There seem to be three general ideas for Contigency, and I was wondering what people prefer.
I prefer the non-hp protection. Wording for the HP damage always strikes me as questionable. An extra spell seems good, but not as nice as protection for what otherwise might defeat you entirely.
Well, I would use a Contingency Spell to set up a plan. For instance Contingency a Passwall to pre-plan an escape for a Heist or as an emergency escape in our base.
Interesting idea, I would call that a variant of ''extra spell'. Note, Contingency has to target you, not a wall.
My spell is Dispell Magic, upcast to 5th level, and the wording, is:
"Triggered when I'm affected by anything dispellable that does any of the following to me: Blinds, Frightens, Restrains, Incapacitates, Curses, Confuses, Magic Jar's, or any effect that does not work on creatures immune to charm."
There seem to be three general ideas for Contigency, and I was wondering what people prefer.
I prefer the non-hp protection. Wording for the HP damage always strikes me as questionable. An extra spell seems good, but not as nice as protection for what otherwise might defeat you entirely.
Or have I missed another use of the spell?
As a DM I don’t allow these contingencies. I consider the contingency a “thing that has happened” not “a thing that will happen”. Therefore, “just before I get hit, Otilukes Sphere!” Is not valid. Neither would “When I say the word ‘bye’” because I don’t use contingencies for whenever-I-want to cast options either. It just becomes a lame arbitrary reason for someone to cast contingency any time, which IMO is a lame way to run the spell.
My ideas:
1) When my HP goes below 100, cast an upcasted False Life. This is primarily to protect from PWK after getting knocked below 100 HP.
2) Dispel Magic on self after being affected by a magical spell. Solid reaction and protection from stuff like Hold Person
3) Upcasted Life Transference on ally if they are reduced to 0HP.
These all are legitimate *reactions* to events and not pre-emptive contingencies. I just don’t like the wording of some, obviously your campaign and DM will vary 🙂
I do agree that contingencies should be things that happen, and am VERY confused at why you thought any of what I described applied to that. You are the only one that said "just before I get hit".
Your option 1 is exactly what I was referring to as 'avoid hp damage'
Your option 2 is exactly what I meant as non-hp protection. If you read my personal description of my Contingency, it is just a more advanced and complicated version of it. Why limit it to just Hold Person?
I do think you are being ridiculous about the extra spell as a free action. The fact that you think it is lame, is, well, lame. It is not 'running' the spell any way differently than what the spell description says. Isisting it can only be used defensively instead of offensively is rather limited and foolish. In fact it is often very creative use of the spell, which I encourage.
Why would you allow "Cast Non-Detection on me after anyone uses a divination spell on me", but NOT allow "Cast non-detection on me after I become invisible".
I do agree that contingencies should be things that happen, and am VERY confused at why you thought any of what I described applied to that. You are the only one that said "just before I get hit".
Your option 1 is exactly what I was referring to as 'avoid hp damage'
Your option 2 is exactly what I meant as non-hp protection. If you read my personal description of my Contingency, it is just a more advanced and complicated version of it. Why limit it to just Hold Person?
I do think you are being ridiculous about the extra spell as a free action. The fact that you think it is lame, is, well, lame. It is not 'running' the spell any way differently than what the spell description says. Isisting it can only be used defensively instead of offensively is rather limited and foolish. In fact it is often very creative use of the spell, which I encourage.
Why would you allow "Cast Non-Detection on me after anyone uses a divination spell on me", but NOT allow "Cast non-detection on me after I become invisible".
What’s your contingency for Otiluke’s?
And what’s your contingency for Mislead?
The reason I ask is because... by saying your contingency is “bye”, then anytime your DM says “The enemy casts fireball on you!” Your player will say “bye!” And avoid the fireball entirely. It means your PCs have a pre-emptive free action any time you cast something which makes it very difficult to argue as a DM. Same thing with Otilukes - usually a PC will make the contingency “If I am targeted by a damaging spell”. There you go, you have a pre-emptive contingency once again.
But if you had different ideas about what those contingencies were, I’d love to hear. I just don’t allow them in my campaign because otherwise it’s just a cheap free interrupt IMO.
Per the example listed in the book for Contingency, I believe completely foiling a spell is valid. In the example, Water Breathing is triggered. What if the triggering effect was trap that floods a chamber drowning those within? Except for the time it might take, it is really no different than countering a much faster circumstance that occurs, like a Fireball to the face.
