Xbox 360 n00b question - how do I use Scroll Spells without damaging myself

[RT2K]

Please be gentle with me, not only am I am new here but I am new to the Elder Scrolls series and RPG's in general.

My problem is that everytime I attempt to use a Scroll spell, for example, Scroll of Blizzard or Scroll of Firestorm, I end up causing more damage to myself than to the opponent.

I am not exactly sure what I am doing wrong. I equip the scroll, then get it ready - it takes a little while to be fully ready for use - then aiming at my opponent I release the button. However, instead of unleashing a damaging blow to my opponent, I end up taking the brunt of the damage sometimes to immediate death with the more powerful scrolls. Also, my follower usually takes as much damage and if I survive the scroll spell, they then attack me and force me to kill him/her.

Obviously I am doing something wrong as the scrolls take no magic skill to use, I would assume it is an easy thing to do.

Can someone provide some guidance.

Much thanks for any help you can provide.

-RT2K

 

[3v3r]

Scrolls aren't supposed to damage you. This is odd sorry I can't help.

 

[RT2K]

Thanks for the reply. That makes it even more confusing, I had just assumed I was doing it wrong. Some examples of the Scroll Spells I've tried:

Scroll of Blizzard - I activated it from my Items menu, it was in my left hand as a weapon. I charged it and aimed at the enemy and fired just like a weapon and the blizzard tore me to shreds immediately!

Scroll of Firestorm - I activated it from my Items menu, it was in my left hand as a weapon. I charged it and aimed at the enemy and fired just like a weapon, this time I caught fire and my health deteriorated rapidly - took potions to keep my health up until the flames subsided. However, Lydia also caught fire and then attacked me... I was hoping she would "cool down" - no pun intended. But she didn't, she just kept causing me saying "Now you've done it," and kept attacking me until I was left with no choice but to kill her

Same thing happened when I tried to use J'zargo's test scroll.

I was just sure there was something I was missing. Since this has happened three times, it can't be an isolated incident... Is there anything I might be doing wrong?

 

[3v3r]

I've used all 3 of these scrolls and only J'zargo's are supposed to damage you. Must be some glitch where J'zargo's effect spread to the rest of the scrolls. Maybe try to reload a previous save, also the blizzard and firestorm scrolls are supposed to be dual wielded they should automatically in both not just in one hand.

 

[RT2K]

Thanks for writing back. You are correct, they are two-handed... honestly I had forgotten because after my first two experiences killed me I avoided the scrolls like the plague... :-D

Until I got J'zargos scrolls. FYI: my issue with the Scroll Spells killing me began long before I had J'zargo's scrolls; long before I had even gone to the College in Winterhold, so it seems unrelated.

 

[Thomas Liu]

never had that problem, and I used a bunch of scrolls when i first tried to wipe out the thieves guild before realizing that i can't, and never got hurt using them as I also used blizzard as well as fire storm. are you on pc, xbox or ps3? Might be a glitch either way.

 

[ub3r_n3rd]

My experience with J'zargos scrolls was that I used it the first time and it hit my follower who immediately started attacking me and trying to kill me. I sheathed and unsheathed my weapons a few times and she still attacked me. I had to go through a different door and hide until the spell from the scroll faded and then caught back up to her and had her follow me again. I thought it was pretty stupid and am still not sure if it was a bug or supposed to happen as a reaction to me using the scroll too close to her. I made sure the next time I used it that I told her to wait behind and then waited for it to fade again before going back to her so that she wouldn't attack me again.