[Gurthang]

Exactly, Firefoot. The Staff had no power within itself, and no one but a wizard could use the staff for anything but a walking stick(and maybe a quarterstaff).

The staff was merely a tool, and when placed in the hands of a skilled individual, it could be used very effectively. The wizard used the staff to concentrate his power and focus the energy. The staff is somewhat like a sword. It can be used effectively by someone with the strength to wield it. Without the sword, the person still has his own strength, only he can't use it as affectively. The concept is the same with a staff, the wizard still has his power, but cannot use it as effectively without a tool to work it with. Not an extremely sound analogy, but you see my point.

The breaking of a staff is not only symbolic, it would greatly help in defeating a wizard. But it does not cause complete power loss. Simply a loss of an effecive tool.