Page of Spell Knowledge and its usefulness

[Better_with_Bacon]

Greetings fellow gamers,
I want to get some clarification on the Page of Spell Knowledge from Ultimate Equipment.

PRD Ultimate Equipment wrote:

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.

This seems primarily as a means for Spontaneous Casters to get a broader array of known spells.

But if the Page of Spell Knowledge is a Cure Moderate Wounds spell, does that allow the Sorcerer to Cast Cure Light Wounds? or does the spell have to be on the spell list to be useful.

Could a Magus get a Page of Spell Knowledge to 'know' a bard spell? A wizard spell?

Or is it just the world's most expensive spellbook for a sorcerer?

Very Respectfully,
--Bacon

[Better_with_Bacon]

What about a ring of Spell Knowledge

PRD Ultimate Equipment wrote:

This ring comes in four types: ring of spell knowledge I, ring of spell knowledge II, ring of spell knowledge III, and ring of spell knowledge IV. All of them are useful only to spontaneous arcane spellcasters. Through study, the wearer can gain the knowledge of a single spell in addition to those allotted by her class and level. A ring of spell knowledge I can hold 1st-level spells only, a ring of spell knowledge II 1st- or 2nd-level spells, a ring of spell knowledge III spells of 3rd level or lower, and a ring of spell knowledge IV up to 4th-level spells.

A ring of spell knowledge is only a storage space; the wearer must still encounter a written, active, or cast version of the spell and succeed at a DC 20 Spellcraft check to teach the spell to the ring. Thereafter, the arcane spellcaster may cast the spell as though she knew the spell and it appeared on her class' spell list.

Arcane spells that do not appear on the wearer's class list are treated as one level higher for all purposes (storage and casting).

Would a spell like Cure Light Wounds (from the bard list) or raise dead (from the witch list) still count as arcane for these purposes (I know that raise dead is too high for the ring)

Very Respectfully,
--Bacon

[Psi51]

Half way through the second sentence,has it on his list,specifically needs to be able to cast it, and must be spontanious, magus is not. Hope this helps

As for the ring as written still must be spontanious but does not seem to have the restriction.

[Nefreet]

Both my Inquisitor and my Oracle have bought several Pages. My Ranger is dipping a level in Bard, and he'll buy a couple as well.

They're great for expanding your # of spells known.

[PathlessBeth]

Page of spell knowledge explicitly requires you to have the spell on your list, while ring of spell knowledge does not. Ring of spell knowledge says

Ultimate Equipment wrote:

Arcane spells that do not appear on the wearer’s class list are treated as one level higher for all purposes (storage and casting).

So, it seems pretty clear-cut that the ring variant does allow you to get a spell from another list. The intent seems to be that the ring can get you something that the page can't (other class' spells), but the ring of spell knowledge is more expensive than a same-level page of spell knowledge, caps at 4th level, and takes up a valuable ring slot.

[Better_with_Bacon]

Thanks for the input, folks. That's what I thought, but one of the players was trying to say otherwise.

I'm thinking about encouraging the PC sorcerer in the party to get a couple pages of spell knowledge for some utility-flavored spells that are good to have, but not necessarily high on the list of things for a 'blaster caster' (Teleport, Summon Monster, Dispel Magic, etc...)

Very Respectfully,
--Bacon

[Diego Rossi]

Better_with_Bacon wrote:

Thanks for the input, folks. That's what I thought, but one of the players was trying to say otherwise.

I'm thinking about encouraging the PC sorcerer in the party to get a couple pages of spell knowledge for some utility-flavored spells that are good to have, but not necessarily high on the list of things for a 'blaster caster' (Teleport, Summon Monster, Dispel Magic, etc...)

Very Respectfully,
--Bacon

If he has troubles with the price, there is a absurd trick with the pages:

1) the pages are a wondrous item
2) if you have craft wondrous items you can make them without knowing the spell. Actually you can make them without any rank in spellcraft, you can make them with ranks in Profession (scribe).
...
3) Profit (i.e. get your pages at half cost).

I find that absurd and in my group we have decided that you need scribe scroll to make them, with all of its limitations, so the crafter need to have the spell memorized or in the list of his know spells when he make the page.