Mind vulnerability of lifespark


Rules Questions


I've made a clockwork npc and applied the lifespark template on it to make it sentient, making a fighter which is later an encounter.
"no step further"...you get the point.

However, lifespark are open minded.
Unlike normal constructs, the lifespark construct is not immune to mind-affecting effects. In fact, perhaps because of its past need for commands, its mind is especially vulnerable to magical compulsion. A lifespark construct takes a –2 penalty on saving throws against mind-affecting effects

Any way to get around this, so he is still invulnerable to mind spells?
His concept was that he made specifically a sentient guard from the start. No mindless-go-mart machine.
Or would you say, this can be houseruled as ignorable?


Well, as a GM you are free to use or ignore any rules you like.

However, if you are asking if it is fair...then no, it isn't. You are giving the construct a good boost in power by giving it sentience, including additional feats and skills. There is a lot to gain there. The drawback is losing immunity to mind affecting because it is normally mindless.

If you add back in the immunity to mind affecting you need to account for it the CR of the creature, and provide greater rewards for your players for defeating it.

Essentially this quesiton boils down to, is it fair? Would it be fair to send your party against an ancient red dragon? You could do it. It's totally within the rules, nothing is stopping you. Exept being fair.

Only you can decide whether giving it the bonus of having a mind, while keeping the bonus of being mindless is fair or reasonable from a story perspective.


I'd say leave it in place. He may have been specifically made to be a sentient guard, but the Pathfinder world has a set order of mindless construct -> lifespark -> vulnerable sentient construct progression.

But, hey, GMs can do whatever they want. It is the best part of being a GM! You could give the guy any number of items, even build them into the construct so it cannot be removed as treasure, which would provide various bonuses or immunity to some mind effecting spells.


Claxn wrote:
Only you can decide whether giving it the bonus of having a mind, while keeping the bonus of being mindless is fair or reasonable from a story perspective.

Storywise, it's supposed to be a tough (metal) cookie. Destroy him by beating the heck out of him. I'm not trying to screw the guys over, and his loot is still in consideration.

MurphysParadox wrote:
You could give the guy any number of items, even build them into the construct so it cannot be removed as treasure, which would provide various bonuses or immunity to some mind effecting spells.

Yes i've read about incorporating items into themselves.

If a compromise would have to be reached, this would make incorporating (into him) an item that's giving mind immunity, but is disabled if struck with enough dmg. Say, locate the special item and strike it for it to break, breaking immunity to resistance.

Would that be one that's plausible?


Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Having played many enchanters, the moment I (and most experienced players) see a construct type enemy, I go right to plan B. So if they are like most players, they will not even try to use mind-affecting spells and effects on it. If they do, congratulate them for their ingenuity and move on to the next encounter.

I think it would be hard for a Knowledge (Arcana) or other check to know that it is indeed a Lifespark Construct. So chances are they will not be aware of the vulnerability.


I'll take that into consideration Hendelbolaf, thanks.


A more or less permanent protektion from alignment or magic circle against alignment should help quite a bit...

Iron will negates the penalty...

Gm fiat...

As a gm you could make him immune but give him anothe vulnerability (necromancy, cold or something entirely else...) Thus would keep the CR, but punish players who think they know everything...

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