Caltrop Golem
Description: Caltrop golems have the same approximate size and body proportions of an unusually stout Halfling. Closer inspection reveals their body to be composed of thousands of caltrops. Their body’s appearance varies depending on the material used to make the caltrops and their condition. The standard design has a black finish resembling cast iron. They are found wherever there are things needed to be guarded or protected. Their design makes them well suited for subduing or delaying intruders, although they are just as mindless as other golems.
Powers and Abilities: Caltrop golems have many of the same features of constructs, including immunity to magic, and a few others which make them distinctly advantageous in certain situations. Since caltrop golems are composed of many small objects instead of a single mass, piercing and slashing weapons are less effective, though bludgeoning weapons can be used to knock the golem apart, bit by bit. Its composition also gives it a fluidity which allows it to pass through spaces only slightly larger than an individual caltrop.
A caltrop golem will attempt to subdue any opponent by slamming into it with its limbs and body. They are also designed to be highly effective grapplers since a grappled opponent must content with a multitude of caltrops pressing in on it. Creatures using unarmed or natural attack risk taking damage from its many jagged points.
If a caltrop golem is sufficiently damaged, it will drop the damaged sections of itself in the areas it passes through, making combat area more treacherous for its assailants. When a caltrop golem is destroyed, what remains of its body simply collapses, covering a wide area with caltrops. In this way, they continue to fulfill their primary purpose after destruction.
I like the concept of this monster. Smart use of caltrops, mentioning its effectiveness against grapplers, passing through small openings, collapsing into a big area of caltrops, all that stuff.
I could totally see letting this heal itself by absorbing caltrops into itself....
I really, really like that this is a small golem. And this is another one where the idea is a little obvious, but I can't think of an instance where it's been done before... so good on ya! I don't know if I'd make this a true golem with all the associated resistances, but as far as neat, low-level constructs go, this feels like a nice fit.
Initial Impression: Spikey midget golem comes to town. Let's check it out...
Concept (name, overall design choices, design niche, playability/usability, challenge): B-
A small golem is cool, but made of caltrops? I don’t know, I can’t really see it. Strange. I don’t know that you did much more here, though, then hit on the cool initial idea of “hey, how about a golem made of caltrops!” What is its power level? How do I use it? That is a problem with mindless servitors in general, but the point is particularly glaring here—who makes these or wants these, for instance? I wanted that.
Execution (quality of writing, hook, theme, organization, use of proper format, world neutral, quality of mandatory content—description, summary of powers): B-
With limited word count, seeing you waste words reciting construct traits was a red flag. I just don’t think there is much to this other than the initial “hey, its made of caltrops!” schtick. I think you wanted to do more with the grapple angle. Ouch, that would be nasty. Embed some caltrops in wounds, discharge them, drop them freely, you could do some things with this, but you didn’t. I also don’t really get the fluidity angle. Maybe I am wrong, but this smacks of a first draft. Time pressure got to you on this, I think.
Tilt (did it grab me, do I want to use one in an adventure?): B-
This was just “meh” for me.
Overall: B-
An interesting initial idea that lacked motivation, playability and usability. Just not quite Superstar.
Recommendation: I DO NOT recommend this creature advance.
Thank you for the feedback judges. To my fellow board poster I say this. I‘m a bit of a lurker on message boards, always have been. At this time I quote former mayor of Bluffington, Robert “Bob” White, when I say “Don’t be a sucker! Vote for me.” In addition I make the following campaign promises. Caltop Golem hugs for some, miniature Andoren Flags for others. Look for Caltrop Golem where ever fine constructs are sold!
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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I had to support my fellow Jason by reading your entry first!
Plus: Small-sized golem, caltrops are cool, and I rather like the "fluid" aspect, rather like a crawling swarm of caltrops seething all over and around things rather than "hey, it's a solid clunky thing made of a bunch of caltrops welded together
Minus: It's a fun idea but doesn't soak the imagination with gasoline and light it on fire. Clark's right that blowing words on construct traits was probably a bad investment of word count. Some more words spent flavor texting the monster would've been a good add - I thought you spent too much time on abilities and not enough on "Why does this creature exist?"
Overall: A decent effort, but I don't know if it's Superstar.
Oh I freaking like this! You just had to go and make something from Caltrops didn't you?! An absolutely awesome idea...wish I'd thought of it.
Awesome concept!
