Spells affected by Magic Staff skill and equipped staff?

[Mourngrym]

Hello all!

I'm trying to gather information on how the Magic Staff skill and the type of staff you have equipped affect spells you cast, but I have not found much on this forum or the web.

Background
I'm playing PotD difficulty and notice that normal staff attacks are a waste of attack "slots" (i.e. one recovery turn) compared to casting spells. So my mage tactic is to cast spells back-to-back. Tip: the setting to auto-pause on "Party member finishes ability" helps a good deal with optimizing that.
However, I don't have enough information to decide which staff to equip, and if I should train the Magic Staff skill.

The in-game description for the Magic Staff skill is:
"Determines effectiveness of attacks using magical staff. Higher skill values lead to more accurate attacks, increasing the chance of critical strikes. The accuracy of magical attacks is determined by both the Magic Staff skill and the magic skill used by the equipped staff."
- Hmm. What does "magical attacks" refer to here? Only staff attacks or spell casting too? It is clear on the character sheet that the staff accuracy is affected by Magic Staff skill, and also your skill level in the "Attack skill" on the equipped staff. But how about spells?

Basically my questions are:

1. Considering my tactic to only ever cast spells and never attack with the staff, is there any reason to raise the Magic Staff skill? Does the skill affect accuracy or damage on spells?
2. Does the "Attack skill" on a particular staff affect accuracy or damage on spells? I'm *not* talking about staffs which increase a magic skill (for example "+10 Control Life") but a mundane staff. For example, if I have a Lesser Staff of Storms Heart (Attack skill: Control Lightning) equipped, will this improve my lightning spells in any way compared to equipping a sword or a staff with another Attack skill?

Cheers!

 

[wimplestiltskin]

1. No they will have no influence on your ability to cast spells effectively or accurately.
2.no as above.
The magic staffs (staves) are pretty useless. Even the higher end ones, in my opinion. I went full mage in my first playthrough, so had the staff and tried to squeeze all I could out of it, but even basic abilities connected to the staff were rather rubbish with the exception of thrust (which can be used with multiple weapon types) Second playthrough I went dual wield/ mage hybrid. Focused on magic and had no problems being effective with it. The dual wield was more versatile and damaging in the rare cases of melee. The only problem was keeping my PC from wanting to rush the enemy.

 

[Promethian]

Some staves also have rather long recovery meaning when you attack with it you lose a lot of time. I'd even avoid the dual wield because of the double stacking weapon recovery. I personally use unarmed with my mage. Better defense (use dodge for everything so one stat gets focused), the fastest possible recovery from attack and good damage with nice gloves.

Spells derive their accuracy from the Control (Name of Core) skills. Every core has its own skill.

Magical attacks can only be referring to the talent granted special attacks. The info panel for these talent attacks lists your currently equipped weapon as part of its check. Most of them require a staff so that is probably the reason for the wording of your blue quote.

 

[Mourngrym]

Great information, thanks!

 

[Aotrs Commander]

So staffs DON'T affect your spells? (I.e. they mean "magical attacks" and distinct from "spells?") And that what they affect is just basically the weapon-specific attacks (like you can only use bow attacks with bows?)

That could stand to be a lot clearer. I mean, I prefer it with them being distinct weapons rather than magic-boosters (since you can Gandalf more awesomely!) but as it reads, you tend to think "I better have my staff skills if I'm playing a mage." Looking at it carefully, it kinda does SAY that, but I think the wording of "magical attacks" ought to be changed to "magical staff abilities" OR possibly drop that sentence altogther. (Because it doesn't say anything like "ranged special attacks get their accuracy from the bow and the bow skill" or anything).

The only question remaining, then, is whether (what I presume is) the bonus to your control[whatever] you get for using that staff is worth it. I'm sort of guessing maybe not, since it's only going to apply to one of your spell types attacks...?


Dangit, I should have taken war mage after all...