Halfling Slingstaff - Both a melee AND ranged weapon?

[Prethen]

I put this question out on Discord and the consensus was that since it only has ranged stats the Slingstaff is only meant for ranged. And, if you tried to use it as a melee weapon, it's just an untrained, improvised weapon.

If I'm reading correctly, in PF1, it was both, hence the bit of text that states: "A halfling sling staff can be used as a simple weapon that deals bludgeoning damage equal to that of a club of its size."

Is there a reason why it cannot be used as a simple staff weapon? If so, if the character is trained to use the slingstaff, is he also trained to use it as a simple staff? What damage would it do?

[FlashRebel]

A single weapon being both good to use for melee combat and to shoot projectiles would definitely be too good. And the halfling sling staff is far from a bad ranged weapon either, with very good base damage made even better by the propulsive trait and respectable range.

[graystone]

Prethen wrote:

I put this question out on Discord and the consensus was that since it only has ranged stats the Slingstaff is only meant for ranged. And, if you tried to use it as a melee weapon, it's just an untrained, improvised weapon.

As written it's an improvised weapon in melee so that's right. What's NOT right is the untrained part as it's a simple weapon: "You take a –2 item penalty to attack rolls with an improvised weapon. The GM determines the amount and type of damage the attack deals, if any, as well as any weapon traits the improvised weapon should have. Improvised weapons are simple weapons.

Prethen wrote:

If I'm reading correctly, in PF1, it was both, hence the bit of text that states: "A halfling sling staff can be used as a simple weapon that deals bludgeoning damage equal to that of a club of its size."

That's right.

Prethen wrote:

Is there a reason why it cannot be used as a simple staff weapon?

Just the rules. If you can get your DM to make a houserule, you can treat it as whatever they want it to.