Contingent spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Contingent spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Simprini
03-26-06, 12:22 AM If you use the craft contingent spell feat, can you place a baleful polymorph spell on a thief in your party with the trigger being putting any malevolent thoughts against the caster into action transforms the thief into a squirrel. The description says the recipient has to be willing but if the thief doesn't have spellcraft, then he wouldn't really be able to understand the arcane language enough to doubt the "raise dead" contigent I offered him. Would the spell recognize the trigger of putting malevolent thoughts into action or would I have to be as specific as in using a wish spell. This is assuming I was playing an evil wizard who is not so forthcoming with his true nature.
tarkin
03-26-06, 09:30 AM Willing is not a problem as long as you lie to him about what it does and he does not have spellcraft.

Whether the spell can detect his thoughts, that is a harder call.

A strict DM would not allow it, a Power DM would. A Loose DM might or might not.

I think you are better off slamming him with a Quest/Geas
Jherid
03-26-06, 02:00 PM Of course the Contingent spell would know when the condition came about.

The conditions needed to bring the spell into effect must be clear, although they can be general. In all cases, the contingency immediately brings into effect the companion spell, the latter being “cast” instantaneously when the prescribed circumstances occur.
Seeker95
03-26-06, 02:05 PM From contingency:
The conditions needed to bring the spell into effect must be clear, although they can be general.

I would not rule thoughts as a condition. Thoughts are far from clear. I would rule that the condition must be an externally observable phenomenon or action, like taking any malevolent action against the caster.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Simprini 03-26-06, 12:22 AM	If you use the craft contingent spell feat, can you place a baleful polymorph spell on a thief in your party with the trigger being putting any malevolent thoughts against the caster into action transforms the thief into a squirrel. The description says the recipient has to be willing but if the thief doesn't have spellcraft, then he wouldn't really be able to understand the arcane language enough to doubt the "raise dead" contigent I offered him. Would the spell recognize the trigger of putting malevolent thoughts into action or would I have to be as specific as in using a wish spell. This is assuming I was playing an evil wizard who is not so forthcoming with his true nature.
tarkin 03-26-06, 09:30 AM	Willing is not a problem as long as you lie to him about what it does and he does not have spellcraft. Whether the spell can detect his thoughts, that is a harder call. A strict DM would not allow it, a Power DM would. A Loose DM might or might not. I think you are better off slamming him with a Quest/Geas
Jherid 03-26-06, 02:00 PM	Of course the Contingent spell would know when the condition came about. The conditions needed to bring the spell into effect must be clear, although they can be general. In all cases, the contingency immediately brings into effect the companion spell, the latter being “cast” instantaneously when the prescribed circumstances occur.
Seeker95 03-26-06, 02:05 PM	From contingency: The conditions needed to bring the spell into effect must be clear, although they can be general. I would not rule thoughts as a condition. Thoughts are far from clear. I would rule that the condition must be an externally observable phenomenon or action, like taking any malevolent action against the caster.