Extra Spell

[Efrate]

Can you use extra spell to learn a spell that is not on your class list and cast it as if it were? Even if its normally only sorcerer only? What about an arcane caster learning a divine spell? Or Visa Versa? How does it work? I assume its normal WotC bad wording, but this seems a fair ruling considering expanded knowledge gets you a power from another class's list. Or shape soulmeld similarly. If there an official answer on this?

[Aegis013]

Most and simultaneously least official ruling: ask your DM.

It's simply horribly ambiguous.

[Inevitability]

RAW, I'm fairly sure you can. I'm also fairly sure there's a FAQ somewhere saying you can't, though.

My advice to your DM: allow it. Giving up a feat slot for a single extra spell (with restrictions on which one you can pick) seems balanced enough, especially considering the various 'initiate' feats give several spells at the cost of a single feat. In addition: if only the own spell list can be used, the feat is only useful for spontaneous casters (and maybe some wizards), whereas if all spell lists are fair game, the feat becomes available for more classes.

Not to mention that ruling it this way allows for more interesting characters. If you want to play a wizard who's also a skilled chef, getting actual food-themed spells may be hard. Now you can just take Extra Spell (Estanna's Stew) and have an actual spell to support your theme.

[Troacctid]

RAW, the normal rules for selecting spells still apply except where the feat notes otherwise.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

RAW, the normal rules for selecting spells still apply except where the feat notes otherwise.Which basically makes it useless for the vast majority of characters. See above.

[Flickerdart]

Which basically makes it useless for the vast majority of characters. See above.
To be fair, most feats in 3,5 are useless for the vast majority of characters, and at least half are useless for all characters.

[Inevitability]

To be fair, most feats in 3,5 are useless for the vast majority of characters, and at least half are useless for all characters.

The question is: should we encourage this situation by ruling the normal rules still apply, or should we encourage diverse characters with many viable choices?

[Troacctid]

Which basically makes it useless for the vast majority of characters. See above.
Still better than half the feats in Complete Arcane. How many of your characters are taking Fortify Spell or Arcane Defense?

[Kelb_Panthera]

D&D 3e is an exception based rule system. Unless the feat specifically relaxes the normal spell selection restrictions, they remain in place. In this case the feat does not, so you're stuck picking from your normal class list.

It's a terrible feat for a spellbook caster or any prepared divine caster but it's not utterly worthless for spontaneous casters for whom a common complaint is that they don't get enough spells known (regardless of whether you think that complaint is valid or not).

There's also the hilarious loophole inherent in a two level dip into chameleon and getting a new spell for free everyday, as has been suggested above. Combine with a blessed book and a geometer dip for maximum effect.