Heya folks!
I was just browsing the general discussion forums and while reading/posting on a thread there about staffs I found myself getting a bit revved up into getting back into modeling and modding for Skyrim. To be fair I haven't made any mods for Skyrim yet, but I did work for a VERY long time on a mod for Morrowind back in the day, with a very similar premise (though in the end The Hidden Pathway got a bit massive and went in a bit of an odd direction but that's neither here nor there )

As usual, though less so that in Morrowind, I found myself overcome with ennui at the magical weapon department of Skyrim. There are a handful of staffs in the game and a solid 95% of them never get used because lets face it, if you want to use a staff you're probably a mage, and if you're a mage you can probably just cast the dang spell yourself.
As such, staffs, which represent an entire weapon class of their own, go largely unused. Most folks thinking along these same lines have gone in directions I am not so interested in; OP staffs, dragon shout staffs, summon dragons/dragon priests/alduin/steam centurions etc.

What I am plotting at the moment is a complete overhaul of the way staffs work in Skyrim, from the ground up as it were, including new staff meshes (based on materials, like in Morrowind, in addition to the staffs based on magic school) new effects, the ability to disenchant looted staffs and craft and enchant your own.
I want to meld this into the vanilla game as thoroughly as possible, so an ebony staff would require the ebony smithing perk, for example. I am also pondering how to add staff related perks into the game. At first I was thinking one handed getting a new branch but now I am thinking enchanting getting a new branch instead, as well as single perks in each spell school.
Apologies, I tend to brainstorm whenever I post which is why I don't post very often lol

anyways I am making this thread because I want to hear feedback from you guys, see what gets you going about what staffs could be like, what sorts of spells and effects you would like to see on staffs and how you think they should be implemented. This project hasn't even really started yet but as with Morrowind, I have an idea and I am actually very keen on seeing it through.
Which means of course I will have to re-learn 3ds max, learn a bit about scripting and develop a more thorough understanding of the CK, as currently I just kinda blunder about ~_^

so, lets hear your ideas, I cant promise everything, or even anything suggested will be included but I want to make a mod that people will find value in adding to their mage gameplay experience.
cheers!
~Star Boi (Earrindo)

Sounds like a very cool idea. Personally, I think what'd help with staffs/staves is if they were more dynamic than they are. As it sits they have little to imply it's not just a normal spell casting from it. A good example of dynamic magic would be gravity and a light drop-off on a flame staff, with a longer range to match. I have no idea if this would be possible either but a staff that generates an ice bridge on water would be awesome. Just my random input.