An interesting use would be to have it cast a dominate person on someone if they attack you.
The contingency spell can only affect you. It cannot affect enemies or objects.
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One good use of this spell is to help you buff yourself in a monemt. Store your non-concentration buff spells in there, and have the contingency go off when you say buff.
Another is one that I am not sure how it would work, but store a dimension door in the contingency and have it go off when you say a word or when you are in a AOE spell. This might give you a new reaction that lets you teleport with a word away from danger.
Per the example listed in the book for Contingency, I believe completely foiling a spell is valid. In the example, Water Breathing is triggered. What if the triggering effect was trap that floods a chamber drowning those within? Except for the time it might take, it is really no different than countering a much faster circumstance that occurs, like a Fireball to the face.
Time for drowning is 1 minute x con mod. Min of 1 minute.
so... first the chamber has to fill... then you have to drown...
mich much longer than a fireball that comes, and blows up, all within 6 seconds.
I would allow "Otiluke's activated when my hp goes below 50%
And what’s your contingency for Mislead?
Mislead does not move you, it just makes you invisible and then overlays an illusion of you where you are standing. It's only really useful on your action, so it should be activated by you as a free action on your turn. I would probably use some word, such as "Crap". Or if you are paranoid about silence, by a gesture. I personally like shrugging your left shoulder.
Avoiding a spell entirely: Anyone that plans on using a 5th level [Tooltip Not Found] to negate a Fireball has never heard of the spell Counterspell. But if you have already counterspelled that round and/or are out of spell slots of 3rd or higher level, I see no problem with using your Contigency spell to beat a Fireball spell. Frankly I am surprised that you think a 5th level spell can't do that.
By the way, I think that a "“If I am targeted by a damaging spell” should not work as the spell does not target until after it is fully cast, so the Contigency should go off after the spell. But let's pretend it is legal. I would still let them do it as it is a wasteful use of a contingency spell. In fact I would encourage players to make that kind of silly mistake. I would not waste your one Contigency (5th level spell) trying to stop something that a mere 3rd level counterspell can stop. At the very least put a spell limit in it along the lines of "If I am targeted by a damaging spell of 5th level or higher.", even better put in a "If I try and fail to counterspell a spell that damages me", or my personal favorite "If I have already used my reaction and I am targeted by a damaging spell of 5th level or higher". Once again, let me remind you that I do not think the words "If I am targetted by" are legal, as the targetting happens as the last part of casting the spell. But ignoring that, I do not think stopping a single spell of any type is a wise use of Counterspell.
Yes, an interrupt is a perfectly fine use of a 5th level spell. Basically you are doing something only slightly better than a 3rd level spell, and costing your only use of Contingency to do it.
There seem to be three general ideas for Contigency, and I was wondering what people prefer.
I prefer the non-hp protection. Wording for the HP damage always strikes me as questionable. An extra spell seems good, but not as nice as protection for what otherwise might defeat you entirely.
Or have I missed another use of the spell?
Well, I would use a Contingency Spell to set up a plan. For instance Contingency a Passwall to pre-plan an escape for a Heist or as an emergency escape in our base.
Interesting idea, I would call that a variant of ''extra spell'. Note, Contingency has to target you, not a wall.
My spell is Dispell Magic, upcast to 5th level, and the wording, is:
"Triggered when I'm affected by anything dispellable that does any of the following to me: Blinds, Frightens, Restrains, Incapacitates, Curses, Confuses, Magic Jar's, or any effect that does not work on creatures immune to charm."
As a DM I don’t allow these contingencies. I consider the contingency a “thing that has happened” not “a thing that will happen”. Therefore, “just before I get hit, Otilukes Sphere!” Is not valid. Neither would “When I say the word ‘bye’” because I don’t use contingencies for whenever-I-want to cast options either. It just becomes a lame arbitrary reason for someone to cast contingency any time, which IMO is a lame way to run the spell.
My ideas:
1) When my HP goes below 100, cast an upcasted False Life. This is primarily to protect from PWK after getting knocked below 100 HP.
2) Dispel Magic on self after being affected by a magical spell. Solid reaction and protection from stuff like Hold Person
3) Upcasted Life Transference on ally if they are reduced to 0HP.
