Staff of Power
- Category: Staff
- Rarity: Very Rare (Requires Attunement by a Sorcerer, Warlock, or Wizard)
This staff has 20 charges and can be wielded as a magic Quarterstaff that grants a +2 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls made with it. While holding it, you gain a +2 bonus to Armor Class, saving throws, and spell attack rolls.
Spells. While holding the staff, you can cast one of the spells on the following table from it, using your spell save DC. The table indicates how many charges you must expend to cast the spell.
| Spell | Charge Cost |
|---|---|
| Cone of Cold | 5 |
| Fireball (level 5 version) | 5 |
| Globe of Invulnerability | 6 |
| Hold Monster | 5 |
| Levitate | 2 |
| Lightning Bolt (level 5 version) | 5 |
| Magic Missile | 1 |
| Ray of Enfeeblement | 1 |
| Wall of Force | 5 |
Regaining Charges. The staff regains 2d8+4 expended charges daily at dawn. If you expend the last charge, roll 1d20. On a 1, the staff retains its +2 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls but loses all other properties. On a 20, the staff regains 1d8+2 charges.
Retributive Strike. You can take a Magic action to break the staff over your knee or against a solid surface. The staff is destroyed and releases its magic in an explosion that fills a 30 -foot Emanation originating from itself. You have a 50 percent chance to instantly travel to a random plane of existence, avoiding the explosion. If you fail to avoid the effect, you take Force damage equal to 16 times the number of charges in the staff. Each other creature in the area makes a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes Force damage equal to 4 times the number of charges in the staff. On a successful save, a creature takes half as much damage.
Tactical Applications
Versatile Spellcasting: Provides multiple spell schools and +2 enhancement bonus for comprehensive magical capabilities. Exceptional for versatile casters, spell variety, and characters requiring diverse magical solutions with enhanced spellcasting power.
Class Synergies:
- Wizards: Perfect for versatile casters wanting enhanced spell variety and magical power
- Sorcerers: Essential for spontaneous casters needing expanded spell access and enhancement bonuses
- Warlocks: Excellent for limited casters requiring additional spell options and magical versatility
- Any Spellcaster: Outstanding for characters prioritizing magical versatility and enhanced spellcasting
Build Considerations: Requires attunement but provides ongoing enhancement with extensive spell access. Most valuable for characters prioritizing magical versatility and comprehensive spellcasting capabilities.
Acquisition Methods
Crafting Requirements: Requires versatile magic, enhancement enchantments, and power essences. Creation cost 25,000-50,000 gp and takes 40 weeks.
Common Sources:
- Versatile magic specialists and power enchanters
- Treasure hoards of legendary archmages and magical masters
- Commission from master enchanters specializing in power magic
- Found in the collections of magical researchers and versatility experts
- Sometimes discovered in wizard towers or obtained from powerful creature encounters
Alternative Acquisition: Often found in locations with strong connections to advanced magic and versatile spellcasting.
Value & Trade
Estimated Value: 35,000-70,000 gp, with extremely high demand among versatile casters and magical specialists.
Trade Considerations: Extremely valuable among spellcasters and anyone requiring enhanced magical capabilities and spell variety.
Character Integration
Roleplay Elements: Suggests experience with advanced magic, versatile spellcasting, or professional roles requiring comprehensive magical knowledge and power.
Character Concepts:
- Versatile mage with power expertise and advanced magical experience
- Magical researcher using enhanced capabilities for spell study and magical experimentation
- Character with extensive experience in magical environments requiring versatile spellcasting
- Power specialist combining enhanced magic with traditional spellcasting techniques
Adventure Hooks
The Magic Crisis: Scenarios requiring versatile spellcasting where enhanced power provides crucial magical advantages.
The Arcane Investigation: Research missions where magical variety enables comprehensive study and magical discovery.
The Power Challenge: Magical situations where enhanced capabilities determine spellcasting effectiveness and magical superiority.
The Versatility Test: Complex challenges where diverse spell access advances problem-solving and magical solutions.
Variants & Customization
Greater Staff of Power (Legendary): Enhanced magical power and additional versatility with improved spellcasting capabilities.
Staff of Arcane Mastery (Artifact): Includes comprehensive magical enhancement and ultimate spellcasting control.
Archmage's Power Staff (Very Rare): Optimized for advanced magic with enhanced spell bonuses and magical research.
Specialized Variants:
- Combat Power Staff: Enhanced for battle with improved spell damage and tactical magical effects
- Research Versatility Staff: Optimized for study with enhanced spell analysis and magical experimentation
- Master's Authority Staff: Specialized for leadership with enhanced magical command and spellcasting superiority
Lore & History
Origins: Created by legendary archmages who needed ultimate magical enhancement for their most challenging spellcasting and magical research.
Historical Significance: These staves enabled crucial magical discoveries and the mastery of versatile spellcasting throughout history.
Cultural Impact: Represent the pinnacle of magical achievement and the ultimate expression of spellcasting mastery.
Magical Craft: Demonstrates legendary-level understanding of enhancement magic and the most complex spellcasting processes.
Balancing Notes
Introduction Timing: Appropriate for levels 12-20 when advanced magic becomes crucial and versatile spellcasting provides significant advantages.
Campaign Impact: Provides powerful magical enhancement balanced by extreme cost and attunement requirement.
Magic Focus: Most valuable in campaigns featuring complex magical challenges and advanced spellcasting requirements.
Encounter Design
Recommended Challenges:
- Magical scenarios where versatile spellcasting enables comprehensive magical solutions and enhanced effectiveness
- Power encounters where magical enhancement provides crucial advantages in spellcasting duels and magical combat
- Research situations where spell variety advances magical study and arcane investigation
- Complex challenges where enhanced magic determines problem-solving success and magical superiority
Power Adjustments: Encounters may need significant enhancement when versatile magical capabilities provide overwhelming advantages.
Related Items
Power Items: Other items that enhance magical capabilities and provide spellcasting enhancement.
Magical Equipment:
- Items that improve spellcasting effectiveness and magical power
- Equipment for versatile magic and spell enhancement
- Tools for magical research and spellcasting development
Complementary Equipment: Items that enhance magical abilities or provide additional spellcasting benefits.
Roleplay Opportunities
Magical Mastery: Characters develop expertise in versatile spellcasting and advanced magical techniques.
Arcane Leadership: Magical capabilities create opportunities for leading magical research and advanced spellcasting missions.
Power Excellence: Enhanced magic enables impressive demonstrations of spellcasting mastery and magical superiority.