Both can be used as quarterstaves, but neither can be used as the other by RAW. If you have a multiclassed druid/wizard, ask your DM to make sure they’re okay with you doubling up like that. Technically not within the rules, but it’s an extremely reasonable allowance.
As a DM, I might allow a druid/wizard multiclassed character to use one for both, with the caveat that the PC must use an action or two to convert said staff from one use to the other. It would depend on the player, though. I wouldn’t allow it for someone who had a history of power gaming or rules exploitation. My current wizard player, who is brand-new to D&D, however, I would allow to use the conversion action idea.
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I live with several severe autoimmune conditions. If I don’t get back to you right away, it’s probably because I’m not feeling well.
So is the Wooden Staff being able to be used as a Quarterstaff smeplace in RAW?
The DMG, "Treasure" chapter, section on "Staffs," "Unless a staff’s description says otherwise, a staff can be used as a quarterstaff."
Note: some people interpret that as only applying to magic staves, like "staff of power" or whatever, not to basic focuses. That seems myopic to me. (There's also some old tweets or other communications from designers saying it applies to basic staves, too.)
The process of making a staff into a spell focus is different between the two, and the base staff for the druidic focus needs to be wooden, but it is feasible to craft a staff that functions as both an arcane focus and a druidic focus.
Magical staves always function as both, even when they're listed as magical quarterstaves rather than as a spell focus staff.
The process of making a staff into a spell focus is different between the two, and the base staff for the druidic focus needs to be wooden, but it is feasible to craft a staff that functions as both an arcane focus and a druidic focus.
Magical staves always function as both, even when they're listed as magical quarterstaves rather than as a spell focus staff.
Okay. You are replying to a post using the 2014 rules. Are you adding a response based on the 2014 rules or the 2024 rules? The rules have changed.
2014
As kenclary said, the Staffs section says "Unless a staff's description says otherwise, a staff can be used as a quarterstaff." It does not specify magic or nonmagical. Certain specific staffs specify that they can be used as magic quarterstaffs. There is no text here that allows a staff to be used as spellcasting focus.
There is no clear, explicit directive whether magic staffs in general could be used as Arcane or Druidic Spellcasting Foci. I remember that if the item description did not specify, I judged based on materials. Explicit wood meant it was fine for a Druidic focus, others on a case-by-case basis. All were available as Arcane Foci.
If there were any tweets as kenclary mentioned, they did not make it into the Sage Advice Compendium and are not RAW.
Items in the Staff category 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. A staff weighs between 2 and 7 pounds and serves well as a walking stick or cane.
Unless its description notes otherwise, a staff can be used as a nonmagical Quarterstaff and an Arcane Focus.
So, unless a magic staff says otherwise, it can be used as an Arcane focus and not a Druidic Focus. In 2024, it can be used as a nonmagical quarterstaff but a few function as magical quarterstaffs.
Druidic Foci and Arcane Foci both list staff as options for 5 GP but these are separate items. I think it reasonable to ask to pay the cost for both (10 GP total) and get a dual focus.
Izziah if it's interesting for you, there are a couple of threads, using 2024 rules, about differences between a Druidic Focus, an Arcane Focus, Staffs, Quarterstaffs, their costs... and also about allowing a magic quarterstaff qualifying as Druidic Focus.
Would a Druidic Focus "Wooden Staff" also work as an Arcane Focus "Staff"?
"Staff" the Arcane Focus also can be used as a Quarterstaff, could the Druidic Focus "Wooden Staff" be used as one too?
All me Hombews:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WUnYn1tRvbkKOPpAkWOVlpe2S3JVLpV_LDOVzKG2DgQ/edit?usp=drivesdk
I don’t see why not.
Both can be used as quarterstaves, but neither can be used as the other by RAW. If you have a multiclassed druid/wizard, ask your DM to make sure they’re okay with you doubling up like that. Technically not within the rules, but it’s an extremely reasonable allowance.
Sure can!
I don't see why that wouldn't work, but Saga is right about it not being explicitly allowed.
I'd allow it, your DM might as well.
As a DM, I might allow a druid/wizard multiclassed character to use one for both, with the caveat that the PC must use an action or two to convert said staff from one use to the other. It would depend on the player, though. I wouldn’t allow it for someone who had a history of power gaming or rules exploitation. My current wizard player, who is brand-new to D&D, however, I would allow to use the conversion action idea.
I live with several severe autoimmune conditions. If I don’t get back to you right away, it’s probably because I’m not feeling well.
So is the Wooden Staff being able to be used as a Quarterstaff smeplace in RAW?
All me Hombews:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WUnYn1tRvbkKOPpAkWOVlpe2S3JVLpV_LDOVzKG2DgQ/edit?usp=drivesdk
The DMG, "Treasure" chapter, section on "Staffs," "Unless a staff’s description says otherwise, a staff can be used as a quarterstaff."
Note: some people interpret that as only applying to magic staves, like "staff of power" or whatever, not to basic focuses. That seems myopic to me. (There's also some old tweets or other communications from designers saying it applies to basic staves, too.)
The process of making a staff into a spell focus is different between the two, and the base staff for the druidic focus needs to be wooden, but it is feasible to craft a staff that functions as both an arcane focus and a druidic focus.
Magical staves always function as both, even when they're listed as magical quarterstaves rather than as a spell focus staff.
Okay. You are replying to a post using the 2014 rules. Are you adding a response based on the 2014 rules or the 2024 rules? The rules have changed.
2014
As kenclary said, the Staffs section says "Unless a staff's description says otherwise, a staff can be used as a quarterstaff." It does not specify magic or nonmagical. Certain specific staffs specify that they can be used as magic quarterstaffs. There is no text here that allows a staff to be used as spellcasting focus.
There is no clear, explicit directive whether magic staffs in general could be used as Arcane or Druidic Spellcasting Foci. I remember that if the item description did not specify, I judged based on materials. Explicit wood meant it was fine for a Druidic focus, others on a case-by-case basis. All were available as Arcane Foci.
If there were any tweets as kenclary mentioned, they did not make it into the Sage Advice Compendium and are not RAW.
2024
So, unless a magic staff says otherwise, it can be used as an Arcane focus and not a Druidic Focus. In 2024, it can be used as a nonmagical quarterstaff but a few function as magical quarterstaffs.
Druidic Foci and Arcane Foci both list staff as options for 5 GP but these are separate items. I think it reasonable to ask to pay the cost for both (10 GP total) and get a dual focus.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
Izziah if it's interesting for you, there are a couple of threads, using 2024 rules, about differences between a Druidic Focus, an Arcane Focus, Staffs, Quarterstaffs, their costs... and also about allowing a magic quarterstaff qualifying as Druidic Focus.
- Quarterstaff Questions
- Staff - Arcane Focus (resurrected from comment 13)