I need clarifications on wands and scrolls

[Shahnaz]

It says that you need to have the spell in your spell list to cast it, and that you need to be able to "cast a spell".

By spell list, does this mean just having the spell in your school of magic? Does not knowing the spell itself affects anything at all?

For example, if a Bard wanted to cast "False Life" with a wand, does he need to have that spell in his "known spells" list?

[Loreguard]

Decent question

But I think when they specify a Spell List, they are talking about the magical spell list of a tradition, Divine, Primal, Arcane, Occult. Spells known/learned, are spells you have encountered, have rolled to understand, that are on your list. Spontaneous casters have a Repertoire which is a subset of their spells known, which is the list of spells that they can cast at any moment. (spontaneous casters have to 'learn' any rare or uncommon spell, and retrain their spell to make it part of their Repertoire, based on my understanding)

So I think spell list would refer to the main list, based on tradition. Note, I believe classes that grant bonus spells outside those normal for the tradition, add those spells to that individual's list. But I'm not positive about that.

[Aservan]

Spell list is just that: Arcane, Divine, Occult, or Primal. It means a Wizard can't use a heal spell from a wand or staff, and Clerics can't normally use cast a fireball from an item. There's a trick item feat that lets you get around these restrictions.

It's not explicitly stated, but presumably a Sorcerer with a complicated bloodline (various feats) has added those spells to his or her list. Thus they can use an item with a spell that's not normally part of their spell list.

You don't actually need to know a spell. It just has to be one you could conceivably cast. Otherwise wands, staffs, and scrolls aren't worth the bulk it takes to haul them around. The whole point of scrolls in RPGs has traditionally been a way for PCs to cast spells they don't normally have. Like giving them a scroll of a spell they will need for the adventure, but aren't high enough level to actually cast yet, or a spell no Vancian caster would ever prepare yet will be worth casting just this once.

[Shahnaz]

Aservan wrote:

Spell list is just that: Arcane, Divine, Occult, or Primal. It means a Wizard can't use a heal spell from a wand or staff, and Clerics can't normally use cast a fireball from an item. There's a trick item feat that lets you get around these restrictions.

It's not explicitly stated, but presumably a Sorcerer with a complicated bloodline (various feats) has added those spells to his or her list. Thus they can use an item with a spell that's not normally part of their spell list.

You don't actually need to know a spell. It just has to be one you could conceivably cast. Otherwise wands, staffs, and scrolls aren't worth the bulk it takes to haul them around. The whole point of scrolls in RPGs has traditionally been a way for PCs to cast spells they don't normally have. Like giving them a scroll of a spell they will need for the adventure, but aren't high enough level to actually cast yet, or a spell no Vancian caster would ever prepare yet will be worth casting just this once.

That's what I thought, but I wanted to make sure.

Thanks.