A composite structure having a variable gage, comprising: a first end having a first gage; a second end having a second gage, which is less than the first gage; a plurality of continuous plies, wherein each continuous ply extends from the first end to the second end; a plurality of drop-off plies, wherein each drop-off ply comprises a tip having a blunt-end shape, wherein each drop-off ply extends from the first end to a respective position of the tip of the drop-off ply between the first end and the second end; a first outer surface extending from the first end to the second end; and a second outer surface extending from the first end to the second end; wherein the plurality of drop-off plies are separated from each other by at least one of the plurality of continuous plies; wherein the plurality of continuous plies and the plurality of drop-off plies are arranged in a stack between the first outer surface and the second outer surface; wherein the first gage and the second gage are respective thicknesses between the first outer surface and the second outer surface at the first end and the second end, respectively; wherein a first subset of the plurality of drop-off plies are between the first outer surface and a central portion, wherein the central portion i) is between the first outer surface and the second outer surface and ii) extends from the first end to the second end; wherein a second subset of the plurality of drop-off plies are between the central portion and the second outer surface; wherein the tips of the first subset of the plurality of drop-off plies are arranged in a pattern that substantially mirrors, relative to the central portion, a pattern of the tips of the second subset of the plurality of drop-off plies; wherein the plurality of drop-off plies are positioned such that the respective positions of the tips of the plurality of drop-off plies are staggered from the first end to the second end so that the tips of no two drop-off plies of the plurality of drop-off plies are equidistant from the second end; and wherein the central portion comprises a single drop-off ply of the plurality of drop-off plies. a first end having a first gage; a second end having a second gage, which is less than the first gage; a plurality of continuous plies, wherein each continuous ply extends from the first end to the second end; a plurality of drop-off plies, wherein each drop-off ply comprises a tip having a blunt-end shape, wherein each drop-off ply extends from the first end to a respective position of the tip of the drop-off ply between the first end and the second end; a first outer surface extending from the first end to the second end; and a second outer surface extending from the first end to the second end; wherein the plurality of drop-off plies are separated from each other by at least one of the plurality of continuous plies; wherein the plurality of continuous plies and the plurality of drop-off plies are arranged in a stack between the first outer surface and the second outer surface; wherein the first gage and the second gage are respective thicknesses between the first outer surface and the second outer surface at the first end and the second end, respectively; wherein a first subset of the plurality of drop-off plies are between the first outer surface and a central portion, wherein the central portion i) is between the first outer surface and the second outer surface and ii) extends from the first end to the second end; wherein a second subset of the plurality of drop-off plies are between the central portion and the second outer surface; wherein the tips of the first subset of the plurality of drop-off plies are arranged in a pattern that substantially mirrors, relative to the central portion, a pattern of the tips of the second subset of the plurality of drop-off plies; wherein the plurality of drop-off plies are positioned such that the respective positions of the tips of the plurality of drop-off plies are staggered from the first end to the second end so that the tips of no two drop-off plies of the plurality of drop-off plies are equidistant from the second end; and wherein the central portion comprises a single drop-off ply of the plurality of drop-off plies.