Are staffs are inferior to wands? - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

cce

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2005

11 Mar 2005 at 18:50 - 1

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

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

11 Mar 2005 at 18:55 - 2

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..

ratatass

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2005

New Mexico

11 Mar 2005 at 19:25 - 4

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

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2005

London

Servants of Fortuna

E/Me

11 Mar 2005 at 19:31 - 5

You can upgrade staffs!

Weezer_Blue

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

Just a Box in a Cage

Hurry Up The Cakes [Oven]

11 Mar 2005 at 19:39 - 6

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

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

11 Mar 2005 at 19:43 - 7

i dont think you can upgrade a focus either.

Ensign

Just Plain Fluffy

Join Date: Dec 2004

Berkeley, CA

Idiot Savants

11 Mar 2005 at 19:46 - 8

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

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

Minnesota

Beguine Guild [BGN]

11 Mar 2005 at 19:51 - 9

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).

Scaphism

Elite Guru

Join Date: Jan 2005

Idiot Savants [iQ]

11 Mar 2005 at 20:41 - 11

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

Rogue Agent

Join Date: Feb 2005

Surfers Paradise

11 Mar 2005 at 23:34 - 12

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

Freyas

Champion of the Absurd

Join Date: Jan 2005

Spirits of War

Mo/W

12 Mar 2005 at 04:49 - 13

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

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2005

New Mexico

12 Mar 2005 at 05:00 - 14

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

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

Just a Box in a Cage

Hurry Up The Cakes [Oven]

12 Mar 2005 at 05:21 - 15

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

Just Plain Fluffy

Join Date: Dec 2004

Berkeley, CA

Idiot Savants

12 Mar 2005 at 05:24 - 16

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

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

Just a Box in a Cage

Hurry Up The Cakes [Oven]

12 Mar 2005 at 05:30 - 17

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

on a GW break until C4

Join Date: Feb 2005

In your shadow

Servants of Fortuna

14 Mar 2005 at 10:06 - 18

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

Banned

Join Date: Feb 2005

In a box with a Keyboard. (cst)

14 Mar 2005 at 16:16 - 19

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

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

Just a Box in a Cage

Hurry Up The Cakes [Oven]

15 Mar 2005 at 01:56 - 20

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

Dragonne

Academy Page

Join Date: Jan 2005

15 Mar 2005 at 03:37 - 21

I agree that as it stands it's simply too hard to find a staff that equates to a decent wand/focus combo. I'd rather use a staff myself, but I can't find one good enough.

Maiyn

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

Canada

I Excentrix I [PuNK]

22 May 2005 at 11:29 - 22

I really think wands are superior honestly. Even without the upgrades. Why?

Well.. what is the most energy you can gain from a staff? as far as I've seen it's the same as a focus item unless you upgrade, which can be expensive to find those high bonus energy staff heads. Good luck, heh.

Secondly, wands also give energy bonus/faster cast/faster recharge.. and I really think that although you lose with the -1 energy regeneration.. it is definitely worth it to have like 95 energy. That is sick.

So definitely think that wands/focus items are better. ALSO -- PLEASE DON'T CUSTOMIZE GODLY WANDS..

Oh my god. Someone tried to sell me an insane wand that I would've paid 20k for but it was customized and I could've cried (been looking forever now) .. so please please.. don't customize good wands. the 20% is not worth it.

Shadow_Avenger

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Stolen Dreams

R/Me

22 May 2005 at 12:01 - 23

The +en bonus's for staves and focus's are about the same.
Staffs have slightly better damage output that wands.
You get upgrade parts for staffs, extra energy, defence bonus etc which you dont with focus / wands.
A good focus will have slightly better def or energy bonus as a rule of thumb (1-2 points usually)
Both come with imrove caster speeds etc.
It is down to personal choice.

JAGeAkurei

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

The Dark Side of The Moon

DEUS

22 May 2005 at 13:35 - 24

I use a staff, and yes insight heads are still in game hehe

Storn

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

22 May 2005 at 13:56 - 25

I prefer a wand/focus combo.

But right now, my El is runnign around with a staff simply because the damage is better, and the + Energy of the staff is equal or better than any focus I currently own... and I haven't found a decent wand.

I'm sure once I find a decent wand I'll switch back to wand/focus.

Xellos

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Mar 2005

No Idea

22 May 2005 at 14:04 - 26

Here's a question, if you have 20% on recharge for your foci and wand, do they stack? Or do they even apply twice?

The three possible answers I think can happen are:

1) Stack: therefore 40% recharge.

2) Apply twice: Dice rolls 20%, then 20% again.

3) Apply once: Dice rolls 20%.

Depending on what the answer is, wands/foci can be considered better. I think that applying twice is still better then what a staff can give if you are not a enchantment based caster. But applying once would mean it's a joke for some casters.

Shadow_Avenger

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Stolen Dreams

R/Me

22 May 2005 at 14:29 - 27

I very much doubt they stack, very little if anything else does.
Runes definately don't and neither do upgrades. (only one per weapon / armour)

MasterDinadan

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

The Zaishen Force

Me/E

22 May 2005 at 14:29 - 28

I use staves quite a lot actually. You get a little bit less energy than is possible with a wand+focus, but as an elementalist with energy storage, I already have plenty of energy and don't need a lot more of it. For this reason, I think staves are most commonly used by elementalists with energy storage, or maybe that's just me? It's hard to get a good staff, but if you do they are definatly more useful than a wand and focus.

