Resist Energy (Communal) + Contingency

[MrRed]

According to other threats here, I have to decide which Energy Resist Energy protects me against at the time of casting (and not when memorizing). Now I want to cast Contingency plus Resist Energy.

Contigency wrote:

You can place another spell upon your person so that it comes into effect under some condition you dictate when casting contingency. The contingency spell and the companion spell are cast at the same time.

Question A)

So a Contigency + Resist Energy "Cast Resist energy on me when I am attacked by elemental damage protecting me against the specific element I am attacked with" would not work, as Resist Energy is pre-cast with a specific elemental protection (Fire, acid etc.) in mind. So I have to chose the elemnt when I cast C + RE. Is this correct?

Question B)
Now I want to cast Contingency plus Resist Energy (Communal).
"Cast Resist energy (Communal) Fire when I am attacked by fire damage protecting me and also my friends Alfred, Berta, and Caesar given they are in range." According to

Contigency wrote:

The spell to be brought into effect by the contingency must be one that affects your person

IMHO this should work, as it doesnt state that I have to be the only target. So part 1 of question B: Is this correct, i.e. can the Cont. affect other people as long as I am also a target? (E.g. Fireball myself on a hand gesture when I am resisting fire?) And part 2: What happens when Contigency-conditions are met (Fire attack) but one or more of my friends are not in range?

[Claxon]

A) Yes. The element has to be decided at time of casting. Because you can only have one contigency spell in place, you will only be able to cover one type of elemental damage.

B) I'm unsure on this. If you're included then by RAW it would seem the condition is met, however I don't think this is necessarily the RAI. Also, if your friend is out of range then they're out of range and can't be affected by the spell.

[Tiny Coffee Golem]

Not to rain on your parade, but even if it works you'd have to be touching the party members/creatures when the contingency went off. So in an emergency situation it's unlikely you'd be touching many, if any. Unless of course your party has a tendency to hold hands as they adventure.

PFSRD wrote:

Resist Energy
School abjuration; Level alchemist 2, cleric/oracle 2, druid 2, inquisitor 2, paladin 2, ranger 1, sorcerer/wizard 2, summoner 2

CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, DF

EFFECT
Range touch
Target creature touched
Duration 10 min./level
Saving Throw Fortitude negates (harmless); Spell Resistance yes (harmless)

DESCRIPTION
This abjuration grants a creature limited protection from damage of whichever one of five energy types you select: acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic. The subject gains resist energy 10 against the energy type chosen, meaning that each time the creature is subjected to such damage (whether from a natural or magical source), that damage is reduced by 10 points before being applied to the creature's hit points. The value of the energy resistance granted increases to 20 points at 7th level and to a maximum of 30 points at 11th level. The spell protects the recipient's equipment as well.

Resist energy absorbs only damage. The subject could still suffer unfortunate side effects.

Resist energy overlaps (and does not stack with) protection from energy. If a character is warded by protection from energy and resist energy, the protection spell absorbs damage until its power is exhausted.

Resist Energy, Communal

Level alchemist 3, cleric 3, druid 3, inquisitor 3, paladin 3, ranger 3, sorcerer/wizard 3, summoner 3
Target creatures touched

DESCRIPTION
This spell functions like resist energy, except you divide the duration in 10-minute intervals among the creatures touched.

[MrRed]

Thank you for the clarifications, in particular also the RAW/ RAI part. I just got lvl 6 spells and am considering options for Contigency. Resist Energy sounded interesting, but given the difficulties of hitting the right energy type cheap MM extend rods seem easier. Range is, however, never really an issue with the wonderful reach spell metamagic ;) So my big question was part B which, at least RAI, offers some fantastic options.

Right now, "haste" looks like another great candidate for contigency "Cast haste on myself and Alfred, Berta, and Charlie when I say "Rosebud"." So in a really hard battle you got get 3 spells off in one round: the contigency one (which has to target yourself), a swift quickened one and a regular one.

[Claxon]

I think the classic contingency is: When I reach 40% health or less or am otherwise incapacitated (unconcious, held, paralyzed, erc) I cast teleport on myself. You're party may die, but nothing a true resurrection or 3 can't help.

...Perhaps the wizards I'm used to playing with are a little self centered.