Ok, the way I understand it is if you have a magic item that casts a spell and you are a member of a class that can cast that spell it automatically works. If not, you have to use the Use Magic Device skill to "trick" the item into letting you use it. Is this correct?
Also if a 1st level wizard somehow got their hands on a magic staff that casts a level 9 spell could they still use it with no check required?
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Also if a 1st level wizard somehow got their hands on a magic staff that casts a level 9 spell could they still use it with no check required?
Note, though, that once the staff used all of its charges, it would be nothing more than a glorified walking stick until the Wizard was able to cast 9th-level spells to refill the charges.
Ok, the way I understand it is if you have a magic item that casts a spell and you are a member of a class that can cast that spell it automatically works. If not, you have to use the Use Magic Device skill to "trick" the item into letting you use it. Is this correct?
That depends on the type of activation of the item in question.
Spell Completion items (like scrolls): The user needs to have a correct class. If they don't have it, they need to make UMD check. Even if they are of correct class, or they succesfully faked it with UMD, if their level is too low, they still may fail at using the item (a caster level check is required).
Spell Trigger items (like wands and staves): The user needs to have a correct class. If they don't have it, they need to make UMD check. Caster level is irrelevant.
Command Word and Use Activated Items (like potions and wondrous items): The user may be of any class, no UMD necessary.
Additionaly, there are some items that explicitly require the user to have a specific class feature. If the user doesn't have the correct class, or has an archetype that replaced that feature, they need to use UMD to use the item.
Very well, thank you.