These all are legitimate *reactions* to events and not pre-emptive contingencies. I just don’t like the wording of some, obviously your campaign and DM will vary 🙂
I do agree that contingencies should be things that happen, and am VERY confused at why you thought any of what I described applied to that. You are the only one that said "just before I get hit".
Your option 1 is exactly what I was referring to as 'avoid hp damage'
Your option 2 is exactly what I meant as non-hp protection. If you read my personal description of my Contingency, it is just a more advanced and complicated version of it. Why limit it to just Hold Person?
I do think you are being ridiculous about the extra spell as a free action. The fact that you think it is lame, is, well, lame. It is not 'running' the spell any way differently than what the spell description says. Isisting it can only be used defensively instead of offensively is rather limited and foolish. In fact it is often very creative use of the spell, which I encourage.
Why would you allow "Cast Non-Detection on me after anyone uses a divination spell on me", but NOT allow "Cast non-detection on me after I become invisible".
What’s your contingency for Otiluke’s?
And what’s your contingency for Mislead?
The reason I ask is because... by saying your contingency is “bye”, then anytime your DM says “The enemy casts fireball on you!” Your player will say “bye!” And avoid the fireball entirely. It means your PCs have a pre-emptive free action any time you cast something which makes it very difficult to argue as a DM. Same thing with Otilukes - usually a PC will make the contingency “If I am targeted by a damaging spell”. There you go, you have a pre-emptive contingency once again.
But if you had different ideas about what those contingencies were, I’d love to hear. I just don’t allow them in my campaign because otherwise it’s just a cheap free interrupt IMO.
Per the example listed in the book for Contingency, I believe completely foiling a spell is valid. In the example, Water Breathing is triggered. What if the triggering effect was trap that floods a chamber drowning those within? Except for the time it might take, it is really no different than countering a much faster circumstance that occurs, like a Fireball to the face.
An interesting use would be to have it cast a dominate person on someone if they attack you.
The contingency spell can only affect you. It cannot affect enemies or objects.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
One good use of this spell is to help you buff yourself in a monemt. Store your non-concentration buff spells in there, and have the contingency go off when you say buff.
Another is one that I am not sure how it would work, but store a dimension door in the contingency and have it go off when you say a word or when you are in a AOE spell. This might give you a new reaction that lets you teleport with a word away from danger.
When the DM smiles, it is already to late.
Time for drowning is 1 minute x con mod. Min of 1 minute.
so... first the chamber has to fill... then you have to drown...
mich much longer than a fireball that comes, and blows up, all within 6 seconds.
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What’s your contingency for Otiluke’s?:
I would allow "Otiluke's activated when my hp goes below 50%
And what’s your contingency for Mislead?
Mislead does not move you, it just makes you invisible and then overlays an illusion of you where you are standing. It's only really useful on your action, so it should be activated by you as a free action on your turn. I would probably use some word, such as "Crap". Or if you are paranoid about silence, by a gesture. I personally like shrugging your left shoulder.
Avoiding a spell entirely: Anyone that plans on using a 5th level [Tooltip Not Found] to negate a Fireball has never heard of the spell Counterspell. But if you have already counterspelled that round and/or are out of spell slots of 3rd or higher level, I see no problem with using your Contigency spell to beat a Fireball spell. Frankly I am surprised that you think a 5th level spell can't do that.
By the way, I think that a "“If I am targeted by a damaging spell” should not work as the spell does not target until after it is fully cast, so the Contigency should go off after the spell. But let's pretend it is legal. I would still let them do it as it is a wasteful use of a contingency spell. In fact I would encourage players to make that kind of silly mistake. I would not waste your one Contigency (5th level spell) trying to stop something that a mere 3rd level counterspell can stop. At the very least put a spell limit in it along the lines of "If I am targeted by a damaging spell of 5th level or higher.", even better put in a "If I try and fail to counterspell a spell that damages me", or my personal favorite "If I have already used my reaction and I am targeted by a damaging spell of 5th level or higher". Once again, let me remind you that I do not think the words "If I am targetted by" are legal, as the targetting happens as the last part of casting the spell. But ignoring that, I do not think stopping a single spell of any type is a wise use of Counterspell.
Yes, an interrupt is a perfectly fine use of a 5th level spell. Basically you are doing something only slightly better than a 3rd level spell, and costing your only use of Contingency to do it.