Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Construct Handbook

3.70/5 (based on 6 ratings)
Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Construct Handbook
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We Have the Technology!

Mortals have been obsessed with replicating life through metal and magic, and from their great labors have come all manner of constructs. The secrets to creating these marvels are usually reserved for the powerful and skilled, but now they are finally revealed! Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Construct Handbook opens the book on the powerful knowledge to create constructs and reveals never-before-seen clockworks, golems, and robots. Within these pages, you'll find:

  • Information on how to build a construct, as well as new modifications for your constructs.
  • Archetypes for characters who assemble or fight constructs, such as the construct caller, who builds constructs from planar energies.
  • New magic items that assist with both the creation of constructs and their destruction.
  • More than a dozen new constructs of all types, including clockwork goblins, gladiator robots, sand golems, and the powerful and enigmatic automatons.

Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Construct Handbook is intended for use with the Pathfinder campaign setting, but it can be easily adapted to any fantasy world.

ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-989-9

Other Resources: This product is also available on the following platforms:

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Fantasy Grounds Virtual Tabletop
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Note: This product is part of the Pathfinder Lost Omens Subscription.

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3.70/5 (based on 6 ratings)

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So this book is great bestiary and construct gm tool :D

5/5

I really love Automatons. Hopefully they won't disappear after this book, I want to see those in 2e! Not just flavor wise, they are also mechanically pretty tough. I also really like all the customization options and templates for constructs. I'm not good with words, but I've gotten great use out of this book


Kill your PCs -- with SCIENCE!

5/5

...or horrible robots with chainsaws, which is a decent proxy for science.

So, this is a GM-focused book, but with a bit of PC material. The first three chapters are fairly quick, covering general construct construction, archetypes, and magic items. By and large, this section is decent but not exceptional. A few good archetypes (I particularly like the Construct Caller Summoner and the Voice of Brigh Bard), some interesting items (an Automaton Core is a minor artifact with actual methods for PCs or NPCs to get, if they're not very nice), and a bunch of golem manuals.

The meat of the book is the fourth and final chapter, which occupies 2/3rds of the page count. And this has some beauties.

First up are the Automatons, which are my new favorite thing in Pathfinder. Short version, in ancient days the Jistka Imperium was waning, and so as a way to preserve it some of the elders of the Imperium started uploading their citizens minds into thaumaturgical robots. Thus you have the living constructs known as Automatons, ranging from the adorable and familiar-grabbable Familiar Automaton to the mountain-shredding CR 20 Master Automaton. These guys have everything. Imposing stat-lines, gorgeous art, fascinating backstories, oodles of plot-hooks... you want it, you got it.

There are a bunch of new robots, golems, and clockworks. The stand-out here is the CR 17 Gladiator Robot, which is what happens when you give a hyper-effective killing machine a chainsaw and a directive to please the crowd. This thing is basically a slasher movie villain, and thus awesome. At the other side of the spectrum is the Clockwork Goblin, which is small and silly and kind of adorable.

Finally, there are templates, a half-dozen of them. Golems wreathed in caustic mist, constructs haunted by ghosts, constructs with artificial psychic minds, constructs with someone else's brain stuffed into them, commando constructs (as scary as they sound), hilarious malfunctioning recycled constructs, and the most awesome, steam-powered mechanical dragons.

Allow me to repeat: steam-powered mechanical dragons.

Conclusion: This is a GM book primarily, though a few of the archetypes are nice for a PC. It is a very good GM book, useful if you want any kind of constructs in your game.


Automantions, Clockworks, Golems, and Robots...Oh My!

4/5

Not what I was expected but interesting non the less. I really like the automations, too bad they came around so late in 1e's life time. The book is more a min-bestiary + players companion then a campaign setting book but I could always use more monsters so that is okay with me.


A year late and not really worth the wait

1/5

I was incredibly excited when this was announced last year, as I love constructs and playing characters who make them, however this was mostly a letdown.

Most of the archetypes are just terrible, some like the Paladin one are unbelievably bad, trading away class abilities do something the altered/ruined smite already does. The Wizard one trades away all bonus feats among other things, in return for...a bonus feat. And +50% cost/time to every construct they ever make. Truly amazing.

The bard archetype however I will say was very interesting, though it's weird they gave bards the new way to reanimate constructs.

Alchemist can now kill themselves as an immediate action, so that's great. 1 con drain to heal a homunculus 1d6HP per drain. Phenomenal.

Additionally, in combat healing of constructs is still at the same awful level it's always been at. Fast healing 5,and 10 minutes of greater mending. Have fun.

