Contingency spell

[alientude]

Does a contingency spell know when you are targeted by a 5th level or higher spell or spell-like ability, and can it trigger before the spell takes effect?

My reading is that the spell is not Divination, and cannot forsee that a spell/spell-like is targeting the person, nor does it know what level the effect is, and it can't tell who the target is until the spell takes effect.

I think the spell is more reactive that proactive.

[sunbeam]

That is an age old conundrum. If you look at all the ways people say you can use it "If I am about to be attacked," "If something is in the room that can kill me," "If someone casts Dispel Magic," etc.

I've never been real clear on what contingency knows, and when it knows it. The flavor text says a contingency can last on a body for centuries.

But take for example being attacked. Say someone is hiding and attacks you. Some people say stuff like "If I am attacked, my Stoneskin activates."

Well and good. But when does Stoneskin activate? After you are wounded maybe? Before you get a chance to be wounded? Is the Contingency effect all knowing, it knows an assassin behind you just shot at your back? Even if you don't have the slightest idea?

I've seen it played a lot of different ways over the years. I tend to think this spell is given more power than it deserves. Some of the wordings I've seen make it more powerful than a much higher level divination. You know things like "If a hostile outsider with evil intent comes within 10 feet of me..."

My 2 cents.

In regards to your question, how exactly does Contingency know you are being attacked by a 5th level spell? Does it know more than you do? I used to like to think Contingency was like some kind of mentally programmed reflex in your mind, ie you were actually casting the contingent spell. Basically you set up some kind of guard "program" with your subconscious that monitored things. I thought it was elegant, because it wasn't capable of knowledge beyond what you already knew or perceived.

It was pointed out to me that this doesn't gibe with the spell description.

So good luck with this. I think it has been a screwy spell for a long time, and has never been properly addressed unless one of those old Dragon magazines did it somewhere.

[Jiggy]

I can say that I've seen two different examples of published BBEGs having contingency set for "when I'm reduced to XX hit points or less". So, whatever that means for you.

Also (somewhat in response to sunbeam, above), contingency does not cause you to cast the other spell. The companion spell has already been cast (when you cast contingency) and simply comes into effect at the prescribed time whether you want it to or not. I think this makes it pretty clear that you don't have to be aware of anything. If this seems fishy at first glance, keep in mind that there are multiple ways to gain an ability at first level that lets you act in the surprise round even if you're unaware of your opponents (this also means a high initiative roll can let you act before your attackers). You can get that at first level without having to cast anything and it's "always on". Contingency is a 6th-level spell. It ought to be a LOT better than those abilities, no?

[Mage Evolving]

The way I explain contingency is that it is an incomplete spell. The action or event that you name completes the spell and thus activates it.

Thus if you say "when I am targeted by a high level spell by an enemy". The moment you are targeted the spell becomes complete and activates. However if you say "once I take damage" you will take the damage then the spell while activate.

not sure if that makes sense but it's the way I rationalize the spell.

[Jiggy]

Hmmm...

"When an invisible creature who isn't a Pathfinder comes within 100ft of me, go-go see invisibility!"

:D