I remember when the editors of the APG messed up and listed all the staves at half their expected values. A lot of people were asking if the APG was right, or if the Core Rulebook was right.
The staff prices were SO out there, the Core Rulebooks was actually thought by many to be the one with the mistaken numbers.
Sadly, that was not the case, and the APG prices were doubled to match the Core Rulebook.
I'm sorry, but by the time a wizard can fling a fireball, he should be toting a staff around, for coolness factor, even if the staff can only yield 0 or 1st level spells.
The reason he can't is due to pricing, and that's kind of a bummer.
Unchained has two scaling staves, at 8K each. This might be the best workaround in the game so far, despite its limitations. We need more scaling staves...
If he want's to do that he shouldn't get a staff, he should get a magic quarterstaff with some nice effects, I recommend the quarterstaff of entwined serpents, as long as it's in hand it grants eschew materials and at will magic missile with two missile (so presumably CL3)
Bah, he should just get a staff. His staff should include a couple drovers for his carriage, a bard to sing his praises, a couple bodyguards, a sage to do research, some flunkies to run errands, an information gatherer, a decent cook, a skilled butler with at least two maids, and a general handyman.
Probably cost less then another staff, and only takes one feat at level 6!
Also core staves have weird prices and spells that aren't that useful. I mean, some Staves have Fireball and Burning Hands. Unless you're a blaster, burning hands is wasted and only increases its price.
If you are a sorcerer with Burning Hands but not Fireball, you can still recharge the staff because you can use a 3rd level slot for the 1st level spell. Likewise, if you are a caster with a limited spell list that has B.H. but not F., you can do the same.
I don't mind the price, but minimum CL 8 means that you can use them for 1-4 level spells, but pricing can be odd.
Example:
Wand of Haste 750*3*5 = 11250 > 50 charges
Staff of Haste 400*3*8 = 9600 > 10 Charges
***BZZZT***
Staff of Haste 800*3*8 = 19200 > 10+ Charges
It is a 400 cost, not a price like other items list.
/cevah