Quarterstaff - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: variant pass

2026-04-10T08:19:24Z

variant pass

Umbire the Phantom: /* Hack'EM */ pothole

2026-03-19T05:13:54Z

‎Hack'EM: pothole

Umbire the Phantom: touch-ups

2026-03-19T05:13:36Z

touch-ups

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ copyedit

2025-03-04T19:45:17Z

‎Generation: copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: pothole, etc.

2025-02-21T04:49:12Z

pothole, etc.

Umbire the Phantom: /* notdNetHack */ nndnh

2025-01-28T03:34:38Z

‎notdNetHack: nndnh

Umbire the Phantom: /* Origin */ copyedit

2025-01-28T03:29:57Z

‎Origin: copyedit

Ion frigate: was actually thinking "from the 15 and 1600s", but that's more spoken than written

2025-01-15T08:45:36Z

was actually thinking "from the 15 and 1600s", but that's more spoken than written

Ion frigate: more wording

2025-01-15T08:21:59Z

more wording

Ion frigate: couple more copyedits, mention upcoming changes

2025-01-15T08:19:50Z

couple more copyedits, mention upcoming changes

@@ Line 61: / Line 61: @@
 In [[SporkHack]], there are [[spell staves]] for every school of magic except [[enchantment spells]]. These staves are all made of wood, and boost the cast rates of spells for their respective spell schools&mdash;this is done to make certain types of magic more viable for various casting playstyles that would have difficulty using them otherwise. The bonus given is a flat +50% spell success chance, applied after all other checks besides the check for body armor.
-* [[Staff of divination|Staves of divination]] aid in the casting of [[divination spell]]s while wielded.
+* [[Staff of divination (SporkHack)|Staves of divination]] aid in the casting of [[divination spell]]s while wielded.
-* [[Staff of escape|Staves of escape]] aid in the casting of [[escape spell]]s while wielded.
+* [[Staff of escape (SporkHack)|Staves of escape]] aid in the casting of [[escape spell]]s while wielded.
-* [[Staff of healing|Staves of healing]] aid in the casting of [[healing spell]]s while wielded.
+* [[Staff of healing (SporkHack)|Staves of healing]] aid in the casting of [[healing spell]]s while wielded.
-* [[Staff of holiness|Staves of holiness]] aid in the casting of [[clerical spell]]s while wielded.
+* [[Staff of holiness (SporkHack)|Staves of holiness]] aid in the casting of [[clerical spell]]s while wielded.
-* [[Staff of matter|Staves of matter]] aid in the casting of [[matter spell]]s while wielded.
+* [[Staff of matter (SporkHack)|Staves of matter]] aid in the casting of [[matter spell]]s while wielded.
 * [[Staff of battle|Staves of battle]] aid in the casting of [[attack spell]]s while wielded.
@@ Line 97: / Line 97: @@
 ===notdNetHack===
-In addition to dNetHack details, [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]] add [[The Poplar Punisher]], an artifact quarterstaff that has +1d4 to-hit and +2d6 damage.
+In addition to dNetHack details, [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]] add [[The Poplar Punisher]], an artifact quarterstaff that has +1d4 [[to-hit]] and +2d6 damage.
 ===EvilHack===
-[[EvilHack]] incorporates the spell staves from SporkHack, with some changes made to a few of the staves:
+[[EvilHack]] incorporates the spell staves from SporkHack with several changes made&mdash;each spell staff has a different non-randomized appearance, a set [[Object materials (EvilHack)|object material]] and sometimes a different glyph color:
-* Staves of holiness are made of [[bone]].
+* [[Staff of divination (EvilHack)|staff of divination]] ({{brown|)}} wood, "wormwood staff"), which behaves as in SporkHack
-* Staves of matter are made of [[adamantine]], making them lighter compared to the other staves.
+* [[Staff of healing (EvilHack)|staff of healing]] ({{brown|)}} wood, "twisted staff"), which behaves as in SporkHack
-* The staff of battle is renamed to the staff of war, and is now made of [[iron]]&mdash;this makes it heavier than its counterparts, but also grants it an extra +d2 to-hit.
+* [[Staff of holiness (EvilHack)|staff of holiness]] ({{white|)}} [[bone]], "bone-carved staff"), which behaves as in SporkHack
-In addition, the [[base item]] of [[Magicbane]] is changed to a quarterstaff.
+EvilHack also changes the [[base item]] of [[Magicbane]] to a quarterstaff, and adds [[The Staff of the Archmagi]], an artifact [[ashwood staff]] that uses the staff skill and is created by combining Magicbane and [[Secespita]] at a [[Forge (dungeon feature)|forge]]. The ashwood staff as a base item deals more damage than a standard quarterstaff.
 ===SlashTHEM===
-In [[SlashTHEM]], in addition to SLASH'EM details, the [[Acid Mage]] and [[Electric Mage]] also start with a blessed +1 quarterstaff. SlashTHEM introduces [[artifact weapon]] quarterstaves as well:
+In [[SlashTHEM]], in addition to SLASH'EM details, the [[Acid Mage]] and [[Electric Mage]] also start with a blessed +1 quarterstaff. SlashTHEM adds some artifact quarterstaves as well:
 * [[Shimmerstaff]] is an artifact silver-capped staff and the first guaranteed [[sacrifice gift]] for the [[Bard/SlashTHEM|Bard]].
@@ Line 117: / Line 119: @@
 * [[The Staff of Withering]] is an artifact quarterstaff and the [[Lunatic]] quest artifact.
-SlashTHEM also incorporates the Noble role, with the adventuring wizard and his party serving the same roles.
+SlashTHEM also incorporates the [[Noble/SlashTHEM|Noble role]], with the adventuring wizard and his party serving the same roles.
 ===Hack'EM===
-[[Hack'EM]] incorporates spell staves as implemented in EvilHack, with some additional changes made:
+[[Hack'EM]] incorporates spell staves from SporkHack and older versions of EvilHack, with some additional changes made:
 * Staves of matter are made of [[mithril]], as in earlier versions of EvilHack.
-* The staff of holiness is replaced with the [[staff of necromancy]], due to using SLASH'EM spell school categories. Staves of necromancy are made of bone.
+* The staff of holiness is replaced with the [[Staff of necromancy (Hack'EM)|staff of necromancy]], due to changes in spell school categorization that remove clerical spells. Staves of necromancy are made of bone.
-Some artifact weapons additionally use the quarterstaff skill, and have their [[base item]] changed from other variants:
+Some artifacts additionally use the quarterstaff skill, inlcuding one that has their [[base item]] changed:
 * [[The Staff of Rot]] is a staff of necromancy that deals [[withering]] damage actively and passively.

