Forum

[Jack Simth]

Originally Posted by Virsconte

Hi folks, this is my first time posting in the forums and indeed my first campaign, so I was wondering if I could get some advice from the more experienced members of the forum.

Anyways, I am playing a heavily armored Wizard/Fighter and I was not sure how to overcome the inherent spell faliure of full plate, so I looked through the spells sections in the books I borrowed from my group. When reading through one of the forgotten realms books, I stumbled across a metamagic feat called contingency. Here is an exerpt:

"Contingent spells are single use, one spell magic items that do not use a magic item space and do not have a physical form. They remain inactive until triggered, similar to a spell cast with a contingency spell. Once triggered, they immediately take effect upon the bearer...Contingent spells are subject to dispel magic and similar spells...at any one time, a creature can bear a number of contingent spells equal to its hit dice..."

The thing which interested me was how vaguely the book specifies viable triggers for a contingent spell. For example, I could assign the ringing of a bell inscribed with a specific symbol to activate a certain spell which I had stored. This brings me to character build one.
[/FONT][/COLOR]

The standard cheese for this is actually to use a spoken word - as speaking is a free action.

Originally Posted by Virsconte

Hi
My character would craft contingency spells before every adventure, to augment his spell slots. This would free up more of them for troubleshooting and convenience spells, as opposed to blasting and buffs. The main problem with this is that it costs money and experience. In order to counteract this, I may need some devine intervention.

Or, you know, craft scrolls and wands for similar effect.

Originally Posted by Virsconte

Hi
Build two circumvents the the weaknesses of build one by using one additional spell, which is wish. I would craft the contingency spells as normal, but as soon as I was finished I would remove all magical items from the vicinity, and cast wish as follows. "I wish for all magical effects active on me at the current time to be instantaniously made permanent. The weak point of this build is that it would take much longer. With the lost spellcaster levels from taking fighter and kinght phantom, I would need to be ECL 20 in order to cast 9th level spells. If I do get to this level though, the benefits would greatly outweigh the downsides. I would have a character who could cast twenty different spells of any level at will just by ringing a bell. Add in quick draw and reaching the bells becomes a free action.

Err... that's not within the listed safe bounds of a wish. You're inviting a DM smite, or a spell fizzle on a 5,000 xp Wish with this one.

Originally Posted by Virsconte

Hi
The third version is identical to the second, except that the bells are rung, and the the wish is made. The wording of the wish is also changed to "I wish for all spells active on me to instantaniously become spell-like abilities usable at will." The main problem that I can see with this build is that it is more dependant on the whims of the DM.

Again, you're not within the safe bounds of a wish on this. You're inviting a DM smite, or a spell fizzle on a 5,000 xp Wish with this one.

Originally Posted by Virsconte

[COLOR=white][FONT=Verdana]Hi
As I said, any criticism would be welcome, and do not be alarmed, I plan to retire this character as a villain very soon after my plan is in effect.

If the goal is merely to bypass Arcane Spell Failure, just use Craft Wand and Craft Staff - staves and wands are all Verbal only, and you're packing away fifty charges in advance.