Oracles & Incense of Meditation question

[Seraphimpunk]

incense of meditation allows a divine spellcaster who meditates for 8 hours with the incense to maximize all her prepared spells for the day, the effects last 24 hours.

would this work with oracles? they don't prepare spells, but its no change on what spells could be taken, and it doesn't raise the slot required for all of the spells at all.

[Charender]

No, it only effects prepared spells.

This is not any different from a pearl of power, which can only be used by prepared casters.

[Seraphimpunk]

yeah, but its just a phrase. at the time in the core book, there were no spontaneous divine casters. so it was safe to say all prepared spells.

[NobodysHome]

I'm surprised this hasn't generated more debate in the intervening years, since Seraphimpunk is correct, the "prepare" seems like just a "flavor text" thing here, but its interpretation is critical as to whether or not oracles can use incense of meditation.

Here we go:

PRD wrote:

Pearl of Power: This seemingly normal pearl of average size and luster is a potent aid to all spellcasters who prepare spells (clerics, druids, rangers, paladins, and wizards)

So the Pearl of Power is wonderfully unambiguous.

But if we look at the incense:

PRD wrote:

Incense of Meditation: When a divine spellcaster lights a block of incense of meditation and then spends 8 hours praying and meditating nearby, the incense enables him to prepare all his spells as though affected by the Maximize Spell feat.

So, they absolutely, positively used the word "prepare". At a time when there were no spontaneous divine spellcasters in the system. This is unfortunately less clear, because you have to wonder, "Did they choose the term intentionally to exclude any possible future spontaneous divine spellcasters, or did they do it for a specific purpose; for example, a cleric's spontaneous casting of a Cure or Inflict spell is not prepared. Did they intend to exclude spontaneous cures and inflicts?

Since oracles do not prepare their spells, if we go by strict RAW, they cannot use Incense of Meditation:

PRD wrote:

Oracles: Spells: An oracle casts divine spells drawn from the cleric spell lists. She can cast any spell she knows without preparing it ahead of time.

QUESTIONS:

How have other tables ruled?

Is there a PFS ruling on this anywhere?

Why isn't this a more common question?

[blahpers]

The text seems pretty clear to me. You have to prepare spells to see that particular benefit. The fact that there were no spontaneous divine casters at the time isn't really relevant.

Answers:

1. Never seen a table that didn't rule it as written.
2. No need. As they are fond of saying, they (usually) go by the written rules so long as they're unambiguous.
3. Common questions tend to arise from either ambiguity (perceived or actual) or nonsensicality (it literally doesn't make sense as written). This falls under neither category--it is unambiguous and makes sense.