@@ Line 128: / Line 128: @@
 * [[The Staff of Rot]] is a staff of necromancy that deals [[withering]] damage actively and passively.
-* [[Firewall]] is changed from SLASH'EM to be a staff of divination that grants [[fire resistance]] and deals fire damage, and is the first sacrifice gift for [[Flame Mage/Hack'EM|Flame Mages]].
+* [[Firewall (Hack'EM)|Firewall]] is changed from SLASH'EM to be a staff of divination that grants [[fire resistance]] and deals fire damage, and is the first sacrifice gift for [[Flame Mage/Hack'EM|Flame Mages]].
 * [[Circe's Witchstaff]] is a staff of matter that can turn enemies into pigs.
 * The [[Drowsing Rod]] is a staff of healing that can put enemies to [[sleep]] with its sleeping gas attack, and is the first sacrifice gift for Healers.

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
    |material=wood
 }}
 A '''quarterstaff''' (plural '''quarterstaffs''' or '''quarterstaves''') is a type of [[weapon]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is [[two-handed]] and made of [[wood]], and simply appears as a [[staff]] when unidentified.
@@ Line 20: / Line 19: @@
 [[Wizard]]s start the game with a [[blessed]] +1 quarterstaff.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|162|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-Quarterstaves make up {{frac|11|1000}} (1.1%) of all randomly-generated weapons. General [[store]]s, used armor dealerships and antique weapon outlets can stock quarterstaves.
+Quarterstaves make up {{frac|11|1000}} (1.1%) of all weapons randomly generated on the ground, in general [[shop]]s or as [[death drop]]s. Used armor dealerships and antique weapon outlets can also stock quarterstaves.
-[[Arch-lich]]es have a {{frac|2|9}} chance of being generated with a quarterstaff, but lack any weapon attacks and so will not use it in combat.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|727|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/monst.c|1538|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+[[Arch-lich]]es have a {{frac|2|9}} chance of being [[generated with]] a quarterstaff, but they lack any weapon attacks and so will not use it in combat.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|727|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/monst.c|1538|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-[[Player monster]]s, including those on the [[Astral Plane]], have a chance slightly lower than 1% of generating with a quarterstaff as their initial weapon before role-based replacements.{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|155|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment={{frac|2}} to get a random weapon - the designated range of objects covers weapons from the spear to the bullwhip inclusively in objects.c, and uses normal generation odds}} [[Healer (player monster)|Healers]] have a {{frac|3|4}} chance of their initial weapon being made into a quarterstaff, while [[Wizard (player monster)|wizards]], including Newt from the [[Wizard quest]], have a {{frac|3|8}} chance for their weapon to be a quarterstaff.{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|188|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|245|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+[[Player monster]]s, including those on the [[Astral Plane]], have a chance slightly lower than 1% of generating with a quarterstaff as their initial weapon before role-based replacements.{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|155|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment={{frac|2}} to get a random weapon&mdash;the designated range of objects covers weapons from the spear to the bullwhip inclusively in objects.c, and uses normal generation odds}} [[Healer (player monster)|Healers]] have a {{frac|3|4}} chance of their initial weapon being made into a quarterstaff, while [[Wizard (player monster)|wizards]], including Newt from the [[Wizard quest]], have a {{frac|3|8}} chance for their weapon to be a quarterstaff.{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|188|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|245|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 [[Wood golem]]s leave behind a pile of 2-8 quarterstaves as a special [[death drop]] instead of a [[corpse]].{{refsrc|src/mon.c|400|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|Wood golems can also drop other wooden items alongside quarterstaves.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|e5c73d01fefff13d49d9af83a52615dfe20e2699}}, wood golems can also drop other wooden items alongside quarterstaves.}}
 ==Quarterstaff skill==
@@ Line 38: / Line 37: @@
 The quarterstaff is a more than adequate starting weapon for a Wizard, but at 1d6 damage it is much less effective for combat than other two-handed weapons (e.g., a [[battle-axe]] or [[two-handed sword]]). A Wizard in the early game may still consider enchanting theirs to survive.
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|As of {{commit|780d30eca99a607fefee8e0fc8e66692d06dfea5}}, a cursed quarterstaff does not block spellcasting. As of {{commit|780d30eca99a607fefee8e0fc8e66692d06dfea5}}, they also provide a small spellcasting bonus while wielded.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|780d30eca99a607fefee8e0fc8e66692d06dfea5}}, a cursed quarterstaff does not block spellcasting, and per {{commit|780d30eca99a607fefee8e0fc8e66692d06dfea5}}, they also provide a small spellcasting bonus while wielded.}}
 ==History==
@@ Line 49: / Line 48: @@
 A quarterstaff is a simple weapon consisting of a sturdy wooden pole, occasionally augmented with iron spikes or bands but often plain, of six to nine feet in length.  The origin of the term quarterstaff is uncertain, but Renaissance-era references to a "quarter ash staff" suggest it refers to the method of manufacture. A likely (albeit unproven) explanation is that such staves were [[Wikipedia:quartersawn|quartersawn]], or cut radially from the tree trunk: such a method produces wood with a finer and more consistent grain, making the staff stronger for use in combat.
