How do Arcanists work?

[Chevallaine]

So I've probably read over the entry half a dozen times and I can't wrap my brain around the syntax of the spells entry. What I do know is:

-Arcanists prepare their spells in advance (like Wizards)
-Arcanists have a limited amount of spells (like Sorcerers)
-Arcanists do NOT expend their spells when cast.

This last one confuses me since they have a Spells Prepared chart and a Spells Per Day chart. So how do they work? There are two ways I can see how this goes, either...

[A] --- At 1st level an Arcanist can prepare 2 spells. So let's say they have Magic Missiles, Mage Armor, and Shocking Grasp. If they were to prepare Magic Missiles and Mage Armor that day do they have unlimited uses all day of those two spells?

[B] --- At 1st level an Arcanist can prepare 2 spells, but they can only cast 2 spells per day (Not factoring INT Mods for simplicity sake). Does this mean that if they prepare the 2 aforementioned spells they can cast each spell 2 times per day?

If anyone could simplify this I'd be REALLY grateful!

[Rynjin]

They prepare a number of spells.

Then they cast those spells as a Sorcerer, using the number from the Spells Per Day chart.

So, say an Arcanist has 3 Spells Prepared, and can cast 5 Spells Per Day.

He prepares Magic Missile, Mage Armor, and Shocking Grasp.

He can cast those 3 spells in any combination he chooses, up to 5 spells that day.

3 Magic Missiles, 1 Mage Armor, 1 Shocking Grasp? Good.

2 Shocking Grasps, 2 Magic Missiles, and 1 Mage Armor? Also good.

[The Doomkitten]

Okay, basically, the Arcanist has a spellbook the size of a wizard's. At first level, he can prepare two of those per day. However, that's when things get tricky.

Unlike the wizard, the arcanist uses spell slots like a sorcerer. The spells he prepares dictates the spells that he can cast that day, and he can spontaneously cast those prepared spells using spell slots like a sorcerer.

Basically, he prepares spells out of his spellbook, and what spells he prepares are the ones that he can spontaneously cast.

Does that make sense?

[Skerek]

Prep like a Wizard, cast like a Sorcerer.
So at first level you can prep 2 spells and have 4 spell slots (assuming 20 int) to cast said to spells with. Lets say you had color spray and grease as your prepared spells, you could cast color spray 4 times, color spray 3 times and grease once, ect.

[Claxon]

You prepare a pool of spells known each day (sort of like a wizard prepares each spell slot).

Then, you cast like a sorcerer the rest of the day.

You do expend your spells slot when you cast, but obviously not your spells known (for the day).

[justaworm]

And just to add to the redundancy ...

An arcanist is like a sorcerer whose spells known is customizable each day from a spellbook.

[Dave Justus]

Very few arcanists actually work, most simply survive on government grants and have grad students.

[Chevallaine]

Thanks everyone for the help, I completely understand how it works now. Also good to know, Dave Justus, I'll keep that in mind XD