Scrolls and Inherent CL Bonuses

[Cuup]

Scrolls have a preset CL, usually the lowest possible, resulting in lower durations, range, damage, etc. than if you were to cast the spell yourself. I know that feats like Spell Focus affect scrolls, or Evoker Wizards using an Evocation spell scroll. However, if the user receives an automatic bonus to his CL, say from a Wizard with Alchemical Affinity using a scroll of Resist Energy, would the spell (normally CL 3rd) manifest at CL 4th?

[Val'bryn2]

Your premise is wrong. Spell focus doesn't affect scrolls. Nothing affects scrolls except for a few archtype abilities.

[David knott 242]

Although I suppose it might affect the caster level if the creator of the scroll has such an ability and he doesn't want to "dumb it down" as is typically done with scrolls found as treasure....

[LordKailas]

unless you have an ability that specifically affects scrolls, the spell is cast at the level the scroll was created at. Pathfinder Savants (a PRC) get to use their own caster level in place of the scroll's level. Even then I'm not sure that feats like alchemical affinity would apply since the ability doesn't indicate that anything changes other than using your own caster level in place of the scroll's caster level.

[Mark Hoover 330]

Look at Cypher Magic for a static +1 CL bonus when using scrolls. You also gain a +2 on the check to use a scroll of a level higher than your own. I like the trick of creating my own scrolls as a Wizard 1 with the Arcanist archetype and spending a point from my Arcane Pool to up the CL by 1. Put that in a scroll, then read the Cl 2 scroll so that the final scroll casts at CL 3. Bonus points if you can work your feats out to getting a Familiar, giving the familiar one of the feats where CL is +1 when you cast a spell on them, then casting the CL 3 scroll on your familiar.

4 hours of Mage Armor on your little buddy at level 1? Yes please...

[merpius]

CypherMage also has "Insightful Scroll" which allows you to use spell casting feats and stuff with scrolls and "Enhance Scroll" which lets you use your CL, which simply reinforces LordKailas' idea that, ordinarily, featsd and such would NOT work with scrolls, even if you are substituting your own CL.