DMs Help ME Sorcerer Just Picked Contingency!

[Philip]

This is no problem at all. Basically, there are two sorts of contingencies, conscious and unconscious ones. You can solve any conscious contingency by just stating: 'X happens when I will it. Or Y triggers when I think of it'. There is no reason why contingencies are not allowed to trigger off a thought.

A bigger problem is when you want to trigger the contingency as you are being sneak attacked by that invisible rogue; the unconscious contingency.

 

[jgsugden]

If you're having trouble with contingency, maybe you should look elsewhere in the PHB for more guidance.

Contingency is one of two 'thinking' spells in the PHB. The other is magic mouth. Each spell is basically asked to 'decide' when the trigger criteria has been met. Although the two spells are worded differently, I tend to think of them both as operating in the same fashion. A DM may be wise to house rule that contingency follows the magic mouth trigger rules.

The triggering rules in magic mouth are a bit clearer, though they still leave open many of the questions we have for contingency.

Basically, they limit the trigger to visual or audible triggers and may not contain 'game terms' like level, hit dice, alignment or class. I personally expand this to also include vague state of mind concepts like 'hostile' or 'friendly'. I see no reason why the spell should understand what makes something hostile of friendly. In the end, my version makes most adjectives a no-no. This makes the spell easier to rule, but more limited in scope.

Magic mouth also limits triggers to a range of 15 feet per caster level, which I find to be a good rule for contingency. As written int he SRD, I do not see anything that technically prevents you from using contingency to see what happens on the far side of the world. "I want an arcane mark to appear on my hand if the Prince of Persia is attacked."

 

[shilsen]

If you're having trouble with contingency, maybe you should look elsewhere in the PHB for more guidance.

Contingency is one of two 'thinking' spells in the PHB. The other is magic mouth. Each spell is basically asked to 'decide' when the trigger criteria has been met. Although the two spells are worded differently, I tend to think of them both as operating in the same fashion. A DM may be wise to house rule that contingency follows the magic mouth trigger rules.

Damnit! You took my suggestion! Aargh!

 

[kwiqsilver]

But Chain Contingency still has a 6th level limit. Haste and Tenser's Transformation would be ok.

Andargor

I'll have to look that up. If I missed that part, I'll have to come up with a new spell: maybe Fire Shield or Greater Invisibility.
I only got to use the Ironbody Contingency Combo once, but it was awesome: we entered a room guarded by ten "enhanced" gem golems (mostly diamond), we left with a big bag of gems and a dead rogue.

 

[jgsugden]

Very cool. Good quote Jgsugden.

Hey, if your DM says it is unfair to allow you to cast spells this way, point him towards feather fall ...

 

[the Jester]

My epic-level alienist's contingency goes off when she is "attacked by creature, weapon or spell."

As an aside on the subject- anyone else ever think to put a contact other plane in your chain contingency? It goes off instantly, and it only affects you; so I'd think it would be a valuable way to find out who just did whatever triggered your contingency, why, and whether you should RUN AWAY!!!

 

[allenw]

Any I thoughts on my "what does 'affects your person' mean?" question above? I had some editing troubles, so folks may not have seen it on their first pass.

 

[Grayhawk]

As written int he SRD, I do not see anything that technically prevents you from using contingency to see what happens on the far side of the world. "I want an arcane mark to appear on my hand if the Prince of Persia is attacked."

While this may not be the intended usage of the spell, I think it would be a cool way of using it!

If nothing else, it can explain how the high level Wizard knows exactly when to pop up...

 

[Pax]

Another good trigger for contingency or chain contingency is "when X spell is cast on me". I had an arena character who set himself up to get nondetection, thunderlance, and tenser's transformation - the moment he cast Stalking Spell on himself. So, if he decided spell-slinging wasn't the option to pursue at any given moment, he coudl cast the stalkign spell, go silent and invisible - and the chain contingency would give him nondetection (to defeat see invisibility and such), a melee weapon (thunderlance), and the ability to HANDLE melee (tenser's transformation) -- all at once.

So, Kwiqsilver, consider making "when I cast iron body on myself" as your trigger! ^_^ Have it fire off tenser's transformation, haste, and something else useful (polyself, for a good combat shape, maybe?). ^_^

 

[niastri]

I'd say that any trigger has to do with the sorcerer himself, like the examples in the PHB. And "combat starts" is way to general. Let's say the sorcerer is watching a gladiatorial game. Would that turn him invisible? He's walking merrily along a road, when in the meadow next to it a combat between ant and aphid starts, whoosh, invisible?

Nah, he needs to come up with something a little more restricted. "Whenever I get attacked" should work. Even "when someone within 30 feet draws a weapon" should work out fine...

Or how about a role playing definition:

"whenever <my character> feels immediate danger"

With poor wording, he better not make eye contact with that pretty bar maid...


Or he can say many other things that didn't work how he wanted. If anybody ever watched Charmed, they could gain good ideas about poorly worded spells all day long.