Equipment Trick says:
"If the item would normally be considered an improvised weapon, you can treat it as either a normal weapon or an improvised weapon, depending on which is more beneficial for you."
If you have Catch Off-Guard and Equipment Trick (Ladder) you get:
"Ladder Fighter (Catch Off-Guard): You treat a ladder as a quarterstaff with the fragile and trip special features, and you can apply feats and abilities as if it were a quarterstaff (for example, a monk can use a ladder to perform a flurry of blows)."
Is the ladder an improvised weapon OR a staff? For example, the character I'm considering would have:
Halfling (Resourceful trait), Bard (Juggler), Equipment Trick (Ladder), Weapon Focus (Quarterstaff), Quarterstaff Master
I want Quarterstaff Master so I can wield the ladder one-handed so I can juggle it. I see no problems with that part, but I'm unsure if I can use the ladder as an improvised weapon AND a quarterstaff at the same time (I have plans for other improvised weapon bonuses later).
Does that make sense?
Side question about Halfling Resourceful:
"Resourceful: Halflings with this trait do not take any penalties for using improvised weapons. This trait counts as the Catch Off-Guard or Throw Anything feats for the purpose of qualifying for feats. This racial trait replaces sure-footed and weapon familiarity."
It says that it counts as Catch Off-Guard for the purposes of qualifying for feats. Catch Off-Guard is a requirement for the Ladder Fighter ability in Equipment Trick (Ladder), but not for the feat itself. Does that mean I have to burn a feat for Catch Off-Guard as well to get Ladder Fighter?
Thanks!