The Magic-User’s Turn: Random Table of +1 Staves

Ah, the Magic Staff. I’m not sure where or when the Staff became the iconic weapon of the Fantasy Mage. Gandalf, maybe? In the European Grimoires, there are dozens of implements, tools, weapons, etc., which the Magus must make, consecrate and utilize. In the later Hermetic Traditions, the Wand, Cup, Dagger and Pentacle of the Tarot/Elemental scheme are traditional, with A Wand usually being the preeminent weapon and a few other tidbits thrown in. Like a Sword, often used in rites of Evocation (that’s Conjuration/Summoning in D&D terminology.)

I’m not nearly as conversant with Wicca and Neo-Paganism, but there may be some tie-ins there.

If I recall correctly, some staves are utilized in the Key of Solomon, along with a whole toolkits worth of consecrated toys. Maybe there’s something in Agrippa? Regardless, it seems to be an association made in recent times and to be largely confined to literature. Did any of the old Authurian stories, feature Merlin with a staff?

Ah, Moses had a Rod. Osiris had his crook (the whole shepherd thing ties in, I think.)That’s close. There may be some other Biblical, Qabalistic, Egyptian, etc., references which I’m not recalling, that are relevant as well.

Regardless, I like the Staff, as well as the imagery and symbolism associated with the Old School D&D Magic-User. Mr. Gygax did a fine job, weaving various strands of information and imagination, to create the Kick-ass, Vancian casting, Staff wielding Magic-User of Dungeons & Dragons.

So, here’s ten Magical Staves, for the low-level MU in your campaign. Once again, I’ll be using Labyrinth Lord/AEC as a basis for the rules. I rarely use the “Charge” model for Staves, so none of these will be powered in that fashion. I still have at least one more Swords post to go, but plan on stopping at +4. At the level where I would give out a +5 sword, that final little plus is totally superfluous and the +4’s are bad-ass enough. Now, for the Staves!

The following is declared Open Gaming Content.

1. Staves of the Abyssal Convocation

The Staff is made of a rich, cream colored wood, highly polished and burned into the wood are characters in an abyssal language, forming blasphemous words, which run in a spiral from the top of the Staff, to the bottom.

Created by an order of Magi, dedicated to working with certain Demonic Princes, these Staves were created for the use of their apprentices, as a means of both empowerment and to further bind them to their master’s schemes.

There are only 12 of these known to exist and each one is unique in both appearance and powers.

The Staff will add +1 to each die when a damage dealing spell is cast. It can cast the following spells, 1/day: Magic Missile, Darkness Globe, Scare.

2. The Old Wooden Staff

Just a simple, gnarly, wooden staff, created by an unknown mage.

The Staff is completely unheard of and might be found in the lair of an unintelligent beast, waiting to once again be brought into the world of men.

The Staff will store Three spell levels. In addition, the Staff will vibrate, when the head is pointing towards True North.

3. Blackoak Blaster

The staff is Made of lightening struck oak and features char markings, which have formed themselves into sigils of power.

The first magic item created by Azmenon, a mage who enjoyed a certain amount of local fame, the Staff was stolen by a henchman and has been making the rounds, as it were, for decades.

1/day, the Staff can cast a 6d6 Lightning Bolt. 3/day, on a successful To Hit, the Staff will deliver an Electrical Charge, doing 2d6 points of damage to the target. The Staff will also absorb and neutralize half the damage of any Electrical attacks, aimed at the wielder.

4. Mama’s Boomstick

An iron staff, featuring flecks of rust, which shift, form and reform themselves into various sigils.

Created by Mama Pearl, an ancient Mage and Chef, the Boomstick was taken in battle by the Lich Bezimir. Unable to unlock all of its secrets, he sent it out into the world, occasionally scrying on the current wielder, to see if the means of accessing the items deeper powers have been found.

1/day, the Staff can release a 6d6 Fire ball. It can cast Manipulate Fire, an unlimited number of times.

Any deeper secrets of the Staff are left up to the LL. I think that Mama Pearl fooled Bezimir somehow and there’s really nothing else to the item. Just a convenient excuse, for having a Lich keeping tabs on the party.

5. Hairy Henry

A gnarled, wooden staff, covered in green, hairy Algae.

The Staff was created by a Demi-God, for purposes unknown.

