First of all, WELCOME TO PATHFINDER! I hope you find the community here supportive and helpful.
Regarding using scrolls, stick to the rules in the Game Master's Guide, page 52. That's all you need for the Beginner Box rules.
So to answer your questions:
Yes, the "Fireball" scroll is the same as the "Fireball" spell listed under level 3 Wizard spells.
The caster level of the scroll doesn't matter for activating the scroll or copying it to your spellbook. So yes, your 1st level Wizard can copy it to his or her spellbook. However, he cannot prepare it yet from the spellbook until he's capable of memorizing level 3 spells. Alternatively, he or she can only activate the scroll now and use the fireball once -- but then the scroll becomes useless afterward.
Also, watch out for the fact that spell "level" isn't the same as character level. Wizards and Clerics need to become Level 3 before they can cast SECOND level spells, and need to become Level 5 before they can cast THIRD level spells.
The caster level of the scroll doesn't matter for activating the scroll or copying it to your spellbook. So yes, your 1st level Wizard can copy it to his or her spellbook. However, he cannot prepare it yet from the spellbook until he's capable of memorizing level 3 spells. Alternatively, he or she can only activate the scroll now and use the fireball once -- but then the scroll becomes useless afterward.
I thought the person activating the scroll to cast it had to be high enough level to cast the spell. I could be wrong.
I thought the person activating the scroll to cast it had to be high enough level to cast the spell. I could be wrong.
Nope. If you meet the other requirements, but your caster level is too low, you have to make a caster level check to use the scroll. But its still possible. A 1st level wizard can cast Wish from a scroll if he wanted to. (Assuming he had a 19 or higher Intelligence, and succeeded on the DC 18 caster level check.)
I thought the person activating the scroll to cast it had to be high enough level to cast the spell. I could be wrong.Nope. If you meet the other requirements, but your caster level is too low, you have to make a caster level check to use the scroll. But its still possible. A 1st level wizard can cast Wish from a scroll if he wanted to. (Assuming he had a 19 or higher Intelligence, and succeeded on the DC 18 caster level check.)
Right on. I just checked the SRD and noted that I have been doing it wrong for who knows how long. Thanks for the clarification.
If you meet the other requirements, but your caster level is too low, you have to make a caster level check to use the scroll
Using the Core Rules, yes... you need a successful Caster Level check for activating the spell off a scroll.
But the Beginner Box rules don't require this. All the rules for scrolls are in the Game Master's Guide p. 52.
All the Core Rules are optional in relation to the Beginner Box. If the OP is interested, the Core Rules for activating a scroll say:
d20 + PC's caster level must beat a DC of 1 + scroll's caster level
So a Level 1 wizard would need to roll a 4 or higher on a d20, to successfully activate the Fireball spell: 4 plus 1 equals the caster level 5.
If the caster fails, the scroll survives. But the player must do a DC 5 Wisdom ability check to avoid a mishap. All these rules are at this link
The Core Rules do not require a caster level check for copying a scroll to one's spellbook.
Thanks to the Open Gaming Licence, you don't even need to buy the Core Rulebook to start adding exiting things to the Beginner Box, although you'll probably still want to pick up the Core (and eventually other supplements too!).
D20pfsrd.com is an enormous and excellent resource for these sorts of things, containing rules and stats for more or less anything you might encounter, and is great for when your players do things you weren't expecting.
Scrolls are a way to store magic for later use- particularly handy for clerics and wizards, who cannot change their prepared spells once they've chosen them. In the full game, Wizards even start with the ability to scribe their own scrolls!
Whoops, the math is wrong in my spoiler post. You have been forewarned. :)
That's great to hear! (Seriously, I haven't heard of any newbies not having fun with the Beginner Box.)
As for having something to hand out to the kids, you may want to consider this product. (I don't have it myself, but this is the "starter" set so it's probably a good place to start.)
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Wow, that product looks pretty nice. I will defiantly look it over!
They are nice but they do not have any game statistics on the cards themselves. You will have to write or copy/cut/paste/glue information to the cards. They can be useful to help keep track of resources that might get lost on the character sheet.
I think your solution of copy/cut the items from the BB is a great idea to now. I might suggest doing the same with spells if your kids are playing a spell caster. It helps to have the reference in front of you and helps to keep track of resources used.
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They are nice but they do not have any game statistics on the cards themselves. You will have to write or copy/cut/paste/glue information to the cards. They can be useful to help keep track of resources that might get lost on the character sheet.
Wow, that product looks pretty nice. I will defiantly look it over!
One thing I have seen, which is a great idea IMO, is using this type of card with card sleeves (If you play or have seen Magic the Gathering played, you know what I mean), then all you do is print out the stats, cut thme to the correct size, and slide them into the sleeve with the card, so the item picture is on one side, and the game stats are on the other.
Easy to update/change, when new items are found and old ones get used (potions & scrolls) or sold off.
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I would quiet the talk about "scrolls" you might get sued.
I would quiet the talk about "scrolls" you might get sued.
Huh?
Ahhh...