Character by Committee: Building a Runestaff

Greenfield

Adventurer
Okay, public commentary again.

Specialist Wizard who can't use Illusion or Enchantment schools wants to build a Runestaff. Spells up to 5th level legit

What 5 spells would you put in a Runestaff?

This is a sort of a philosophy question, in a way: Do you prepare utility spells and place the big-boom stuff in the staff, or do you make the staff your "utility belt" and load it with less common but ultimately useful spells?

For those who may be unfamiliar, a Runestaff is an item that holds a number of spells, but no "charges" per se. Instead you have to burn a spell slot of the appropriate level (or higher) to fire off the spell. Each spell in the Runestaff can be used up to three times a day. You can only use spells that are on your class list. It's out of Magic Item Compendium, and all the spells in it are supposed to be linked by a common theme, though what counts as "common" isn't really defined.
 

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Does this Wizard have Use Magic Device to utilize the staff for banned spells, or not? Is cost at all a concern/factor? Limiting the higher level spells, uses/day, and the highest level spell on the runestaff can all drastically reduce the cost.

Really, though, Runestaff is much more of a boon to a spont. caster, they're the demographic the item was more intended for.
 

Spell limit is 5th level, and we'll ignore UMD.

Since this is a theoretical item I don't care about the cost. I'm more interested in the spell selections, and the rationale behind them.
 

How much gold is invested in this item? How many spells of what level(obviously up to 5)?

Character Wealth by level states 36,000gp for a 9th level character.
Spells must have at least one spell at level 3 or higher.
Five spells at level 5 would cost:
(5x5x400=10,000)+[(5x5x200=5000)x4]=30,000gp.

Is this Wizard willing to spend most of his cast on this item?
 
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A few suggestions-

Runestaff of Person Modification:
-Permanecy
-Reduce Person
-Enlarge Person
-Detect Magic
-Comprehend Languages

Runestaff of Building:
-Wall of Stone
-Stone Shape
-Fabricate

Runestaff of Travel:
-Mount
-Regal Procession
-Teleport
-Overland Flight
-Xorn Movement

Runestaff of Finding:
-Locate Object
-Scrying
-Locate Creature
-Clairaudience/Clarivoyance

Runestaff of Running Like Hell:
-Expedious Retreat
-Teleport
-Rope Trick
-Blacklight

Runestaff of Nuking:
-Orb of Acid
-Orb of Cold
-Orb of Electricity
-Orb of Fire
-Orb of Force

Runestaff of Buffs:
-Fox's Cunning
-Bear's Endurance
-Cat's Grace
-Bull's Strength
-Draconic Might

Runestaff of Forms:
-Nightstalkers Transformation
-Fiendform
-Draconic Polymorph
-Shadowform
-Alter Self
 
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