Hurray.

The one good thing to come of this book are some of the new Templates for constructs, but most of the interesting ones are priced high enough as to mostly be DM territory. Steam was great though, as was the repaired one.

Somewhere between 1-2 of 5 stars, but we round down in Pathfinder.


Flavorful if not Accessible to Players

3/5

This book is...ok.
More of a GM's book than a PC's

While it presents a number of construct related character options, it doesn't really make coructs any more accessible for PCs; you still need to be quite high level and exorbitantly rich to really get into them.
Those who thought they would finally be able to march their golem army like the necromancer's shambling horde or the conjurist's heavenly legion are going to be disappointed.

A good chunk of the book focuses on Shory constructs.
An interesting bit of lore, but one ultimately tied to artifacts, making following in the Shory's footsteps a thing that serves best as a campaign focus rather than a PC option in any existing Adventure Paths.
That said, they are pretty cool.

The character options for construct flavored characters are...well, lukewarm.
There are better options in a number of preexisting books.

All in all, good for a GM or if you REALLY want to make a golemmancer.
If you have a casual taste in constructs, I can't really recommend.


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Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
QuidEst wrote:
David knott 242 wrote:
Herald wrote:
Well, maybe I can hope for a class that has a construct "pet" as part of this book.

There are a couple of Alchemist archetypes that can do that already:

1) The Promethean Alchemist from Occult Adventures gets a homunculus companion.

2) The Homunculist archetype from Familiar Folio gets a homunculus as an improved familiar.

There’s another one- tinkerer, I think?- that gets a clockwork construct familiar.

Yes, that last archetype is from Inner Sea Intrigue.

I was going to add, for the Promethean Alchemist: The homunculus companion starts out at size Small and eventually becomes Medium. The two improved familiar options are limited to size Tiny.


Personally, I'd love something more akin to the summoner, but Int based and with similar support that an Eidolon has. They have the Unwavering Conduit archetype, which used on an Inevitable is close, but not quite what I am looking for. Instead of law magic, I'd prefer having a few transmutation spells related to constructs added to the known spells and probably dropping the summon monster SLA in favor of some way to modify/buff the construct. A golem master of sorts.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

9 people marked this as a favorite.

As a quick reminder as well to manage expectations, more than 75% of this book is new constructs and templates for constructs presented as new monsters for use by GMs in a game. The rest of the book has a mix of magic items, some talk about how constructs are created and discussion of a few famous construct creators, and a very small number of archetypes (2 to 4, depending on space in the end).

Those archetypes will not be particularly complex ones, and there's certainly not going to be a new class in the game. This is not the book where we present a full option for having an animal companion or eidolon level construct pet; it's aimed more toward GMs than toward players overall.


Any plans to get us a class like that coming up? It's one of the few big high fantasy tropes it's hard to pull off as a player in pathfinder still.


Well since the next hardcover book comes out in June and that one doesn't have any new classes. So even if the hardcover book after Planar Adventure has a new class (or more) we would still be waiting a while and that is a big "if";)

Paizo Employee Creative Director

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Wolfism wrote:
Any plans to get us a class like that coming up? It's one of the few big high fantasy tropes it's hard to pull off as a player in pathfinder still.

Not in Pathfinder. There's a class with a pet drone over in Starfinder though!


Wait, it got pushed back to november 2018 now? Noooo, muh machines!


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Icehawk wrote:
Wait, it got pushed back to november 2018 now? Noooo, muh machines!

As I understand it, the November part is just there, because Paizo's system needs a release date. It has indeed been delayed, but there's not an actual set release date yet.

Again, as I understand it. I may have misunderstood something. :)


David knott 242 wrote:
Herald wrote:
Well, maybe I can hope for a class that has a construct "pet" as part of this book.

There are a couple of Alchemist archetypes that can do that already:

1) The Promethean Alchemist from Occult Adventures gets a homunculus companion.

2) The Homunculist archetype from Familiar Folio gets a homunculus as an improved familiar.

3) The Construct Rider archetype from Cohorts and Companions gets a Construct Mount.


I wonder how many creatures and creature templates there will be?

Silver Crusade

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Dude, the book is 11 months away.


Maybe not, that's just a placeholder date for the webstore.

The actual date is TBD.


Hey why cant this book have some Wyrwood stuff in it? I mean the Legacy of Dragons had stuff for Wyvarans.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

8 people marked this as a favorite.
Alchemist 23 wrote:
Hey why cant this book have some Wyrwood stuff in it? I mean the Legacy of Dragons had stuff for Wyvarans.

