Staves, and who can use them

[Forever Man]

Et al,

I'm a little confused about who can use a given staff from the DMG. A Staff of Defense, for example, has both Clerical *and* Arcane spells. Does that mean a cleric can use the divine spells therein, and while only a sorceror or wizard can use said staff to cast its shield spell?

Just want to a clarification,

Thanks!

- FM

[Axl]

I would also like to know the answer to this question. (Although with reference to Pathfinder, not D&D.)

Request to sysops: can you move this thread to "Rules" please?

[Ross Byers]

Axl wrote:

I would also like to know the answer to this question. (Although with reference to Pathfinder, not D&D.)

Request to sysops: can you move this thread to "Rules" please?

I've moved this thread to the 3.5 forum: It's a question about D&D dating from 2007. If you're specifically looking for a Pathfinder answer, I suggest you create a new thread in the Pathfinder Rules Questions forum.

[cibet44]

In both PF and 3.5 staves use the spell trigger activation method which means, yes, you need the spell in your class spell list to activate it from the staff.

The Staff of Defense could be used by a Wizard to cast Shield or a Cleric to cast everything else but it is most useful to a multiclass spell caster that has access to both cleric and wizards spell lists.

[LazarX]

cibet44 wrote:

In both PF and 3.5 staves use the spell trigger activation method which means, yes, you need the spell in your class spell list to activate it from the staff.

The Staff of Defense could be used by a Wizard to cast Shield or a Cleric to cast everything else but it is most useful to a multiclass spell caster that has access to both cleric and wizards spell lists.

Sounds like the kind of staff a Mystic Theurge would make and use.

[Steven Tindall]

cibet44 wrote:

In both PF and 3.5 staves use the spell trigger activation method which means, yes, you need the spell in your class spell list to activate it from the staff.

The Staff of Defense could be used by a Wizard to cast Shield or a Cleric to cast everything else but it is most useful to a multiclass spell caster that has access to both cleric and wizards spell lists.

LazarX has a good point but you might also consider the magic domain's ability of letting a cleric cast as a mage of half his level for scrolls,staffs, wands and etc. That's a very often over looked ability.