One of my PKs wants to use a staff and asked me what the stats would be.

I searched through the web some in search of how the staff is regarded, but did not find much. the quarterstaff is an easy made weapon and widely used. Some sources say that it is the training tool for the footsoldier, which would exclude the noble knights? So my first question to you. Would you allow the quarterstaff as a knightly weapon?

Luckily the player had made some though about the stats of the weapon and suggested: -1d6 damage, but can be used as a shield. It must be used two handed so cannot be combined with another weapon.
I am inclined to accept these, but what are your thoughts on it?

So:

Guy with a quarterstaff:
- Cheap weapon
- Damage -1d6
- Breaks on a fumble and a tie with a sword
- Counts as a shield (IN MELEE, I would say, not against arrows)
- Doubles as a walking staff (i.e. less conspicuous as a weapon)

Guy with a spear and a shield:
- Cheap weapon (combo maybe x3 the quarterstaff, but since it is like half a dozen denarii, it doesn't count in a knight's budget)
- Damage normal
- Breaks on a fumble and a tie with a sword
- Shield counts as a shield of course, both in melee and in missile combat
- Clearly a weapon combination

So yeah, I'd say that it is clearly a 'suboptimal' killing choice, but has some sociological & availability advantages. I'd say go for it.

EDIT: Also, I would allow for a change of grip:
1) Normal staff grip: as above.
2) Two-handed grip from the end: two-handed club, so +1d6 the above damage (total is normal damage) but does not give the shield bonus.

Would you allow the quarterstaff as a knightly weapon?



I would not allow it as a standard knightly weapon, but knights are just like any other people from History, they have their own personality traits, quirks, and odd habits. Such a knight would probably be subjected to some stares from other knights, maybe some joking or ill-fated comments from rivals, but who would tell him that he can't use a staff to bash some heads instead of, say, a mace? Go for it, and maybe incorporate some of the consequences into roleplay with NPCs (fun commentaries, etc).

Forgot to answer this point earlier...

I actually have a vague recollection that staff was one of the weapons even the knights trained with, but I can't remember where I read that. Also one needs to remember that the selection of weaponry of knights shifted a bit throughout the medieval period. In any case, I could very easily see quaterstaff being used as a training weapon; after all, many quarterstaff moves would be part and parcel of two-handed spear fighting (common-ish during the early 'dark ages' periods) and polearm (warhammer, halberd) styles of later periods (100 Years War, War of the Roses). So I would see no problem with a knight learning how to use a quarterstaff, although actually fighting with one in real combat would be a cause for some stares and suspicions of eccentricity, just as a guy fighting with a practice wooden sword would be an oddity. But like Gorgon said, if that floats his boat, who is going to tell him differently?

@Morien

Many of the late medieval/early rinascimento fencing manuals include staff fighting.

Thanks, Eothar. :)

My understanding is that quarterstaff is actually a peasant weapon, since the powers that be couldn't stop someone from carrying a walking stick

But as has been said, if the player wants it, the GM can decide as he wishes
I'd tell the player that it would be unusual for a knight to use a commoner's weapon
but not forbid it