Staff Attunement

[Steve]

Currently, the wiki lacks a page for describing Staff Attunement, and I'm hoping with this Forum post I can get a complete picture of how the mechanic is working so that I can create a reference page (on the Wiki).

First, the current situation for Attunement is:

- Attune Staff: All mages now receive the Attune Staff feat, which allows them to use their own caster level when using Cast Spell: X from quarterstaffs. This should make spell staffs are much more valuable addition to a mage's loadout. A UMD check must be made to attune a staff that is restricted to other classes. This check is made on top of the baseline UMD needed to use class-restricted items. If the check fails, you cannot attune another staff until the next reset. Paladins, rangers, and warlocks also receive Attune Staff, but paladins and rangers are treated as half their CL (as in, equivalent to their pnp caster levels), while warlocks always have to make the UMD check to attune a staff (as all staffs use spells, not invocations).

and

Staffs no longer need to be manually attuned, they will use the caster's caster level and spell DC by default, if it is higher than the staff's default caster level. DMs can also set a non-staff item to be treated as a staff for purpose of CL and DCs. Short staves now count as staves for the purpose of this feature. Staves using the old attunement system will be automatically set to unattuned when equipped.

However...it would seem that in-game, there are some staffs—such as the named Staff of Power—are of an old type, and have no general caster level associated with them, but have a CL per spell available on the staff itself. These staffs do not "upgrade" in power to the wielders Caster Level.



Then, there a new staffs, possible labled "Magic Staff" that have a general caster level—usually starting at CL 8—that will upgrade to the wielders CL.

[need pic]

Why there are two types still IG, or why the current mechanic doesn't work for ALL staffs with spells on them...this just needs a fix (if possible) or a clean-up for what items do not and will not work with the current Attunement mechanic.

Anything else I'm missing here?

[metaquad4]

I'll try a few out, but I haven't had any issues with staffs not working (mostly) as intended. That said, I've noticed a few bugs recently that weren't present even a few weeks ago.

Bear in mind, the examine's CL won't change (don't worry about what the item's examine says when it comes to attunement). When you use it, it tends to adopt the proper CL.

I have had some DC wierdness on a few of them, that said.

From my own experience, this is how it works:
(1) Staff states it has CL of 'n'. It does have that CL, for anyone who isn't a spellcaster.
(2) Any spellcasting class (including bard... ranger/paladin/warlock?) gets Attune Staff (though it isn't present in the feat list anymore) at CL 8.
(3) When you use a staff, the CL of 'n' is replaced with your current class CL.

[Steve]

I used that Staff of Power in the screenshot in my original post.

It states CL 5, so that should be…3 missiles? I used with a CL 29 level toon, and it shot 5 missiles. But Magic Missile should be 9 missiles at CL 18!!!

See, how is it working/ it working?!?

[metaquad4]

Yeah, that's a little weird. 5 Missiles is also higher than the stated CL like you mentioned, so it seems to be doing its own thing there.

[DaloLorn]

Had you cast any regular spells that reset before using the staff? And were they from your primary spellbook?

[Steve]

Had you cast any regular spells that reset before using the staff? And were they from your primary spellbook?

I don’t understand. Spells that reset?

EDIT: Dalo explained it to me on Discord.