Quote Originally Posted by Gornin View Post
RR - I agree that performing tumbling (ukemi) with bo/jo staff is more difficult than with, say Arnis/Escrima sticks, or any of the small blades/swords, but I am sure as a martial artist you have seen those who have specialized in the staff forms who do some pretty awesome feats. I am also sure you have heard how staff wielders used to defeat sword weilders regularly. A six foot staff should allow a trained person to increase his jump distance and heigth, and allow a small bonus to balance.

Just so you know I have studied some Judo and Ju Jitsu which I am sure you know at least teaches the basics of how to take a fall and regain your feet quickly, and to lessen a blow by using basic tumbling techniques. And Ju Jitsu does have some staff techniques.

I think that is the thinking here, and I somewhat agree. This PrC should indicate specialized and focused training, and one of the bonuses should be able to use a staff in an unusual way. I have always felt that DnD limited the way a person engages in combat by the weapon they use instead of the form they learned. Many of the medium weapons can be used in form that stresses agility and quickness rather than strength. The staff falls into that category, and I am much more familiar with those techniques and feel they should apply for this PrC.
I just got back from my dojo and, after a few odd looks and a "I magic missile the darkness!" joke I was able to try out a staff as it relates to an acrobat's skills. If you are curious I was coming from primarily a aikido/ninjutsu background but my colleagues include black belts in tae kwon do, karate, and jujutsu.

Luckily we had some spare jo's that were on the chopping block (excuse the pun) to be cut down into hanbos (a weapon similar to a cane) so if we messed up an end it didn't matter.

First off a staff is an excellent weapon! Let there be no doubt about this. It's amazing too how many principles in unarmed combat translate directly into armed combat, and vice versa.

Secondly a staff is useless for helping in tumbling. If anything it's in the way. A big strike here.

Next, jumping. After remarks of "some people watch too much anime" we gave it a try. A big note- you cannot vault with a staff. At all. It is too short and, unlike a vaulting pole, it does not bend. Now there are instances of long jumpers carrying weights in their hands that- when strategically swung out- can extend your jump a bit. A staff on the other hand is just too light. Oh well, strike two.

Finally, balance. Here again in a tightrope walking you may be able to talk your DM into giving you a +1 circumstance bonus if they are in a good mood, but in trying on the edgings of the mats they just lacked enough weight and length to be a useful counterbalance.

But wait! They did help in one respect. Much like a walking stick they can they can occasionally lend a bit of support to a weak side when off balance. So they did have that going for them. Sadly in the SUper Mario world of DDO the balance skill doesn nothing for keeping you from falling, only helping when getting up after a fall. So the bright spot in all of this doesn't apply in DDO, not to mention that this isn't a staff only quality- any long stick like weapon can do something similar in the right circumstances.

Anyways those were our impressions. Not scientific of course but it was better than nothing.