I believe that you are downplaying the effect of being hit across the head with a staff. It is no different than a hammer in the sense that you can break someon

I believe that you are downplaying the effect of being hit across the head with a staff. It is no different than a hammer in the sense that you can break someone's limbs and kill them with a blow to the head. Combat staffs were not non-lethal. Take for example the Bo that can easily break bones and can bend even a Katana with a proper strike. Even pool cues will kill when used in bar fights.