Poll: Chain Contingency - What is your style?

Remove all ads!

Chain Contingency
Level 9
Three spells of level 8 or lower are stored and released under a specific circumstance.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

My current habit is to:

Cast:
Just before a battle.
Release condition:
See Enemy - Target Nearest Enemy.
Store:
Pierce Shield - Greater Malison - Abi Dalzim's HW.

Admittedly Pierce Shield very often turns out to be useless. Any comments on that?

 

Okay, it depends entirely on who I'm fighting.

HARD Fights:

Cast:
Before rest
Release Condition:
See Enemy - Target Nearest Enemy
Store:
Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting x3

I generally use this on particularly tough battles (ie. Demogorgon and Amelyssan).

Defensive Contingency

Cast:
Before rest
Release Condition:
HP at 50%
Store:
Stoneskin, Protection from Magical Weapons, Protection from the Elements

I find this to be particularly useful, since almost all enemies in the game hit with Magical Weapons, and elemental damage is fairly common.

 

I've never used it, so I wouldn't know...

However, doesn't the term 'contingency' imply that you *don't* know who you're fighting? If you're role playing seriously (which is admittedly difficult when you've gone through the game before), you never find out who 'the imprisoned one' is until he tells you, about 2 seconds before he appears and starts whalin' on you.

 

That's true Gonzago, this is why I use the spells I listed above and the reason why Pierce Shield so often turns out to be useless.

One option is to cast CC in battle in which case it will activate immediately.

 

Well, if you're about to fight some 'Imprisoned One' that Helm himself had to imprison, you would think that he'd be a pretty tough cookie. And for Amelyssan, you know you're going to fight her. And even if you don't know how powerful she is, you can activate it during the break between fights. I hope that explained my reasoning.

 

And then you can be like me and forget about what's coming ahead Then its a surprise. As for chain contigency, I've used it too few times to really get a feel for what I like most. But I do like the versatillity you get with it.

 

Yeah, but I'd be careful with the whole Amelyssan thing. I had a thief that ended up doing about a grand worth of trap damage to some poison mist. (Or vampiric wraith or whatever. The ones with the air guy.)

Edit: What I mean is 'enemy sighted' could be just about anything. A buncha kobolds or whatnot. That's the hardest thing about her battle, I find...never knowing how much you can use how quickly.

[This message has been edited by Gonzago (edited September 01, 2001).]

 

True, true, but the point of Horrid Wilting is the massive amounts of damage (~40-50) in an area effect spell that's party friendly. And besides-there aren't too many weak enemies in Amelyssan's fight, and with the Wish spell (and a lot of luck) you can refresh your spell list instantly.

 

I've always used the spell solely for protection. I like the combo of Protection from Magical Weapons, Similacrum, and Morkendaikens Sword. It's a differnet combo, but I always set it to 25%, so if my HP ever get that low, I've pretty well protected plus I've got a couple of allies to protect me whilst I run for my life

Side note: my favorited spell trigger is 3 Lower Resistances. Perfect for any high level enemy as it takes their resistance ususally down to around 0 in an instant. Then let the other mages rock them with horrid willting or comets or whatever. Too bad I figured this out so late in the game

 

Bah, I could never stand resetting chain contingency every time before I rested so I ended up with some protection combo if Aerie was too seriously injured. Now the for the spell triggers I had 3 lower resistances, to be switftly folled by time stop, improved alacrity and about 25 other combat spells.

 

Greater Malison + Lower Resistance on spell trigger, but on chain contingency I usually do something like, if I'm seriously injured cast improved invisibility and simulacrum and non-detection....

 

cheese offensive vs (most) dragons:
condition: see enemy, taget: nearest enemy
lower resistance x2
power word blind

defensive vs spellcasters:
condition: see enemy, taget: myself
protection from enegy x2
spell turning
(this is in addition to a spell triggered globe of invulnerability+etc)

most people seem to like casting chain contingencies prior to battle or rest but i often set them up right when i see an enemy or during combat. That way theres nothing like: o goblin! 3 horrid wiltings! overkill!... and a heck of a waste.