I actually kinda like this concept. Perhaps constrained by the word limit and could have focused a bit more on the description instead of building on the construct concept (as most of us know by default). I'd eventually love to see this statted and pictured as I think it has the potential there to be a quite a pain in the ass on unsuspecting adventurers ... Imagine if something were poured on this golem that could do some sort of damage on contact ... and some tank dope decides to grapple or smack it ... and then the caltrops fly all over the place? Having multiple of these in the room ... some of them could be smacked around and separated ... and then some of them start to reassemble together again based on what caltrops are nearby to reform ... not necessarly its own.
Oh yes, I see the potential for this.
This would be a fun monster to use in game. I'm pleased with its simplicity, it seems to be a unique concept that doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how it works. You could plunk one of these on the table and your players would know that it's not fun to grapple with it and that it'll probably form a pile of spikes when it perishes.
OK, I think the board ate my post, so hopefully this isn't redundant:
I disagree with the judges who are jumping to the conclusion that "golem = high CR". I've seen low CR golems done well before, often in Paizo products. And this is the first Small golem I can ever remember seeing. Medium, yes. Small no.
Unfortunately, the size is about all that stands out. All of its abilities are pretty self-evident. It's made of caltrops, so clearly it'd be a bad idea to grapple and it'd leave spiky little hazards in its wake. It's perfectly usable, and I could see it rounding out a monster book. But it doesn't scream "Superstar" to me.
I was initially leaning against this. I personally think there are too many golems in the game. Not all constructs have to be golems.
Then I actually read the description. It reminds me of the Shrike from the Dan Simmons's Hyperion series, all spikes and menace. So what if it's small? You fight it a couple rounds, realize you can't hurt it, then just run out of the room (or hobble), and slam the door in its face. Then its caltrops flow under the door like a tide of spikes, and you realize you're in trouble.
This might be a tough thing to fight, especially if it sheds caltrops to make difficult or dangerous terrain around itself. I can't think of any bludgeoning reach weapons off the top of my head. Do slings count? Anyone got any adamantine sling bullets?
I like it when someone takes a category of monster that seems played out and exhausted and creates something new.
New golems aren't the most difficult type of monster to create, but that conversely makes it harder to make the concept interesting. And you have done so.
And the thought of this golem creeping around the headquarters of the Thieves Guild or ninja clan hideout just seems cool.
I'm not much of a fan of the 'create new monster by creating [new material x] golems' school. Maybe you didn't go far enough with your original idea. Just 'a golem, but made of xyz' isn't spectacularly new; you should have made up for that by including some really innovative abilities. Since you didn't, I'm sorry to say this doesn't do much for me.
Still, the best of luck for this round.
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I kinda like this guy. I think I'll call him "Jacks".
I love it! I'm definitely for this one. It's hard to find a lot of creative monsters at low level; this may be a little silly, but it keeps the game interesting. Plus, I'm sure a crazy evil villain would love to create one of these things to mess with people.
Have to vote "no".
Way too similar to a caltrop swarm from (I think) one of the Tome of Horrors books. Too derivative for me.
I'm sorry, but I've never found caltrops to be cool. Also, I don't get what this does that adding armor spikes to a regular golem doesn't. Golems come from myths and popular culture: Jewish traditions or Frankenstein, for example. And there's just no mythic associations with caltrop golems.
I guess the only people I can see making this creature in game is a thief's guild.
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Star Voter Season 6
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I favor the low-CR construct niche that this creature fills--it has some dynamics that could be replicated by stretching the animated object of the PF Bestiary to the breaking point, but I think the fluidity and collapsing elements give it a bit of flair.
I'm voting for this in hopes that the designer can flesh it out if given the chance, mechanically. I'd certainly play it in my campaign.
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I like it, but you could have gone farther with it. Have it fling caltrops like big shuriken or, as Clark suggests, embed caltrops in grapple victims.
I like the fluidity of the creature. If I had a wizard use this, they would station the creature in a maze-like area with tons of tiny cross channels between paths and leading to a few some caltrop supply points for the creature to heal itself from. Then have it strike with guerrilla tactics.
This'll get a vote.
Sorry, you lost me at "Caltrop Golem".
Golems are overdone. Sorry, that's not your fault, but they have been done to death.
While the writing is good, and the concept is sound, the fact is it comes off like Terminator 2 made of sharp pointy things instead of silver metal.
Finally, dealing with all of the potential details in combat would frustrate me. Manuevering characters through the caltrops as they fight would be a time consuming process, unless you created simple rules to manage it.