-Despite popular media depicting quarterstaves as being used with the hands wide apart in the middle of the staff, that form is not attested before the late 1800s.  Period manuals (from the 1500s and 1600s) describe the weapon as being held with both hands close together (no more than 1.5 feet apart), at one end of the weapon - a form similar to that of a [[two-handed sword]]. Per such manuals, the weapon was used in a broadly similar manner to a sword, albeit with a focus on downward-moving cuts intended to take advantage of the weapon's great weight. Perhaps counterintuitively, quarterstaves were also effective thrusting weapons, and such usage is attested in period manuals. While they usually lacked a sharp end, the high amount of mass and force concentrated in the relatively small tip could easily break bones and incapacitate an opponent, even through armor.
+Despite popular media depicting quarterstaves as being used with the hands wide apart in the middle of the staff, that form is not attested before the late 1800s. Period manuals (from the 1500s and 1600s) describe the weapon as being held with both hands close together (no more than 1.5 feet apart) at one end of the weapon, usinga form similar to that of a [[two-handed sword]]. Per such manuals, the weapon was used in a broadly similar manner to a sword, albeit with a focus on downward-moving cuts intended to take advantage of the weapon's great weight. Perhaps counterintuitively, quarterstaves were also effective thrusting weapons, and such usage is attested in period manuals. While they usually lacked a sharp end, the high amount of mass and force concentrated in the relatively small tip could easily break bones and incapacitate an opponent, even through armor.
 In modern fantasy and other fiction, magic users are often depicted wielding staves, with said implements sometimes acting in a similar manner to [[wand]]s; indeed, early versions of ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'' as well as [[Rogue (game)|Rogue]] have magical staves and wands functioning in nearly identical manners. The wizard's starting quarterstaff in ''NetHack'' is a nod to such portrayals, and variants of ''NetHack'' may grant quarterstaves the ability to enhance casting and/or implement special staves that boost the success rate of certain spells. The reason that staves came to be associated with magic users is uncertain, but may be related to deities such as [[Hermes]] being depicted with them, as well as [[Wikipedia:Staff of office|staves of office]] that symbolized authority.
@@ Line 60: / Line 59: @@
 ===SporkHack===
-In [[SporkHack]], there are [[spell staves]] for every school of magic except [[enchantment spells]]. These staves are all made of wood, and boost the cast rates of spells for their respective spell schools - this is done to make certain types of magic more viable for various casting playstyles that would have difficulty using them otherwise. The bonus given is a flat +50% spell success chance, applied after all other checks besides the check for body armor.
+In [[SporkHack]], there are [[spell staves]] for every school of magic except [[enchantment spells]]. These staves are all made of wood, and boost the cast rates of spells for their respective spell schools&mdash;this is done to make certain types of magic more viable for various casting playstyles that would have difficulty using them otherwise. The bonus given is a flat +50% spell success chance, applied after all other checks besides the check for body armor.
 * [[Staff of divination|Staves of divination]] aid in the casting of [[divination spell]]s while wielded.
@@ Line 105: / Line 104: @@
 * Staves of holiness are made of [[bone]].
 * Staves of matter are made of [[adamantine]], making them lighter compared to the other staves.
-* The staff of battle is renamed to the staff of war, and is now made of [[iron]] - this makes it heavier than its counterparts, but also grants it an extra +d2 to-hit.
+* The staff of battle is renamed to the staff of war, and is now made of [[iron]]&mdash;this makes it heavier than its counterparts, but also grants it an extra +d2 to-hit.
 In addition, the [[base item]] of [[Magicbane]] is changed to a quarterstaff.
@@ Line 114: / Line 113: @@
 In [[SlashTHEM]], in addition to SLASH'EM details, the [[Acid Mage]] and [[Electric Mage]] also start with a blessed +1 quarterstaff. SlashTHEM introduces [[artifact weapon]] quarterstaves as well:
-* [[Shimmerstaff]] is an artifact silver-capped staff and the first guaranteed [[sacrifice gift]] for the [[Bard]].
+* [[Shimmerstaff]] is an artifact silver-capped staff and the first guaranteed [[sacrifice gift]] for the [[Bard/SlashTHEM|Bard]].
 * The [[Cudgel of Cuthbert]] is an artifact quarterstaff and the [[Chevalier]] quest artifact.
 * [[The Staff of Withering]] is an artifact quarterstaff and the [[Lunatic]] quest artifact.
@@ Line 129: / Line 128: @@
 * [[The Staff of Rot]] is a staff of necromancy that deals [[withering]] damage actively and passively.
-* [[Firewall]] is a staff of divination that grants [[fire resistance]] and deals fire damage, and is the first sacrifice gift for [[Flame Mage]]s.
+* [[Firewall]] is changed from SLASH'EM to be a staff of divination that grants [[fire resistance]] and deals fire damage, and is the first sacrifice gift for [[Flame Mage/Hack'EM|Flame Mages]].
 * [[Circe's Witchstaff]] is a staff of matter that can turn enemies into pigs.
 * The [[Drowsing Rod]] is a staff of healing that can put enemies to [[sleep]] with its sleeping gas attack, and is the first sacrifice gift for Healers.