2/day, on a successful To Hit, the victim must make a Save or some of the Algae will attach itself to his form, growing rapidly, as it begins to eat away at and replace his flesh. The victim will take 1d6 point of damage, per round. Armor will provide some protection and it will take 1d3 rounds for the Algae to work itself into the crevices and over the Armor, before it can get at the flesh, beneath. The Algae may be removed with fire, which will instantly kill it and cause another 1d4 points of damage to the victim, for each round the Algae was active. Also, a Cure Disease will do the trick. Healing spells and potions will also suffice, killing the algae and healing the victim, but unless all the damage is healed, some of the Algae will remain to continue its attack. The Magic-User must speak a Command Word to activate the power of the Staff.

6. Utility Staff

A highly polished, dark wood staff, with etched sigils, the cavities of which are filled with a fine ruby dust.

A common enough type of Staff, several variations of the design may be found.

The Staff can cast the following spells, 2/day: Detect Magic, Light, Unseen Servant, Knock. The following can be cast 1/day: Fly.

7. The Conjurer’s Trick

The staff is made of transparent, glass-like steel. It is hollow, with swirling colors, shifting and flowing, within. When the powers of the staff are invoked, the colors form themselves into sigils of power, which flash brilliantly.

The Archmage Auzur-Ghan created this Staff for his lover, Dyanita. Lost centuries ago, when the Lady delved too deeply into a dungeon, it’s current whereabouts are unknown.

2/day, the Magic-User may cast any Summon Monster spell, which he is capable of memorizing and has scribed into his spell book. 1/day, the Staff can Banish any Summoned Creature. The chance of success is the same as that of a Dispel Magic, based upon the Caster’s level or the minimum required to cast Dispel Magic, whichever is greater.

8. Staff of the Duelist

A Black Wooden Staff, topped by a Large diamond. The etched sigils, which run up and down its length, are filled with diamond dust.

This item was created by Hyumenos the Duelist, a Mage known for challenging and slaying others of his kind. The Staff is well known amongst lesser Mages and there are those who will hunt down its wielder and attempt to attain the item, though rarely in a direct fashion.

If a Magic-User Spell is cast directly at the Wielder, he may make a Save at +4 (even if a Save is not usually applicable) and if successful, the spell will rebound upon its caster, who must make a Save at his normal chance of success, or be effected by his own casting. If this latter Save is successful, the spell will then dissipate. The Staff will not so function, in the case of Spell-like abilities, or other non-Vancian forms of Magic.

1/day, the Staff may cast a Lesser Globe of Invulnerability. The Rebound effect detailed above, will not function when the Globe is utilized.

9. Yaerondin’s Support

A thick thigh bone from a Storm Giant, yellowed with age and Iron Shod on both ends.

Created by a Evil Mage from the remains of the Storm Giant Gathol the Red, the Staff has had several wielders over the centuries and rumor has it that there is a curse, which will eventually lay-low anyone who dares to carry the ghoulish trophy.

The Staff can cast Animate Dead, 1/day at 11th lvl. Each time the staff is so used, there is a 1% chance (non-cumulative) that the creatures animated will instead become Wights, who will then turn upon the wielder of the Staff.

10. Staff of Green Chaos

A lime green wooden staff, adorned with black pearls and tiny fragments of various precious stones. The headpiece is a small, circular bronze claw of metal, which grasps a glass sphere. Inside the sphere, the eye of an elf, floats inside a lime green liquid. Visually, an eyesore.

The last magic item created by the Magus of the Seven Masks, the item was last seen in the lair of a Green Dragon, some 60 years ago.

The Staff will store 5 Spell Levels. 1/day, the power of the staff may be invoked, shooting forth a green beam of force, which hits one creature automatically and necessitates a Save vs. Death at –2. If the Save is failed, the victim will suffer one of the following effects:

1. All the water in his body will turn into Green Slime.
2. His bones will turn into a green, pasty, mashed potato like substance.
3. His eyes will burst into green flames, liquefy and run down his face.
4. He will be Polymorphed into a Frog.
5. He will be turned into a Green Fleshed Berserker, with –5 to Intelligence and +5 to Strength, for 2d10 turns. He will attack anything and everything, starting with the nearest creature.
6. He will vomit forth Chlorine Gas, for 1d4 rounds. The reaction will be too violent for the victim to control and the LL should determine the direction, randomly. Afterwards, the victim will be permanently immune to Green Dragon Breath.