Contingency: use of "or" allowing multiple conditions?

[allenw]

One of my players just got the Contingency spell. He'd like to have a Contingent False Life (no problem), but he wants the triggering condition to be "If I go under 20 hit points, or upon a command word."
I don't have a problem with using a hit-point total as a condition. However, I'm not sure it's cricket to have multiple unrelated conditions like that. The spell text says "under some condition" (singular), but then says "The conditions" (plural) "needed to bring the spell into effect must be clear, although they can be general."
Any opinions?

Contingency
Evocation
Level: Sor/Wiz 6
Components: V, S, M, F
Casting Time: At least 10 minutes; see text
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: One day/level (D) or until discharged
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. The 10-minute casting time is the minimum total for both castings; if the companion spell has a casting time longer than 10 minutes, use that instead.
The spell to be brought into effect by the contingency must be one that affects your person and be of a spell level no higher than one-third your caster level (rounded down, maximum 6th level).
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. If complicated or convoluted conditions are prescribed, the whole spell combination (contingency and the companion magic) may fail when called on. The companion spell occurs based solely on the stated conditions, regardless of whether you want it to.
You can use only one contingency spell at a time; if a second is cast, the first one (if still active) is dispelled.

 

[Dimwhit]

Hmm, that's a tough one. The spell description does waffle between singular and plural use of the word 'condition.' Part of me would disallow it, since they are unrelated and using the command word doesn't quite jive with being a 'condition' per se. Seems like more of a way around the Quicken Spell feat. But maybe not.

In the end, I'd probably allow it. I don't think it would hurt anything.

 

[Humanophile]

By the RAW, nothing prevents it. However, I see that as a shortcoming of the spell.

I'd play it to allow multiple related conditions, but not unrelated ones. If your player seems let down by this, I'd let him have a slide and allow it just to see how it works out, though.

 

[Sundog]

Careful with that Condition

If you allow this, and based on the way that condition is worded, the next time that character uses his wand of light (command word) he may activate the contingency.

 

[the Jester]

I play it pretty much like Humanophile suggests. I wouldn't allow his 'or', but I'm fine with a contingent mirror image that goes off "when I'm attacked by weapon, creature or spell."

 

[Gizzard]

If complicated or convoluted conditions are prescribed, the whole spell combination (contingency and the companion magic) may fail when called on.

In my campaign I was cruel and defined any boolean logic condition as "complicated". So trying to tack on extra conditions with "and","or" and "xor" runs a chance of having the spell fail. It might be more sensible to define a certain number such as 3 or 5 conditions as being complicated, but I didn't want argue with my players (who are all programmers) what a complicated condition might be.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I rule it as only allowing a single trigger, but that trigger may be defined by multiple conditions. For instance:

If I am rendered helpless and the cleric isn't within 30'.

There are multiple conditions, but they are all part of describing a single scenario in which the wizard wants the spell to go off. I wouldn't allow:

If I am rendered helpless, or if I say the word "blatherskeit."

This single sentence encompasses two triggers, which I think is beyond what the spell intended.

 

[Pax]

IMC, if the "or" creates an entirely seperate condition of unrelated nature, the entire contingency would collapse and fail.

However, if the "or" is used to build a list of "sub-conditions" (i.e. a Wizard/Cleric/Theurge casting Contingency [Heal] "If I am reduced to 1/10 maximum hitpoints or less" ... or a wizard casting Contingency [Blink] "If I am attacked in melee or at range or with a spell"), then I would allow it.

Basically, the "or" should only expand a single trigger, not add an extra trigger.

 

[Plane Sailing]

The spell text says "under some condition" (singular), but then says "The conditions" (plural) "needed to bring the spell into effect must be clear, although they can be general."
Any opinions?

The fact that "the conditions" is plural simply allows for a number of conditions to be "and"ed together, I would never allow "or" to be used to provide alternative conditions.

It would have been simpler if they had used the singular in both cases, I grant you.

(Just wait until he starts asking you just when contingencies go off BTW, as there are some interesting questions to be answered there too)

Cheers

 

[Artoomis]

I'd allow "or" for related conditions. For example, Contingent Heal if damaged to 150 hit poitns or rendered insane - both conditions that Heal would cure.

I would not allow a command word in the first place - that's just a way to get one extra spell with a free action, and is not really a "condition" anyway.