Low level scroll user?

[Crit]

So, my second society character is a first level sorcerer. I've been racking my brain at trying to make him more useful in combat. My solution that I came up with.

With two more PP, I'll be able to buy items from my faction worth up to 500 GP. Scrolls of fireball cost about 375? So, as a second level sorcerer, I'll be able to use fireballs scrolls, created by a fifth level wizard. The book says the spellcaster level check is only 6, is that right (the actual wording is caster level +1)? Most checks I've seen in that book have been 10+ect, not just 1+, I just want to make sure I'm reading that right. It says that the will save to prevent a backfire a 1 is always a miss. Is the 1 always a miss on the caster level check? IE, I won't be able to cast fireball till I'm level 7 anyway, but if I'm level 5, have a fifth level fireball scroll, caster level check is 6 to use it, so will I never fail at level 5 still then?

Is all my theory viable? Also, cost is not really an issue at this time (he tagged along with a couple of slightly higher level groups that all voted to play up because they were in the middle average level wise).

[Bearded Ben]

I'd suggest using the PP to buy wands of first level spells instead. You could be firing magic missiles every round of every combat instead of fireballing once or maybe twice a scenario, not to mention that the wand is far cheaper per shot.

[Crit]

Well, I'm still working on being a well rounded blaster too, so Wands of MM are not off my list. From a practicality standpoint, at point am I able to start collecting second level spell wands? Third level? I don't recall seeing a lot of them on the chronicle sheets. Also, as many sorcerers as I have in my normal game, and as often as we play up, I'm working on setting myself apart as well. If a few dozen missiles are thrown around, the fireball will be much more memorable. However, that's also why I was thinking very highly of using charm person and color spray for the actual spells on my list (as a elemental bloodline, I'll be getting burning hands free at level 3 anyway, and I'll be getting my MM's mostly from wands until about level 3 as well, since that's where the ones I cast will become more powerful).

[Sean Mahoney]

A fireball that does 5d6 is not that impressive when most people can cast it. But at second level when you cast from a scroll? It can pretty much end an encounter. I think this is a fantastic plan. Especially when you factor in that you will be able to pretty much count the number of encounters you are likely to happen upon.

I think people really under estimate the power of using scrolls of spell levels higher than they can cast themselves... good on you for looking at the option.

Sean Mahoney