Staff

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Staff

A staff is a simple wooden pole which may be used as a weapon or which may be enchanted to create a magical effect. Popular amongst magic-users, staves have appeared in Ultima I, Ultima II, Ultima III, Ultima IV, Ultima V, Ultima VI, Ultima VII on the SNES, Ultima VII Part Two, and Ultima IX, as well as in the Savage Empire.

Description[edit]

Staves were prevalent in archaic Sosaria where they were were used primarily by wizards and clerics to enhance their capacity for magic. During the years of Exodus' assault, both arcane and divine spellcasters would find Yewen staves a necessary component for several spells, including such high magic as the dread invocation of the Evil One. Later, however, staves faded from use as ritual components, although they remained popular amongst Mages and shepherds as a simple means of defense.

Effectiveness of the Weapon[edit]

In the SNES version of Ultima VII and Ultima VII Part Two, staves have a damage of "6" and a reach of "3".[1]
In Ultima IX, a simple staff does between 1-9 points of damage, whilst gnarled staves specifically formulated for magical use do between 8-12 damage, and staves of Gargish make do between 30-40 points of damage.[2]

Variants[edit]

Terran Staves[edit]

In the strange years of Minax's interference with Earth's timestream, wands or staves were necessary to enact any sort of magical spell, although during this motley of eras, magic could only be cast within the confines of dungeons or towers. In this era, staves were not equipable as weapons, and could only be found amongst the holdings of slain wizards.

The Bladed Staff and the Dum-Dum[edit]

Main articles: Bladed staff, Dum-dum

Innovators interested in increasing the combative power of staves would attempt to enhance them in later years by combining them with other weapons, leading to such unique creations as the bladed staff, which added a curved scimitar-like blade to one end of a normal fighting staff; and the dum-dum, which had had both of its ends outfitted with hammers.

Black Staves[edit]

Main article: Black staff

The great Kotl civilization of the Eodon valley developed weapons known as black staves in the hopes of defending themselves from the menace of the Myrmidex, a slave race which had risen against them. Specially designed for combat against these ant-like monsters, black staves would glow with light when they detected the presence of Myrmedix warriors.

Ceremonial Staves[edit]

In addition to service as weapons and magical foci, some staves function as pieces of religious or spiritual regalia, such as Fellowship staves; which were topped with the societies emblematic trigaph; or the Serpent Staff, which was used in Ophidian culture by whomever held the office of the Great Hierophant.

Magical Staves[edit]

YewStaffU6.PNG

While many early staves filled a function as a basic magical conduit, later ages saw magical staves specifically created to enact certain magical effects. Among the earliest of such staves was the Yew staff developed by the magician Nicodemus during the Gargoyle War. This artifact was capable of holding up to ten different castings within it, which could be bound to it using the Enchant spell. Once charged, these spells could then be employed by anyone who held it.

Later on, during the early Age of Armageddon, highly potent magical weapons known as firedoom staves became popular, which could discharge massive bursts of explosive fire at their intended targets, while the last days of the Avatar saw the rise of unique instruments, such as the Staff of the Dead, which was designed specifically to combat the undead.

Lore[edit]

A six foot piece of carved ironwood that has been magically attuned, the staff sold in the weapons shop of Britain is more formidable than it seems. It is the favorite weapon of Magi.
A stout length of ironwood serves many purposes on a long travel, yet among various disciplines, such a tool, if balanced properly, is an effective weapon. In can be a prober of defenses and a sweeper of legs. Elegant in its simplicity, in the hands of a martial master, it is a lively marvel.
U9QuarterstaffIcon.png
Long ago, the gnarled staff was often a repository of magic. The traveler who approached in robes and armed with but a staff was to be treated with caution. In time, the favored channel became the spellbook which could hold more magic and send it forth with a matching speed. The gnarled staff has become a simple weapon, its end weighted and thickened by the wind-tempered woods of the Polar Circles. In the hands of a trained fighter, however, it can deliver a terrible headache.
– from Journal (Ultima IX: Ascension)

See Also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Hobbs, Sherri G. Ultima VII Part Two Clue Book (Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle). Origin Systems, Inc.: 1993. Page 63.
  2. McCubbin, Chris et al. "Weapons". Ultima IX Strategy Guide (Ultima IX: Ascension). Prima Publishing: 1999. Pages 56-61.

Weapons
Melee Weapons
Basic Melee Weapons AxeBladed staffClubCustom swordCutlassDaggerDecorative swordDum‑dumHalberdHammerJeweled weaponsKnifeMaceMain gaucheMorning starPoison daggerSaberScimitarSerpentine daggerSerpentine swordSilver swordSpearSpiked helm ☥ Spiked shield ☥ StaffSwordTwo‑handed axeTwo‑handed hammerTwo‑handed sword
Enhanced Melee Weapons Blackrock swordExotic WeaponsFire swordGlass swordGreat daggerLightning swordLightning whipMagic swordMystic WeaponsSword of defense
Ranged Weapons
Basic Ranged Weapons BlowgunBoomerangBowCrossbowIolo’s bowFlaming oilHawkMusketSiege bowSlingThrowing axeTriple crossbow
Enhanced Ranged Weapons Anachronistic weaponsFire wandInfinity bowLightning wandLightning whipMagic axeMagic boomerangMagic bowMagician’s wandStarbursts
Ammunition
Basic Ammuntion AmmunitionArrowsBoltsCannonballsSling stones
Enhanced Ammuntion Burst arrowsFire arrowsLove arrowsLucky arrowsMagic arrowsMagic boltsMana arrowsSerpent arrowsSleep arrows
Non-traditional Weapons
Non-traditional Weapons CannonCleaverDeath scytheFellowship staffFishing rodHammerHoeHoe of DestructionPickPitchforkPowder kegRakeRock hammer ☥ Rolling pin ☥ ScytheShearsShovelTongsTorchesWhip
Others
Other Weapons Weapons in Savage EmpireWeapons in Martian DreamsGlovesRope & spikes
Specific Weapons
Specific Enchanted Weapons Axe of Fire DoomAxe of Life StealingBlade of StrikingBone CrusherCudgel of EntryCrook of CharmingDeceiverErinon’s axeFiredoom staffFlame StingFrost swordGringoletHammer of DedicationJuggernaut hammerMace of Undead BaneMagebaneProtectorKorghin’s FangScimitar of Khumash‑GorSlayerSword of Poison WeaponSword of Stone StrikeStaff of the DeadWar Bow of Blood
Other Items Black swordCaliburnOphidian swordPractice swordQuickswordSerpent artifactsSerpent Staff