Because I made the decision to refocus the book on new constructs and not on player options.

Silver Crusade

3 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Besides, Legacy of Dragons is in the Player Companion line, this is a Setting book.


So is that how the book will be set up, it will have section for each type of construct and/or a specific construct creature?


James Jacobs wrote:
Alchemist 23 wrote:
Hey why cant this book have some Wyrwood stuff in it? I mean the Legacy of Dragons had stuff for Wyvarans.
Because I made the decision to refocus the book on new constructs and not on player options.

The existing Craft Construct rules are bonkers anyhow... who would pay such silly amounts to build things that murderhobos can kill in 3 rounds? better to hire murderhobos...

Paizo Employee Creative Director

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Dragon78 wrote:
So is that how the book will be set up, it will have section for each type of construct and/or a specific construct creature?

The bulk of the book (about 75% to 80%) will be set up like a bestiary, since it's mostly new monsters and new monster templates.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Does the book describe alternate ways to build constructs? Like, I remember posters long time ago wondering if using elemental spirits in golem is technically slavery and if there is alternate way to build golems


I am hoping for variant versions of creatures, especially flesh golems, homunculi, and soulbound dolls. Maybe some stats for various types of animated objects.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

8 people marked this as a favorite.
CorvusMask wrote:
Does the book describe alternate ways to build constructs? Like, I remember posters long time ago wondering if using elemental spirits in golem is technically slavery and if there is alternate way to build golems

It will discuss that element of golem building and provide alternate methods that aren't "stealth evil" soul-enslavement methods for golem construction, yes.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

6 people marked this as a favorite.
Dragon78 wrote:
I am hoping for variant versions of creatures, especially flesh golems, homunculi, and soulbound dolls. Maybe some stats for various types of animated objects.

There's going to be a LOT of templates in this book, each of which (as per the norm) will have a sample creature, but which you can apply to many other constructs.

There will not be a section of "variant versions" though. The focus of this book is on new content, not variant content, if that makes sense.


James Jacobs wrote:
CorvusMask wrote:
Does the book describe alternate ways to build constructs? Like, I remember posters long time ago wondering if using elemental spirits in golem is technically slavery and if there is alternate way to build golems
It will discuss that element of golem building and provide alternate methods that aren't "stealth evil" soul-enslavement methods for golem construction, yes.

Awesome! Glad to have ethically-sourced golems.

Silver Crusade

James Jacobs wrote:
CorvusMask wrote:
Does the book describe alternate ways to build constructs? Like, I remember posters long time ago wondering if using elemental spirits in golem is technically slavery and if there is alternate way to build golems
It will discuss that element of golem building and provide alternate methods that aren't "stealth evil" soul-enslavement methods for golem construction, yes.

Yay!

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
James Jacobs wrote:
CorvusMask wrote:
Does the book describe alternate ways to build constructs? Like, I remember posters long time ago wondering if using elemental spirits in golem is technically slavery and if there is alternate way to build golems
It will discuss that element of golem building and provide alternate methods that aren't "stealth evil" soul-enslavement methods for golem construction, yes.

Wohoo :D


All good things come to those who wait.

I hope the Simulacrums get at least a passing comment. They are a part of our game, but we run a 1-4 progression like the Summon spells, the kicker is that we Wizards must learn the lower level versions first and Sorcerers replace lower level versions with the higher, but retain the use of them. They really need something and I know they aren't real constructs.


Cool, that sounds interesting, thanks for the information Mr. Jacobs.


James Jacobs wrote:
Alchemist 23 wrote:
Hey why cant this book have some Wyrwood stuff in it? I mean the Legacy of Dragons had stuff for Wyvarans.
Because I made the decision to refocus the book on new constructs and not on player options.

Not trying to stuff player-focused things in the book also opens up the possibility for a construct-focused Player's Guide down the line. A "Blood of the Built," maybe.


"Blood of the Built", "Sweat of the Builder", etc. whatever they want to call it, a player companion book like that would be interesting.


So anyone want to guess what the final cover will look like?

Silver Crusade

5 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

My guess is that it will have the Pathfinder logo and some construct creature. I'm pretty sure about this bet.


Yes but what kind of construct. Considering golem is listed first in the description, that seems the most likely one. But there is no rule that says the cover will have only one construct.

Silver Crusade

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Ooooooo, please be a Poppet!

Pretty, pretty please!


Poppets, I forgot about them, I hope they get at least a mention in this book.


Starfinder Charter Superscriber

If Hasbro will license Paizo the rights to the Constructicons, I will buy this book.

Get to work, licensing department!


