I'd probably pick a wand/focus because wands with top lvl damage and energy mod are easier to find than good staves.

FluidFox · Mar 14, 2005, 04:16 PM // 16:16

I get the feeling that after GW has been out for several months, you will see more people running around with a Staff... in theory they are better than a focus+wand. It's just that in practice you'll almost never find one that will be. But once you do... I bet you wouldn't hesitate to use it. People will just need to have time to find that one staff in 7000 that is actually worth using.

Weezer_Blue · Mar 15, 2005, 01:56 AM // 01:56

perhaps they'll be more common in some of the missions we haven't seen yet?

Mar 11, 2005, 06:50 PM // 18:50	#1
cce Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Feb 2005	Are staffs are inferior to wands? I pretty much categorically ignore staffs, the ones I've found in previous BWEs do just about the same as wands found in the same area. But to make things worse, you can't use a focus with a staff. So I ask, are staffs just there for role-playing? Perhaps one way to make a staff more valuable than a wand is by making its range equivalent to a long-bow. I'd carry a staff if it had a much better range than a wand. If you think about it, the analogy is good, you give up carrying a focus so you can deal longer-distance damage. Also, from a game perspective it is good; a staff is bigger, more cannon like Your thoughts?

Mar 11, 2005, 07:39 PM // 19:39	#6
Weezer_Blue Elite Guru Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Just a Box in a Cage Guild: Hurry Up The Cakes [Oven]	yep. you can't upgrade wands but you can upgrade staves with staff heads and stuff like that. but all and all, i'd take a wand and an upgraded focus anyday. __________________

Mar 11, 2005, 07:46 PM // 19:46	#8
Ensign Just Plain Fluffy Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Berkeley, CA Guild: Idiot Savants	A top-notch staff can compete with wand+focus, easily - you lose out on a couple of rare mods, but the fact that a good staff is upgradable should make up for that. Staves have inherent +energy modifiers that go up to +10 (to the best of my knowledge), so you're already in wand+focus territory before upgrades. The problem is that finding a good staff is the hardest thing to do in the entire game. They have a ton of useless rare modifiers, making finding a useful rare staff hard enough, plus you have to consider that, like most other weapons, most rare staves spawn with upgrade parts already in place. Staves have more potential upgrades than any other item, and most of them are absolutely godawful. Considering that a decent wand + focus beats any rare staff that doesn't have room for good upgrades, and it's pretty obvious why no one uses staves - good, usable staves are 100,000 gold items that just aren't available. Peace, -CxE __________________ Don't argue with idiots. They bring you to their level and beat you with experience.

Mar 11, 2005, 07:51 PM // 19:51	#9
Dreamsmith Elite Guru Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Guild: Beguine Guild [BGN]	Hmm. From what I've seen, it's six of one or a half dozen of the other. You can either use a wand for a weapon and a focus for energy, or you can use a staff that works as a weapon and gives you energy, the difference being... uh... well... Of course, I only started seeing staves with energy bonuses in the last BWE -- I'm not sure how they stack up in general with the wand/focus combo. But I was using a staff in pre-Searing Ascalon for a while because it was better than the best wand and focus I had found (it did the same damage but gave me more energy). __________________

Mar 11, 2005, 11:34 PM // 23:34	#12
Keramon Rogue Agent Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Surfers Paradise	Yes, you can CUSTOMIZE wands ... just can't UPGRADE them... __________________ Keramon :cool:

Mar 11, 2005, 06:55 PM // 18:55	#2
Bgnome Elite Guru Join Date: Feb 2005	i have seen many staves with a +en modifier, which is basically what a focus gives you. also, you can upgrade staves with parts salvaged from other staves. i do not believe you can do so with wands. i am pretty sure you cannot customize a wand at the weaponsmith either, but do not know if this is the case with staves. not really sure about the damage difference..

Mar 11, 2005, 07:25 PM // 19:25	#3
Blackace Guest	you can attack with staves

Mar 11, 2005, 07:25 PM // 19:25	#4
ratatass Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Mexico	I have yet to use a two handed staff in any profession. And I have never seen anybody use one either. No staff, ever would make up for the Energy + items....so far as I have seen Ratatass

Mar 11, 2005, 07:31 PM // 19:31	#5
Liquid Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London Guild: Servants of Fortuna Profession: E/Me	You can upgrade staffs!