HotSnack

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2005

22 May 2005 at 15:02 - 29

A staff of enchanting beats a wand/focus combo any day of the week, even if you only use one enchantment, the mod will make most enchantment last an additional 1-2 secs, which would be the same as adding a point into the required attribute.

Of course the problem that has been previously mentioned is that you can get a good wand/focus combo long before you can get a good staff. Thankfully collectors do offer staffs with good natural mods, though I have yet to find one that gives 20% increased casting speed/recharge time for Healing Prayers.

pfb

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

UK

22 May 2005 at 16:03 - 30

my current staff :

dropped off a Grawl Udolyte on one of the bridges outside Ranik...for a level 6 character Me/Ne (Me uses Inspiration magic) I have yet to find a better wand/offhand combo...

/edit - did have a purple grim cesta drop as well in that area - +6 energy with a -5 energy and +4 armour bonus...very useful

Shadow_Avenger

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Stolen Dreams

R/Me

22 May 2005 at 16:34 - 31

Thats a pretty nice staff

Khrysyl

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

22 May 2005 at 16:36 - 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfb

my current staff :

dropped off a Grawl Udolyte on one of the bridges outside Ranik...for a level 6 character Me/Ne (Me uses Inspiration magic) I have yet to find a better wand/offhand combo...

/edit - did have a purple grim cesta drop as well in that area - +6 energy with a -5 energy and +4 armour bonus...very useful

/drool
What my E/M couldn't do with that staff!

Kershent

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

22 May 2005 at 17:52 - 33

I use a staff only because it looks WAY cooler than a wand/focus. I had some trouble finding a decent staff, though. In the end, I found an incredible one from a collector outside of Augury Rock. I think the staff is 11-20, +10 energy, 20% chance to improve domination casting time and recharge time. I'm very happy with it, but I havn't found a staff head upgrade yet.

OrangeArrow

Flame Bait

Join Date: Mar 2005

Mass

Mo/Me

22 May 2005 at 18:24 - 34

most of the collecetor offers staves, wands and focuses with 20% chance of faster skill recharge and 20% chance of faster casting time for a single attribute line similar to the pvp starter items.

A good staff isnt that hard to find a great natural staff and cupgrade items to upgrade them are

Juhanah

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

in my house

22 May 2005 at 20:58 - 35

I think it's possible to have good wand. I use a wand and a flame artifact and i wouldnt change them for a staff unless i find something very good.

crank

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

22 May 2005 at 23:55 - 36

staff user

Anariel

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

Chicago

Left For Dead

Mo/E

23 May 2005 at 05:26 - 37

Where is the collector that gives these staves? ><

Trenchsoul

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

Join Nubcaek Stallion, now.

Nubcaek Stallion

W/Mo

23 May 2005 at 05:46 - 38

Hands down, staves are the best weapon for low level caster characters. The staves that drop commonly in the last few missions and even more so in UW and Fissure have no attribute requirements. So you're able to get +10 energy and 6-10 damage (or so) as soon as you're able to access your stash.

Juhanah

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

in my house

23 May 2005 at 06:25 - 39

Quote:

Originally Posted by crank

staff user

hehe that's the kind of staff i'd change my wand for. I'd even change to Air magic to use it since its been a couple of day im thinking about changing to either earth or air

But the only good staves i have found so far were for N/Me ~ Me/N.(require curses and have mods for illusion magic)

Phaedrus

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

23 May 2005 at 09:28 - 40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maiyn

I really think wands are superior honestly. Even without the upgrades. Why?

Well.. what is the most energy you can gain from a staff? as far as I've seen it's the same as a focus item unless you upgrade, which can be expensive to find those high bonus energy staff heads. Good luck, heh.

Secondly, wands also give energy bonus/faster cast/faster recharge.. and I really think that although you lose with the -1 energy regeneration.. it is definitely worth it to have like 95 energy. That is sick.

My staff is +10 +5 (net +15) energy, +19% enchantment durating, 9% chance of fast casting, 9% chance of fast skill recharge.

I have yet to find a wand or focus which can offer me all of these things without decreasing regen or being limited to one type of skill/spell.

[ ]

Shamblemonkee

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

UK, Bristol

Gwen's Red Capes [Gwen]

Mo/R

23 May 2005 at 10:20 - 41

I haven't found a decent wand in ages (well one better than my current stave)

My N/Me15 has a Purple (can't remember the name) 8-13 dmg +8 energy +4 armor and a chance to reduce skill recharge times.

I've found munc better foci but all have required attributes I don't have, like wise with wands. It's pretty frustrating.

taion

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

Pasadena, California

Mo/

23 May 2005 at 10:56 - 42

The main attraction of the wand/focus combo is that it's relatively easy to get an optimal combination, especially since the late-game collectors give perfectly tweaked wands and foci. To reiterate earlier posts, staves have greater potential and customisability, but it's something you'd have to work for.