So... I was looking at several magic items to help out our party's Summoner and ran into the following two items:
Page of Spell Knowledge - This page is covered in densely-worded arcane or divine magical runes. It contains the knowledge of a single arcane or divine spell (chosen by the creator when the item is crafted). If the bearer is a spontaneous spellcaster and has that spell on her class spell list, she may use her
spell slots to cast that spell as if it were one of her spells known. A page of spell knowledge is priced based on the spell’s cleric or sorcerer/wizard spell level, unless the spell doesn’t appear on either of those spell lists, in which case it is based on the highest spell level as it appears on any other spell list. For example, a spell that is on the 4th-level inquisitor list and the 2nd-level paladin list is priced as a 4th-level spell.
and
Runestone of Power - A runestone of power is a small chip of polished stone etched with a rune. Traditionally, this rune is one of many Thassilonian runes for magic, but more recently created runestones of power often substitute runes from other cultures—the nature of the rune itself has no effect on the runestone’s actual powers. These objects are potent aids to all spellcasters who cast spells spontaneously (bards, inquisitors, oracles, sorcerers, and summoners, but not to spellcasters like clerics who have the option to spontaneously cast certain spells). Once per day, a spontaneous caster can draw upon a runestone of power to cast a spell—doing so is part of the spellcasting action, and expends that runestone’s power for the day rather than one of the spellcaster’s actual spell slots for the day. An expended runestone of power recharges its capacity after 24 hours. The spell must be of a particular level, depending on the runestone.
It appears that a spontaneous caster could have a page of spell knowledge that grants him a spell known that is higher than any spell slot he possesses. So far, no problem. Just like a prepared caster can have spells in his spell book that he can't currently memorize. However, when combined with an appropriately powerfull runestone, could a spontaneous caster know and cast a spell far above his actual ability to cast?
I know that it would be expensive in terms of GP, even when crafted. But, if this is the case, I could craft pages and runestones for my faerie dragon familiar that would allow him a greater selection of spells as well as our Summoner.
In short, can you combine runestones of power and pages of spell knowledge to enable a spontaneous caster to cast spells of a level he normally would not be allowed?
To highlight the question:
However, when combined with an appropriately powerfull runestone, could a spontaneous caster know and cast a spell far above his actual ability to cast?
From a personal ruling perspective, I would say no, they could not. The Page description specifies that the caster can use one of her spell slots to cast the spell. The Runestone uses its own spell slot, not the caster's.
Nit-picky, but otherwise the combination you're describing (although rather expensive), would be fairly munchkin; the way the grammar is worded, I would not allow it.
I would say no. A spell slot is still required for each of the items. Since they would not have a slot high enough, then it would not work.
If you read the entry for the Runestone, you will not that it says that drawing on the power of the runestone powers the spell, not an actual slot. it does not check to see if you actually have an appropriately high slot.
That being said, I am inclined to agree that it was probably not the intent of the designers to allow these items to combine and effectively grant higher level slots than you currently possess.
On the other hand, it is possible for other magic items like wands, scrolls, staves, etc. to grant a limited ability to cast over your level.
The magic rules say you can only cast a spell if you are capable of casting spells of that level or higher. I would say that means you're not able to cast a spell of a higher level than you have slots, even if you can cast the spell without using a slot.
If you disregard that bit, this should work. The page grants you a spell known that you can cast (using your spell slots), while the runestone lets you cast a spell you know without using a spell slot.
Though it may not use a spell slot, the runestone makes it clear that YOU are still casting the spell.
Last I checked, casters cannot cast spells beyond their means.
I would say no, this does not work.