 

Well, it technically wouldn't be a waste since it's getting rid of the goblins and you refreshed your spell list by resting so you still have all your spells and a few goblins corpses .

But usually you don't find goblins near dragons, do you?

My cheez tactic with Dragons:

Lower Resist, Greater Malison, Finger of Death

If you're lucky, the dragon falls in the first round.

And about the 3x horrid wilting chain contingency, it's particularly useful since Chain Contingency is cast instantaneously. So, it goes somewhat like this:

Sorcerer - Casts Timestop
Sorcerer - Casts Improved Alacrity
Sorcerer - Casts Chain Contingency (3x Abi-Dalzims)
Sorcerer - Contingency Fired
Sorcerer - Casts Chain Contingency (3x Abi-Dalzims)
Sorcerer - Contingency Fired
Sorcerer - Casts Chain Contingency (3x Abi-Dalzims)
Sorcerer - Contingency Fired
Sorcerer - Casts 5x Chain Lightnings
Sorcerer - Casts 7x Magic Missiles
Sorcerer - Casts 8x Flame Arrows
Sorcerer - Casts 8x Fingers of Death
(Move closer)
Sorcerer - Casts 3x Pierce Magic
Sorcerer - Casts Greater Malison

And then, if the enemy doesn't die:
Enemy - Resistance Lowered - 3x
Enemy - Saving Throws Lowered
Enemy - Damage Taken (42 damage) 9x (horrid wiltings)
Enemy - Damage Taken (22 damage) 5x (chain lightnings)
Enemy - Damage Taken (17 damage) 8x (fingers of death)
Enemy - Damage Taken (3 damage) 35x (magic missiles)
Enemy - Damage Taken (7 damage) 80x (flame arrows)

If that doesn't kill, what does?

 

too bad you can't have it cast lvl9 nine spells and have more than one at a time he he contingicys within contingcys(can't spell) i normally use two horrid wilting and a delayed blast fireball(but this normally kills me so no wonder i'm losing)opppppps.....messed up ment stone skin

[This message has been edited by Caine (edited September 11, 2001).]

 

I think what AvaLance means is you cast the contingency after the first/second etc goes off. Plus he only had Horrid wiltings in those contingencies.

 

I usually store level 7 and level 8 spells in the chain contingency. Level 6 and lower spells are stored in spell triggers. My favourite combo is the 3x Abi Dalzim's horrid wilting. For defence there is the Spell turning+Protection from energy+Simulacrum. At the same time I fire a spell trigger with protection from magical weapons+fireshield(red)+invisibility. Stoneskin is not nessessary because it lasts for 12 hours, and can be cast before rest.

 

Simulacrum is a MAJOR LOSER. There are SO many advantages to Projected Image.

Projected Image
Pros:
-Can cast all the spells you can cast, without draining your spell list.
-Can use all the items you have without draining them.
-Is equipped with all your equipment, thus: you have a Robe of Vecna, your Projected Image does, too!
-Is created at your level.
Cons:
-Can be dispelled by True Sight if it doesn't have Spell Immunity: Divination or Nondetection on.

Simulacrum:
Pros:
NONE

Thus my point.

[This message has been edited by AvaLance204 (edited September 13, 2001).]

 

Simulacrum:

pros: When casted you have two mages to cast spells.

cons: True, that the illusion mage is only 60% HD of the caster

Projected image:

pros: The illusion is the perfect copy of the caster

cons: The caster cannot move while the spell is active, plus the illusion is broken as the caster takes some damage like fireball or Abi Dalzim's hw..

 

Simulacrum may lose by itself, but how does this one sound:

cast SIMULACRUM
cast PRJOJECT IMAGE
PI casts SIMULACRUM

-> one main killer mage
-> two assistant mages at 60% level (better than dualclassed Mage/Whatever !)

It works! At least in SoA it does... my sorcereress' favourite trick!!

 

Whhuhoww! The only problem is that your "real" mage is stunned because he casted project image!