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 ==Generation==
-All [[Wizard]]s start with a [[blessed]] +1 quarterstaff.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|162|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+[[Wizard]]s start the game with a [[blessed]] +1 quarterstaff.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|162|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-Quarterstaves make up about 1.1% of randomly generated weapons (on the floor, as [[death drop]]s, or in [[shop]]s). [[Arch-lich]]es have a {{frac|2|9}} chance of being generated with a quarterstaff, but lack any weapon attacks and so will not use it in combat.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|727|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/monst.c|1538|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+Quarterstaves make up {{frac|11|1000}} (1.1%) of all randomly-generated weapons. General [[store]]s, used armor dealerships and antique weapon outlets can stock quarterstaves.
 [[Player monster]]s, including those on the [[Astral Plane]], have a chance slightly lower than 1% of generating with a quarterstaff as their initial weapon before role-based replacements.{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|155|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment={{frac|2}} to get a random weapon - the designated range of objects covers weapons from the spear to the bullwhip inclusively in objects.c, and uses normal generation odds}} [[Healer (player monster)|Healers]] have a {{frac|3|4}} chance of their initial weapon being made into a quarterstaff, while [[Wizard (player monster)|wizards]], including Newt from the [[Wizard quest]], have a {{frac|3|8}} chance for their weapon to be a quarterstaff.{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|188|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|245|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}

