2) Normally, an arcane focus staff isn't usable as a weapon. See the DMG; if an arcane staff is usable as a weapon, its entry will specifically state that it can be.
The thread was already necroed so why not...
The above is wrong, the DMG says the opposite. They always are unless their entry specifically state that it can't be.
Staffs
A magic staff is about 5 or 6 feet long. Staffs vary widely in appearance: some are of nearly equal diameter throughout and smooth, others are gnarled and twisted, some are made of wood, and others are composed of polished metal or crystal. Depending on the material, a staff weighs between 2 and 7 pounds.
Unless a staff’s description says otherwise, a staff can be used as a quarterstaff.
2) Normally, an arcane focus staff isn't usable as a weapon. See the DMG; if an arcane staff is usable as a weapon, its entry will specifically state that it can be.
The thread was already necroed so why not...
The above is wrong, the DMG says the opposite. They always are unless their entry specifically state that it can't be.
Staffs
A magic staff is about 5 or 6 feet long. Staffs vary widely in appearance: some are of nearly equal diameter throughout and smooth, others are gnarled and twisted, some are made of wood, and others are composed of polished metal or crystal. Depending on the material, a staff weighs between 2 and 7 pounds.
Unless a staff’s description says otherwise, a staff can be used as a quarterstaff.
Be careful. That description is for magic items. It does not necessarily apply to mundane, non magic item staffs. Many DMs would treat a non-magical staff as a quarterstaff, but that isn't a guarantee.
Ruby of the Warmage can be used to make a spell focus out of a weapon, through shield training feat any class can use shields as their arcane focus just like clerics who embed their holy symbols to their shields. However two weapons thing is a bit more dauntingi due to possible misuse, that is mechanically not allowed except for quarterstaves which also have arcane focus embedded into them(like a gem or a crystal globe)... Your player can hold a stave and a sword, gandalf style perhaps? (I know this is an old subject but these questions still make people think) as he also has war caster feat, somatic components are not an issue afterall... Personally, prefer using spear and shield with my wizard after taking shield proficiency, (and get my self a shield with some crystals embedded on it, i also put some diamonds and pearls with specific costs embedded on it's interrior for more classy look and as some spells require them as material components, so in effect it becomes a "shield of arcane practicioner")
Ruby of the Warmage can be used to make a spell focus out of a weapon, through shield training feat any class can use shields as their arcane focus just like clerics who embed their holy symbols to their shields. However two weapons thing is a bit more dauntingi due to possible misuse, that is mechanically not allowed except for quarterstaves which also have arcane focus embedded into them(like a gem or a crystal globe)... Your player can hold a stave and a sword, gandalf style perhaps? (I know this is an old subject but these questions still make people think) as he also has war caster feat, somatic components are not an issue afterall... Personally, prefer using spear and shield with my wizard after taking shield proficiency, (and get my self a shield with some crystals embedded on it, i also put some diamonds and pearls with specific costs embedded on it's interrior for more classy look and as some spells require them as material components, so in effect it becomes a "shield of arcane practicioner")
Did you type "spear and shield" by mistake? Wizards don't get Spear proficiency.
Also the Shield Training feat never left UA as far as I know.
Nope in the current campaign i am playing a level 3 wizard level 1 cleric (thus got simple weapons from cleric, which does not matter, as quarterstaff does the same job even if you do not have cleric level)...I'll probably get shield training feat next level so that i can use shield as both spell focus and holy symbol(was planning a character like "avowed" of Deneir, but i guess i'll improvise)... I am not playing AL. And tbh fashioning a staff as spell focus and holding a shield always worked after dipping in an other class for a level, no?
Anyway my purpose was to answer ops question... So, yes you can have an item like ruby of the warmage or a magical staff that also works as spell focus, as well as having other properties(stored spells, ac bonus, attack/damage bonus etc)
I don’t know if this has been addressed yet, but all the character needs now is a Ruby of the War Mage. It requires attunement and 10 minutes time where the character will have to hold the RotWM to a weapon, merging them. This can be done during a short rest and will then allow the character to use this weapon as an Arcane Focus as well. Keep in mind that material components that have a gold cost attached cannot be compensated for using the focus.
I am a halfling warlock and I have a crystal arcane focus that is magically bound to my quarterstaff. It just kind of hovers an inch from the end of the staff.
I am a halfling warlock and I have a crystal arcane focus that is magically bound to my quarterstaff. It just kind of hovers an inch from the end of the staff.
I mean, you can say that for your table and if the DM is okay with it that’s fine, but RAW that’s not a valid arrangement. You need to hold a focus in your hand unless a feature specifically says otherwise to use it when casting.
The staff allows the crystal to float, but technically by RAW it doesn’t count as “in your hand” at the same time. A semantic fine point, but relevant to the rules discussion.
