Crafting an Animated Object (Cost, Modifications, Etc)


Rules Questions


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So my Wizard will be taking Craft Construct in another level. It seems like Animated Objects are the way to go. However, the rules are a little vague in some spots.

There are two pricing guidelines. 1k per HD + 1k per CP or CR squared * 500. Medium and Large constructs are about the same price here, but small/tiny and huge or larger constructs aren't close.

The 1k/HDorCP seems nice since it looks like a custom animated object is easier. If you want to adjust HD or CP it is very straightforward. A 6HD, 3CP medium construct is just 9k. On the other hand, a 15HD,15CP construct is just 30k, which is really, really cheap.

The CR scale seems more balanced, but it only allows for adjusting the CP during creation. Every 2CP is +1CR. But how much is one HD worth? With no con bonus, all bad saves, and good BAB, clearly one construct HD is worth less than a normal hit die. How much less? Should we consider one HD is the same as one CP given the other pricing guideline? So a CR increase of one is 2 HD, 2 CP, or 1 HD plus 1 CP?

Hmm, that seems like it might be work ok:
A medium animated object (MAO) has 3HD/2CP/CR3. +1HD, +1CP gives you 4HD/3CP/CR4. Same hit dice and CP as a large animated object (LAO), but one less CR (less size, less HP, less strength, so this makes sense).

However:
MAO + 4HD/2CP/CR3 gives you 7HD/4CP/CR6 though, which is still just one less CR than a HAO. (LAO + 3HD/1CP/CR2 has the same HD and CP as a HAO but one size less).

And MAO + 7HD/3CP/5CR = 10HD/5CP/CR8 which is again just one CR less than a GAO. That's 3 size increases, and a strength 38 verses 14.

Though this might be because a simple rule like the above for increasing CR starts to break down if you move beyond couple CR -- though it seems to break down earlier for Large/Huge/Gargantuan/Colossal Animated Objects.

It would be nice if there was a better framework here, but there doesn't seem to be one.

PS. I'm well aware of the 50% HD increase rule under modifying constructs. That only applies to already existing constructs, however, not ones you are making. That said, size increasing guidelines are probably a rough way to maintain the proper CR and the origin of the problem here.

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