@@ Line 96: / Line 96: @@
 ===notdNetHack===
-In addition to dNetHack details, [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]] adds [[the Poplar Punisher]], an artifact quarterstaff that has +1d4 to-hit and +2d6 damage.
+In addition to dNetHack details, [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]] add [[The Poplar Punisher]], an artifact quarterstaff that has +1d4 to-hit and +2d6 damage.
 ===EvilHack===

@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 Despite popular media depicting quarterstaves as being used with the hands wide apart in the middle of the staff, that form is not attested before the late 1800s.  Period manuals (from the 1500 and 1600s) describe the weapon as being held with both hands close together (no more than 1.5 feet apart), at one end of the weapon - a form similar to that of a [[two-handed sword]].  Per such manuals, the weapon was used in a broadly similar manner to a sword, albeit with a focus on downward-moving cuts intended to take advantage of the weapon's great weight.
-Perhaps counterintuitively, quarterstaves were also effective thrusting weapons, and such usage is attested in period manuals.  While they usually lacked a sharp tip, the high amount of mass and force concentrated in the relatively small tip could easily break bones and incapacitate an opponent, even through armor.
+Perhaps counterintuitively, quarterstaves were also effective thrusting weapons, and such usage is attested in period manuals.  While they usually lacked a sharp end, the high amount of mass and force concentrated in the relatively small tip could easily break bones and incapacitate an opponent, even through armor.
 In modern fantasy and other fiction, magic users are often depicted wielding staves, with said implements sometimes acting in a similar manner to [[wand]]s; indeed, early versions of [[Dungeons and Dragons]] as well as [[Rogue (game)|Rogue]] have magical staves and wands functioning in nearly identical manners.  While ''NetHack'' lacks magical staves, the wizard's starting quarterstaff is a nod to such portrayals, as are the upcoming changes enhancing spellcasting while wielding one.  The reason that staves came to be associated with magic users is uncertain, but may be related to deities such as [[Hermes]] being depicted with them, as well as [[Wikipedia:Staff of office|staves of office]] that symbolized authority.

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 Perhaps counterintuitively, quarterstaves were also effective thrusting weapons, and such usage is attested in period manuals.  While they usually lacked a sharp tip, the high amount of mass and force concentrated in the relatively small tip could easily break bones and incapacitate an opponent, even through armor.
-In modern fantasy and other fiction, magic users are often depicted wielding staves, with said staves sometimes acting in a similar manner to [[wand]]s.  Indeed, early versions of [[Dungeons and Dragons]] as well as [[Rogue (game)|Rogue]] have magical staves and wands functioning in nearly identical manners.  While ''NetHack'' lacks magical staves, the wizard's starting quarterstaff is a nod to such portrayals.  The reason that staves came to be associated with magic users is uncertain, but it may be related to deities such as [[Hermes]] being depicted with them, as well as [[Wikipedia:Staff of office|staves of office]] that symbolized authority.
+In modern fantasy and other fiction, magic users are often depicted wielding staves, with said implements sometimes acting in a similar manner to [[wand]]s; indeed, early versions of [[Dungeons and Dragons]] as well as [[Rogue (game)|Rogue]] have magical staves and wands functioning in nearly identical manners.  While ''NetHack'' lacks magical staves, the wizard's starting quarterstaff is a nod to such portrayals, as are the upcoming changes enhancing spellcasting while wielding one.  The reason that staves came to be associated with magic users is uncertain, but may be related to deities such as [[Hermes]] being depicted with them, as well as [[Wikipedia:Staff of office|staves of office]] that symbolized authority.
 ==Variants==