contingency [Archive] - Wizards Community

contingency [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ishpumalibu
12-22-07, 07:51 PM Ok, so I understand that this spell creates a chance to cast spells on a contingency, but is it basically just like having a readied action? what are it's limits? Sorry I just really don't understand the whole thing.
Rebel7284
12-22-07, 09:27 PM it's indeed similar to a readied action. Basically

while(true){
if(condition == specified condition){
cast spell
}
}
ishpumalibu
12-22-07, 10:30 PM so why waste a spell slot to ready the spell you want to cast when you could just do that.?
HalfSlime
12-22-07, 10:39 PM Magic items > contingency

I guess it would free up your actions during combat though so that you wouldn't have to spend an action to ready a spell. One good use for it would be as an auto-res if you arcane/divine multiclass.
Anyr
12-22-07, 11:05 PM so why waste a spell slot to ready the spell you want to cast when you could just do that.?

Because with Contingency you can put up your contingency to (for example) teleport you away when someone attacks and go about your business as usual. With a readied action you'd be stuck just walking very slowly and doing nothing but saying "I ready an action to teleport if someone attacks" over and over again. Readied actions require you to give up your current turn's action, whereas contingencies fire automatically and instantaneously without input after casting.
ishpumalibu
12-23-07, 12:21 AM so you can get more than one rounds action in a round with it then? cast spell move....get attacked, then teleport automatically goes off?
HalfSlime
12-23-07, 12:30 AM yes, but you must specify the specific conditions under which the spell is activated. (In this case, getting attacked)
Vegepygmy
12-23-07, 01:38 AM I don't think Ishpumalibu understands how contingency works at all, and thus the answers being given aren't making sense to him.

Ishpumalibu, contingency doesn't allow you to cast a spell when a particular event occurs, it casts the spell for you. So it takes no effort or action on your part.

You could, for example, use contingency to specify that if you become paralyzed, you will teleport away. If you get hit with a hold person spell, the contingent teleport then comes into effect and you teleport away, even though you are helpless and unable to cast any spells at all.

Is that clearer for you?
ishpumalibu
12-23-07, 01:42 AM yeah, thanks that explains it alot better, I loaned a friend my phb so I couldn't even really read the actual description, but that clears up my misunderstanding of the spell thanks!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ishpumalibu 12-22-07, 07:51 PM	Ok, so I understand that this spell creates a chance to cast spells on a contingency, but is it basically just like having a readied action? what are it's limits? Sorry I just really don't understand the whole thing.
Rebel7284 12-22-07, 09:27 PM	it's indeed similar to a readied action. Basically while(true){ if(condition == specified condition){ cast spell } }
ishpumalibu 12-22-07, 10:30 PM	so why waste a spell slot to ready the spell you want to cast when you could just do that.?
HalfSlime 12-22-07, 10:39 PM	Magic items > contingency I guess it would free up your actions during combat though so that you wouldn't have to spend an action to ready a spell. One good use for it would be as an auto-res if you arcane/divine multiclass.
Anyr 12-22-07, 11:05 PM	so why waste a spell slot to ready the spell you want to cast when you could just do that.? Because with Contingency you can put up your contingency to (for example) teleport you away when someone attacks and go about your business as usual. With a readied action you'd be stuck just walking very slowly and doing nothing but saying "I ready an action to teleport if someone attacks" over and over again. Readied actions require you to give up your current turn's action, whereas contingencies fire automatically and instantaneously without input after casting.
ishpumalibu 12-23-07, 12:21 AM	so you can get more than one rounds action in a round with it then? cast spell move....get attacked, then teleport automatically goes off?
HalfSlime 12-23-07, 12:30 AM	yes, but you must specify the specific conditions under which the spell is activated. (In this case, getting attacked)
Vegepygmy 12-23-07, 01:38 AM	I don't think Ishpumalibu understands how contingency works at all, and thus the answers being given aren't making sense to him. Ishpumalibu, contingency doesn't allow you to cast a spell when a particular event occurs, it casts the spell for you. So it takes no effort or action on your part. You could, for example, use contingency to specify that if you become paralyzed, you will teleport away. If you get hit with a hold person spell, the contingent teleport then comes into effect and you teleport away, even though you are helpless and unable to cast any spells at all. Is that clearer for you?
ishpumalibu 12-23-07, 01:42 AM	yeah, thanks that explains it alot better, I loaned a friend my phb so I couldn't even really read the actual description, but that clears up my misunderstanding of the spell thanks!