Why just the Constructicons?


I was super excited to get this, but noticed it dropped off my January subscriptions. I assumed it got bumped a month, but I didn't see it at all. What happened that it is now waiting til November of this year? That is a REALLY big push.

Mostly just glad it wasn't canceled.

Edit: Read back far enough for the explanation. Date is TBD, not actually November.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

It got an indefinite postponement. It is listed for November because it has to have a release date. It could well be moved earlier whenever they have an opening for it, or it could be moved later otherwise.


I always figured construct creation to be more a GM tool than something a player should utilize, due to both the feat-investment and overall cost in terms of materials, time and money in which to construct one.

I mean... I think there's a junk golem somewhere in the bestiaries made from ordinary trash that runs up to something like 2000 gold pieces to build. Kind've a heavy investment to put something together that dies in one or two hits.

Making an artificer who specialized in building robots/constructs was always something I wanted to try out, but the rules originally stated seemed to make such to be rather impractical for players. Is this book going to offer alternative construct-creation rules to make them more practical from a player-perspective?


We could use more spells to repair/re-animate constructs. Especially a repair related spell that is as powerful as heal.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Its campaign setting book, campaign setting books are for gms, so no player material <_< Do any of campaign setting books actually have player material enough to cause this confusion lot of people have?


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber
CorvusMask wrote:
Its campaign setting book, campaign setting books are for gms, so no player material <_< Do any of campaign setting books actually have player material enough to cause this confusion lot of people have?

Many of the 'Inner Sea' line, I.E. Inner Sea Magic, Inner Sea Combat, Inner Sea intrigue, etc have potentially quite a bit of player material. Likewise Occult Realms & others come to mind, so yeah.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Hmm, so confusion might be because paizo basically did "Hey, we want to have larger page count than player companion page count, so uh, gonna include this player material book in gm line" few times in the past? I don't think occult realms has much of player materials though since iirc most of player usable content is location specific so its something gm probably gives as reward or opportunity to use.

Silver Crusade

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Niche or situational doesn’t mean GM use only.


I am just saying such spells would be nice to have. But I don't expect them to show up in this book though of course I wouldn't complain if they did;)

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Rysky wrote:
Niche or situational doesn’t mean GM use only.

Well, yeah, but player companion book were all abilities listed in it require player to reach certain location in campaign would be kind of useless for player since its completely up to gm whether they ever visit those locations, right?

Silver Crusade

CorvusMask wrote:
Rysky wrote:
Niche or situational doesn’t mean GM use only.
Well, yeah, but player companion book were all abilities listed in it require player to reach certain location in campaign would be kind of useless for player since its completely up to gm whether they ever visit those locations, right?

... you mean just like how the GM can say "no guns and ninjas"?

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Rysky wrote:
CorvusMask wrote:
Rysky wrote:
Niche or situational doesn’t mean GM use only.
Well, yeah, but player companion book were all abilities listed in it require player to reach certain location in campaign would be kind of useless for player since its completely up to gm whether they ever visit those locations, right?
... you mean just like how the GM can say "no guns and ninjas"?

Umm, no. I'm talking about things like "To get access to this kineticist ability, you need to visit a vault in orv and meditate there" type stuff.

Silver Crusade

CorvusMask wrote:
Rysky wrote:
CorvusMask wrote:
Rysky wrote:
Niche or situational doesn’t mean GM use only.
Well, yeah, but player companion book were all abilities listed in it require player to reach certain location in campaign would be kind of useless for player since its completely up to gm whether they ever visit those locations, right?
... you mean just like how the GM can say "no guns and ninjas"?
Umm, no. I'm talking about things like "To get access to this kineticist ability, you need to visit a vault in orv and meditate there" type stuff.

And in Golarion you need some relation to Alkenstar in order to have guns.

So it's a quest hook (unless the character comes from there). The point is, it's player material.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Rysky wrote:
CorvusMask wrote:
Rysky wrote:
CorvusMask wrote:
Rysky wrote:
Niche or situational doesn’t mean GM use only.
Well, yeah, but player companion book were all abilities listed in it require player to reach certain location in campaign would be kind of useless for player since its completely up to gm whether they ever visit those locations, right?
... you mean just like how the GM can say "no guns and ninjas"?
Umm, no. I'm talking about things like "To get access to this kineticist ability, you need to visit a vault in orv and meditate there" type stuff.

And in Golarion you need some relation to Alkenstar in order to have guns.

So it's a quest hook (unless the character comes from there). The point is, it's player material.

Umm. Are you arguing about semantics?

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