Spears in history were great when in mass combat - D&D is usually in smaller confined spaces with a general melee of people where spears can't be so easily wielded in one particular direction.
If the quarterstaff were as lethal as a bladed or pointed weapon, then travelers would not be allowed to carry it into town, and pious religious characters such as monks would not use it for self defense.
If the quarterstaff were as lethal as a bladed or pointed weapon, then travelers would not be allowed to carry it into town, and pious religious characters such as monks would not use it for self defense.
My guess is that the thing travellers are carrying into town is not a quarterstaff.
A quarterstaff is a thick, heavy (4 lb!) piece of wood, possibly reinforced by metal.
A walking stick is just a stick. Thinner and lighter¹ and less robust than a weapon. In combat I'd use the stats for a club.
Spears in history were great when in mass combat - D&D is usually in smaller confined spaces with a general melee of people where spears can't be so easily wielded in one particular direction.
If the quarterstaff were as lethal as a bladed or pointed weapon, then travelers would not be allowed to carry it into town, and pious religious characters such as monks would not use it for self defense.
My guess is that the thing travellers are carrying into town is not a quarterstaff.
A quarterstaff is a thick, heavy (4 lb!) piece of wood, possibly reinforced by metal.
A walking stick is just a stick. Thinner and lighter¹ and less robust than a weapon. In combat I'd use the stats for a club.
¹ Consider this at Amazon at just over 1 lb.
Spears are one of the weapons that D&D has traditionally always statted as being much less effective than it was in real life. Slings are another one.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
1d6 one hand, 1d8 two hands and thrown property . Nice weapon with a nice drawing in the new books (source):