Parchment Swarm question

[Zwordsman]

So

Parchment Swarm:

CASTING

Casting Time 1 standard action
Components S, M (blank parchment or magic scroll; see text)

EFFECT

Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one creature
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Reflex half; see text; Spell Resistance yes

DESCRIPTION

When you cast this spell, you quickly tear a parchment into shreds, releasing the flying fragments to swarm around a target creature and deliver thousands of tiny paper cuts.

Using normal parchment, the spell deals 1d6 points of magical slashing damage per caster level (maximum 15d6).

If you use a magic scroll as the material component, choose one of the spells stored in the scroll. If the spell is 1st level, you can choose to apply the effect of that spell to the parchment swarm's target on a failed Reflex save (if the spell on the scroll has its own saving throw, the target then attempts that save as normal). If the spell on the scroll is at least 2nd level, you can choose to instead change parchment swarm to affect a 20-foot-radius spread instead of a single target.

So.. Question about the scroll portions.
The 20foot radius portion in specific. So does that mean if one made a Scroll of intensified maximized shocking grasp and used that scroll in this. That anyone within that 20 foot radius will get hit by it? Effectively turning single target abilities into AOE effects upon failed saves (wasted when they save)

Or is it saying that Parchment swarm's damage changes from a focus target to a 20ft burst, and it does not replicate the scroll's effect? (but as it says Can choose, means you could instead have a higher level scroll take effect on a failed save instead)
?

[Torbyne]

By the reading it sounds like it doesnt carry the spell as a rider anymore and just becomes a 20' blast. which is weird. doing levelXD6 plus a spell effect is an awesome spell but limiting it to a level one spell before it becomes a fireball is... weird. not even occult weird either, just weird.

[Zwordsman]

right?

first reading I assumed it did normal parchemtn damage to the target and the spell's effect was transmitted to the rest of the folks..
That effect? That sounds worth a 4th level slot (doing pretty mediu mdamage) and a pretty expensive scroll.

Just making leveld6 in a 20ft radius is.... weird. I mean I see no benefit of using that over fireball etc. (other than damage types)

I mean there are some cool scrolls for single target-rider version.
but the aoe seems pointless in the other cases.

Feel like it would make more sense that the 20ft was still a rider effect (with no damage)

More so because this is slashing damage, with no enhancment or materials within it.
So All sorts of DR directly apply right?

[shaventalz]

Well, it says magical slashing damage, so I'd assume it at least passes DR/Magic and DR/Slashing.

Another question:
The spell doesn't specify "magic scroll you can cast". Does this mean a Wizard can throw out a single-target Entangle?

[Zwordsman]

That's a bit of the gm variation issue. More so because there are other spells that do B/S/P and some of those state they specifically count in various ways for DR bypassing... I know a few hardcore RAW gm's who wouldn't allow it. Then again I know a few who would..
Though I think it should just for the sake of being more useful and its spell level.

oh neat I never even noticed that...

Yeah I guess it would allow you to use scrolls from other things.. It bypasses all the UMD checks etc.

Now I want to tear up a scroll of Harm and use it. Forgo the 20ft and keep the single target bit..

Main problem with that sorta thing is the Save rolls won't always be that useful sadly.

Really rarely if ever will I go for the 20ft thing.

[Cuup]

Following up on this - assuming the riding scroll effect normally allows a save - say you throw in an Inflict Light Wounds scroll - does the riding Will save calculate its DC based on the scroll, or is the DC equal to Parchment Swarm's DC?