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I am pretty new to Pathfinder and I am bewildered by the rules regarding the use of magic devices such as rods, staves and wands. Can anyone give me a primer on their use?
I read the rules as follows:
rods are generally activated by a command word, and can be used by any class with skill ranks in UMD
staves and wands are activated by spell trigger, thus they can only be used by a caster of the appropriate class, though a wizard, for example, could use an arcane staff or wand to cast a higher level spell than she otherwise could
the rules for using a scroll are pretty clear in the rules, viz., they can only be used by casters of the appropriate class and level.
Assuming a character could use a device, she must still satisfy a UMD check every time she tries to use it. Is this correct? If so, it seems odd to me that UMD is not a class skill for wizards. Why would it be easier for a rogue to use a staff than for a wizard?
Also, if all of the foregoing is correct, then it seems unreasonably difficult to use a magic device. I am building a sorcerer and I want to be able to use devices to broaden her spell list. It seems to me that if I have to apply the UMD skill every time I use even a basic magic item, there will be a high possibility of failure (even with skill ranks, a DC 20 seems hard to hit). Am I missing something?
rods are generally activated by a command word, and can be used by any class with skill ranks in UMD
Rods: "Details relating to rod use vary from item to item. Unless noted otherwise, you must be holding a rod to use its abilities. See the individual descriptions for specifics."
staves and wands are activated by spell trigger, thus they can only be used by a caster of the appropriate class, though a wizard, for example, could use an arcane staff or wand to cast a higher level spell than she otherwise could
Yep!
the rules for using a scroll are pretty clear in the rules, viz., they can only be used by casters of the appropriate class and level.
Actually, you just need the scroll to be the correct type, on your spell list, and the ability score. You can use a scroll with a higher caster level than yours by making a caster level check (and risking a mishap).
Assuming a character could use a device, she must still satisfy a UMD check every time she tries to use it.
No. In all those cases above, those are the requirements to use the item.
UMD is used when you don't meet one of those requirements. "Use Magic Device lets you use a magic item as if you had the spell ability or class features of another class, as if you were a different race, or as if you were of a different alignment."
For example, a rogue or wizard who wants to activate a wand of cure light wounds would need to make a DC 20 UMD check. A cleric (who has CLW on her spell list) would not.
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UMD checks are only made if you don't meet one or more of the requirements to use an item. So if you want to use a wand of cure light wounds, you either need to have at least one level in a class with cure light wounds on its spell list, or make a DC 20 UMD check. You never need to do both.
As for rods... for the most part, everyone can use a rod (they are use activated). The exceptions to this will be in the specific rod's description or will be self evident (e.g. metamagic rods can only be used by spellcasters).
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To put it simply: you can use any magical item that cast a spell that you could cast if you were level 20 in your current classes and had a unlimited number of spell know.
Scrolls have a stricter limitations: you must have the level and the characteristics needed to cast the spell normally to use them without risking a mishap.
You use Use Magic Device only if you wouldn't be capable to use the item normally.