Mar 11, 2005, 07:43 PM // 19:43	#7
Bgnome Elite Guru Join Date: Feb 2005	i dont think you can upgrade a focus either.

Mar 11, 2005, 08:06 PM // 20:06	#10
Blackace Guest	ugh, confused wand and staff :/

Mar 12, 2005, 04:49 AM // 04:49	#13
Freyas Champion of the Absurd Join Date: Jan 2005 Guild: Spirits of War Profession: Mo/W	Staves can be superior to wand/focus if you get the right ones- the only problem is getting a staff that's as good or better than a wand+focus is far more difficult than getting a decent wand and focus. Staves have an inherent energy bonus that can go up to +10 I believe, and you can add an insightful staff head for more energy- giving a higher energy bonus than a focus can, without the +15 energy, -1 energy regen modifier. In addition, you can get some nice modifiers on staves that are unavailable for wands/focuses- like +20% enchantment duration. If I want to play an enchantment-based healer, I'd much prefer to go with a 15 energy staff with 20% enchantment duration than to use a wand/focus with 12 energy and decreased casting speed and a bit of extra armor. __________________ Freyas- Spirits of War ~The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity

Mar 12, 2005, 05:21 AM // 05:21	#15
Weezer_Blue Elite Guru Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Just a Box in a Cage Guild: Hurry Up The Cakes [Oven]	he means that some staves have an already existing energy bonus without you having to customize it or waste slots of customization armour of +10 (en). __________________

Mar 12, 2005, 05:24 AM // 05:24	#16
Ensign Just Plain Fluffy Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Berkeley, CA Guild: Idiot Savants	In the last couple of months they've changed staves to have between +3 and +10 energy as a natural modifier - basically they work as a combination Wand/Focus. If there are still +energy staff heads in the game then you can easily get more energy out of a staff without the pip penalty - if Insightful staff heads have been removed, then you still have energy close to what you can get from a focus, and room for upgrades. Overall you end up giving up the ability to mix and match, plus a couple of rare mods, for a pair of upgrade slots. At least in theory - in practice finding an upgradable staff that you want to upgrade is the hardest thing in the game. Peace, -CxE __________________ Don't argue with idiots. They bring you to their level and beat you with experience.

Mar 12, 2005, 05:30 AM // 05:30	#17
Weezer_Blue Elite Guru Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Just a Box in a Cage Guild: Hurry Up The Cakes [Oven]	Attribute wise it has been determined that staves are just as good if not better than wands, but what about strategy wise? Would it be just as easy to use the focus trick that the neverending well of knowledge and useful tricks has posted with a staff rather than a wand + focus? __________________

Mar 14, 2005, 10:06 AM // 10:06	#18
FrogDevourer on a GW break until C4 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In your shadow Guild: Servants of Fortuna	As mentioned by Charles, finding a perfect staff is very hard but they can have very good mods and some custom components are quite helpful. Like Freyas, my monk used to rely on a +17 energy (base+head) +17% enchant duration (grip). It was very useful. Much more than a basic wand/focus combination. For a spell caster who uses his weapon for attack, I'd probably pick a wand/focus because wands with top lvl damage and energy mod are easier to find than good staves. __________________

Mar 14, 2005, 04:16 PM // 16:16	#19
FluidFox Banned Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In a box with a Keyboard. (cst)	I get the feeling that after GW has been out for several months, you will see more people running around with a Staff... in theory they are better than a focus+wand. It's just that in practice you'll almost never find one that will be. But once you do... I bet you wouldn't hesitate to use it. People will just need to have time to find that one staff in 7000 that is actually worth using.

Mar 15, 2005, 01:56 AM // 01:56	#20
Weezer_Blue Elite Guru Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Just a Box in a Cage Guild: Hurry Up The Cakes [Oven]	perhaps they'll be more common in some of the missions we haven't seen yet? __________________