Strength passives increase DMG on physical wands?

Just got into the beta overnight :D

Anyway, I am trying out the Templar but I want to be ranged hence the wand and do spells. Will this help me if I plan on playing mostly alone?

Also, my wand apparently does physical damage even though I can hit things from afar. So if I get some strength passives to increase physical damage, does it work on the wand or no?

Strength will only increase the damage of wands if you get the passive called Iron Grip, or if you have an Iron Grip support gem linked with a wand skill.

Also it is possible to use a bow as a Templar, just another option.

Increasing strength will increase melee damage, unfortunately that isn't a wand. However there is one passive that will allow non melee attack to benefit from extra melee damage from other passives.

However, passives which generally grant +% physical damage will cover wands.

Thanks!