That allows an object to float 1 inch from the staff's tip and slowly spin.
That doesn't mean that the floating object is considered to be held or can be used in the same way as if you were holding the object.
Also it is a little beside the point debating whether you can attach an arcane focus to a staff and then still use it as an arcane focus. Staffs already are arcane focuses and can be used as a Quarterstaff. See https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dmg/treasure#Staffs
Mechanically you could just be using a staff and for flavor say you are using a crystal floating at the tip.
That is odd. It has always been the case at tables in which I've played that this specific magic item allows the, already magical, weapon to become an Arcane focus as well, strictly due to the property previously mentioned. Perhaps it may have been an iteration of interpretation my DM allowed and I adopted as a principle.
EDIT: I will add that, even in a technical sense, it still reads that you're wielding/holding/donning the focus to me. But now after writing this I believe I was mistaken per RAW and should have said RAI perhaps.
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https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/27115-ruby-of-the-war-mage
The thread was already necroed so why not...
The above is wrong, the DMG says the opposite. They always are unless their entry specifically state that it can't be.
Be careful. That description is for magic items. It does not necessarily apply to mundane, non magic item staffs. Many DMs would treat a non-magical staff as a quarterstaff, but that isn't a guarantee.
Ruby of the Warmage can be used to make a spell focus out of a weapon, through shield training feat any class can use shields as their arcane focus just like clerics who embed their holy symbols to their shields. However two weapons thing is a bit more dauntingi due to possible misuse, that is mechanically not allowed except for quarterstaves which also have arcane focus embedded into them(like a gem or a crystal globe)... Your player can hold a stave and a sword, gandalf style perhaps? (I know this is an old subject but these questions still make people think) as he also has war caster feat, somatic components are not an issue afterall... Personally, prefer using spear and shield with my wizard after taking shield proficiency, (and get my self a shield with some crystals embedded on it, i also put some diamonds and pearls with specific costs embedded on it's interrior for more classy look and as some spells require them as material components, so in effect it becomes a "shield of arcane practicioner")
Did you type "spear and shield" by mistake? Wizards don't get Spear proficiency.
Also the Shield Training feat never left UA as far as I know.
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Nope in the current campaign i am playing a level 3 wizard level 1 cleric (thus got simple weapons from cleric, which does not matter, as quarterstaff does the same job even if you do not have cleric level)...I'll probably get shield training feat next level so that i can use shield as both spell focus and holy symbol(was planning a character like "avowed" of Deneir, but i guess i'll improvise)... I am not playing AL. And tbh fashioning a staff as spell focus and holding a shield always worked after dipping in an other class for a level, no?
Anyway my purpose was to answer ops question... So, yes you can have an item like ruby of the warmage or a magical staff that also works as spell focus, as well as having other properties(stored spells, ac bonus, attack/damage bonus etc)
I don’t know if this has been addressed yet, but all the character needs now is a Ruby of the War Mage. It requires attunement and 10 minutes time where the character will have to hold the RotWM to a weapon, merging them. This can be done during a short rest and will then allow the character to use this weapon as an Arcane Focus as well. Keep in mind that material components that have a gold cost attached cannot be compensated for using the focus.
Someone probably said this, but there is always the Ruby of the War Mage.
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I am a halfling warlock and I have a crystal arcane focus that is magically bound to my quarterstaff. It just kind of hovers an inch from the end of the staff.
I mean, you can say that for your table and if the DM is okay with it that’s fine, but RAW that’s not a valid arrangement. You need to hold a focus in your hand unless a feature specifically says otherwise to use it when casting.
The staff of adornment, RAW, allows this.
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The staff allows the crystal to float, but technically by RAW it doesn’t count as “in your hand” at the same time. A semantic fine point, but relevant to the rules discussion.
That allows an object to float 1 inch from the staff's tip and slowly spin.
That doesn't mean that the floating object is considered to be held or can be used in the same way as if you were holding the object.
Also it is a little beside the point debating whether you can attach an arcane focus to a staff and then still use it as an arcane focus. Staffs already are arcane focuses and can be used as a Quarterstaff. See https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dmg/treasure#Staffs
Mechanically you could just be using a staff and for flavor say you are using a crystal floating at the tip.
That is odd. It has always been the case at tables in which I've played that this specific magic item allows the, already magical, weapon to become an Arcane focus as well, strictly due to the property previously mentioned. Perhaps it may have been an iteration of interpretation my DM allowed and I adopted as a principle.
EDIT: I will add that, even in a technical sense, it still reads that you're wielding/holding/donning the focus to me. But now after writing this I believe I was mistaken per RAW and should have said RAI perhaps.
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Watch DnD Shorts on youtube.
Chief Innovationist, Acquisitions Inc. The Series 2
Successfully completed the Tomb of Horrors module (as part of playing Tomb of Annihilation) with no party deaths!