I'm sure we've all faced the occasional animated object masquerading as something else before, but I'm wondering if it's possible to pull off the poor man's golem or the unturnable skeleton. Can one make an animated object out of something other than tables, chairs, and the occasional pair of m'lady's unmentionable?
I'm sure we've all faced the occasional animated object masquerading as something else before, but I'm wondering if it's possible to pull off the poor man's golem or the unturnable skeleton. Can one make an animated object out of something other than tables, chairs, and the occasional pair of m'lady's unmentionable?
"Poor man's golem" is an unfortunate choice of words, considering it costs so much XP to make Animate Object permanent.
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I'm sure we've all faced the occasional animated object masquerading as something else before, but I'm wondering if it's possible to pull off the poor man's golem or the unturnable skeleton. Can one make an animated object out of something other than tables, chairs, and the occasional pair of m'lady's unmentionable?
It's worth noting, however, that a "skeleton" is not actually a single object unless bound together with wires/bolts/etc. The tendons and everything needed to hold it together are gone by the time it reaches "skeleton" stage. Zombies, however, are pretty much one piece. I would probably allow a Knowledge (Religion) or (Arcana) check to discern if the creature was behaving normally for an "undead." For example, the beastiary states "While most skeletons are mindless automatons, they still possess an evil cunning imparted to them by their animating force—a cunning that allows them to wield weapons and wear armor." That "evil cunning" would be absent in a simple animated object.
I'm sure we've all faced the occasional animated object masquerading as something else before, but I'm wondering if it's possible to pull off the poor man's golem or the unturnable skeleton. Can one make an animated object out of something other than tables, chairs, and the occasional pair of m'lady's unmentionable?It's worth noting, however, that a "skeleton" is not actually a single object unless bound together with wires/bolts/etc. The tendons and everything needed to hold it together are gone by the time it reaches "skeleton" stage. Zombies, however, are pretty much one piece. I would probably allow a Knowledge (Religion) or (Arcana) check to discern if the creature was behaving normally for an "undead." For example, the beastiary states "While most skeletons are mindless automatons, they still possess an evil cunning imparted to them by their animating force—a cunning that allows them to wield weapons and wear armor." That "evil cunning" would be absent in a simple animated object.
Great advice. Thanks Fatey, and everyone! What else can we put together on the animated object tip?
I'm sure we've all faced the occasional animated object masquerading as something else before, but I'm wondering if it's possible to pull off the poor man's golem or the unturnable skeleton. Can one make an animated object out of something other than tables, chairs, and the occasional pair of m'lady's unmentionable?"Poor man's golem" is an unfortunate choice of words, considering it costs so much XP to make Animate Object permanent.
Okay, good point..but it's still useful for pacing purposes. Having a party fight an army of animated armors with ONE iron golem stuck into the mix is damn frightening.
Animated corpses are something I keep saying my group should do. Sure we could skin the dragon to make armor... or we could animate it and have it serve as a kick@ss guard/transport/mascot.
If you're an Evil party, go for it!
Okay, good point..but it's still useful for pacing purposes. Having a party fight an army of animated armors with ONE iron golem stuck into the mix is damn frightening.
The real "poor man's golem", in my opinion, is to use Lesser Planar Binding on a ravid. It can animate one (or more) Gargantuan animated object(s) for cheap.
Okay, good point..but it's still useful for pacing purposes. Having a party fight an army of animated armors with ONE iron golem stuck into the mix is damn frightening.The real "poor man's golem", in my opinion, is to use Lesser Planar Binding on a ravid. It can animate one (or more) Gargantuan animated object(s) for cheap.
Sir, I am in your debt!
Animated corpses are something I keep saying my group should do. Sure we could skin the dragon to make armor... or we could animate it and have it serve as a kick@ss guard/transport/mascot.
Been there done that. My cleric of velsharron had a zombied gold dragon(I used the heal skill to cover the crit mark done by the rouge) and from then on I posed as a paladin of mystra on his gold dragon steed to interact with the local populace. Just remember the gentle repose spell either permenant or item.