Witch dedication should provide her with the Cast a Spell activity, so she should be able to activate wands. From there it only matters that the spell is on her traditions list, which Longstider is definitely a Primal spell.
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Again I would mention that this is not entirely clear or without controversy.
The CRB very clearly says that a Spellcasting Class Feature is needed in order to use the Cast a Spell item activation. And the CRB Multiclass Archetype rules very clearly say that the Basic Spellcasting feat is what gives an archetype character a Spellcasting Class Feature.
The Advanced Player's Guide does not have that second rule in its Spellcasting Multiclass Archetype rules. And a lot of people, including Logan Bonner take that to mean that the dedication feat alone is sufficient to use spellcasting item activation.
Spellcasting Dedication feats let you cast from Wands, Scrolls, and Staves, but nothing else, so no Spellhearts.
You might at least state your reasoning for saying that. Stating it as though it is obvious just makes you sound confusing.
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And a lot of people, including Logan Bonner take that to mean that the dedication feat alone is sufficient to use spellcasting item activation.
If you're refering to the ask a designer video form How it's played, that was not just Logan's personal opinion. As I understand it, the questions asked in those videos get presented to paizo before the actual "interview" happens and are discussed and solved by the whole design team.
So this video is probably the most official response we have on that matter.
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Yes but there is not always a good correspondance in the detail of the questions. It does get frustrating when the rules were clear, then they muddy the waters.
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If you're refering to the ask a designer video form How it's played, that was not just Logan's personal opinion. As I understand it, the questions asked in those videos get presented to paizo before the actual "interview" happens and are discussed and solved by the whole design team.
So this video is probably the most official response we have on that matter.
That sentiment doesn't change the fact that his answer in that video is a clear and blatant contradiction of what is clearly printed in the CRB.
If all of the Paizo game devs want to change what is in the CRB, there is a process for that. One that doesn't involve YouTube.
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Spellcasting Dedication feats let you cast from Wands, Scrolls, and Staves, but nothing else, so no Spellhearts.You might at least state your reasoning for saying that. Stating it as though it is obvious just makes you sound confusing.
Because the rules of Spellcasting Archetypes say so.
A spellcasting archetype allows you to use scrolls, staves, and wands in the same way that a member of a spellcasting class can.
Once you take the Basic Spellcasting Feat you can Cast a Spell from anything else.
A spellcasting archetype allows you to use scrolls, staves, and wands in the same way that a member of a spellcasting class can.Once you take the Basic Spellcasting Feat you can Cast a Spell from anything else.
Thanks.
See, this better highlights the reasoning. Spellhearts aren't able to be used because they aren't on the override list. Neither are any other Cast a Spell activation items that may be published.
Which leads to a couple of different questions:
Why are some Cast a Spell activation items allowed and others are not?
If this rule text from the APG is all that we are following, why would taking the Basic Spellcasting feat allow you to use the other Cast a Spell Activation items - there is still nothing that is giving you a Spellcasting Class Feature.
Is anyone else desperately hoping that this is one of the things covered in the first scheduled errata in the spring? Or is it just me?
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It does seem like a bit of clarification would be a good idea.
Certainly.
And to be clear myself on my logic:
Item Activation in the CRB Says the following.
Command ...
Envision ...
Interact ...
Cast a Spell
If an item lists “Cast a Spell” after “Activate,” the activation requires you to use the Cast a Spell activity to Activate the Item. This happens when the item replicates a spell. You must have a spellcasting class feature to Activate an Item with this activation component. If the item can be used for a specific spell, the action icon for that spell is provided. If it's an item like a staff, which can be used for many spells, the icon is omitted, and you must refer to each spell to determine which actions you must spend to Activate the Item to cast it.
And nothing in the APG contradicts this.
The Spellcasting Archetype rules from the CRB says:
A spellcasting archetype allows you to use scrolls, staves, and wands in the same way that a member of a spellcasting class can, and the basic spellcasting feat counts as having a spellcasting class feature.
So while it also has that short list of items and the indication that the Archetype allows you to use them, it also clearly specifies that the Archetype does this by providing you with the Basic Spellcasting feat, not with just the Dedication feat and simply 'having' the Archetype. Only after you take that Basic Spellcasting feat are you considered to have the Spellcasting Class Feature necessary for Cast a Spell item activation.
This also means that following this rules text does not run into the forward printing problem that the APG rule does. That list of items that the Archetype allows you to use are only an example list. It gives the Spellcasting Class Feature that allows you to use all spellcasting items.
My Oracle can use spellhearts because she is an Oracle. She also has a witch dedication because I needed a better attack cantrip. If that is enough to trigger a longstrider wand, great! That makes my fast little elven duskwalker very happy indeed.
Thank you, everyone!
Yes. That should do the job under any interpretation of the rules.
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My Oracle can use spellhearts because she is an Oracle. She also has a witch dedication because I needed a better attack cantrip. If that is enough to trigger a longstrider wand, great! That makes my fast little elven duskwalker very happy indeed.
Thank you, everyone!
Quick warning: going with an archetype for your attack cantrip is going to be a bit problematic in the long term. Your proficiency will lag behind even if you do keep buying up your archetype spellcasting as the feats become available, and as a witch you'll have to cast with int rather than cha.
There are solutions to the "I need a better attack cantrip" issue that don't incur these problems, but they pretty much all come out of ancestry feats, which might demand things of you that you're not willing to give. Additionally/alternately, you could always archetype into sorceror rather than witch for primal access. It wouldn't solve the diminished proficiency issue, but it would at least mean that you were using the same casting stat. Of course, it would also mean that you don't get Basic Lesson or the freebie familiar, so it's possible that that's not acceptable to you either.
As far as the cantrips go... as an elf, you can pick up the Otherworldly Magic feat, which gives you one arcane cantrip as an innate spell, or Wildborn Magic (uncommon) that does the same with primal. You can also take Elemental Wrath, which woudl give you Acid Splash as an innate primal spell that requires only verbal component and lets you pick an element when you take the feat. Innate spells run on charisma. I personally believe (and would rule) that they are based off of your highest casting proficiency as well, but I know there is at least some debate on the topic. That would be a matter to ask your DM on.