I might use this monster in my campaign once, just to surprise the PCs, but that would be it.
Ok, to be fair, I'm being overly critical. I guess I'm trying to give you my initial impressions. After re-reading it a couple times it is very cool, but I just don't feel it is top of the pile.
I haven't voted on anything, and I'll be revisiting each monster before I do.
Praise:
I really like some of the concepts here. Dropping caltrops(an underused but awesome item) as it takes damage, slipping through small spaces, grappling with hundreds of tiny daggers.
Concerns:
As a whole, there seems to be a lack of cohesion. The abilities given to it imply a level of intelligence; retreating through small spaces and setting traps with it's damaged portions. However, this contradicts the fact that they are described as mindless automatons. There are a few minor spelling errors and your writing style doesn't grab me, it plainly describes what this thing is.
Overall:
The concept is neat, but that's it, just "neat". If I saw it in a book, I would say "huh, that's a neat idea", and go for the flashier and more evocative fire golem. Also, comparing it to a chubby Halfling makes it sound cute, which set the tone for it to be a gag monster. This seems like an underdog monster, a drawing board reject that a particularly frugal wizard picked up on the cheap to guard his pantry. I would try to put a little more flash into your description in the future, a little drama and tension. I can't see a module being described in this spartan fashion.
Hmmm, I'm torn on this one. Caltrops are cool, and so are golems. Combining them together can't be bad. Plus it's halfling sized instead of towering, which is just refreshing. On the other hand I'm not sure how effective it is as a guardian given the expense of creation. It seems more like a monster that hassles you than actually prevents you from stealing what it's guarding--the RPG equivalent of the paint bomb in the bag of money you steal during a bank robbery. It seems like maybe it should be more along the lines of some sort of aninated object with some swarm characteristics or something. It's a cool and original idea, I'm just concerned about the CR issues of making it a true golem for what it does.
Oh man, living caltrop swarm. Awesome. "Vermin" that sneaks around the dungeon, always right where you are about to step. Eventually when the PCs get wise, they clump together and attack!, poking and biting the PCs to a fine mushy pulp.
I can actually visualize this critter and it looks pretty cool in my mind's eye!
I'm also admiring of a low level construct, which is a niche that needs love. You rightfully described this as a guardian. By seeding the floor with caltrops this is a monster who puts the hazards down where they specifically need to be on a case-by-case basis, and not just where the owner of the lair *thinks* an intruder might go.
That's a new design idea, and it needed to be boldfaced. ;-)
Good luck sir! You mentioned you're quiet on the boards? Ultimately I hope you advance to the next round, but if you don't I hope stay quiet and that you keep trying and do enter next year.
Have to vote "no".
Way too similar to a caltrop swarm from (I think) one of the Tome of Horrors books. Too derivative for me.
The "warden jack swarm" from Tome of Horrors II.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Star Voter Season 6
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I like it as well, And gave it one of my votes.
You want a low level challenge, pick one. You want to worry even a high level party, 4 or 5. Plus nothing is keeping you from having it spread itself thin on the floor.
Fighter: Aw, man! Caltrops!
Rogue/Monk: No problem, I'll jump over them and grab the McGuffin!
*Rogue jumps over the caltrops, caltrops form into caltrop golem and flip a lever opening the 20X20 pit the rest of the party is standing on waiting for the rogue to jump back.*
Rogue: Oh $#$^#$^# (How many rogues carry blunt weapons as a rule?)
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RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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What a cool idea!
I really, really like that this is a small golem. And this is another one where the idea is a little obvious, but I can't think of an instance where it's been done before... so good on ya!
The second adventure from the AD&D supermodule OP1. The heralds of the Sapphire Mage.
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...
*Rogue jumps over the caltrops, caltrops form into caltrop golem and flip a lever opening the 20X20 pit the rest of the party is standing on waiting for the rogue to jump back.*
Rogue: Oh $#$^#$^# (How many rogues carry blunt weapons as a rule?)
Do you suppose the golem could reform around a foe? That would certainly be interesting, if, admittedly, a little swarm-like.
If it's slightly larger than a halfling, why not just say its the size of a gnome?
Also, as someone pointed out, it would be a better grappler (by virtue of having a higher CMB) if it was actually a large creature. A large creature could also disintegrate into more squares of caltrops as it took damage. Why would a wizard choose to make a small caltrop golem when a large one works better? If you have the money to make a golem, you can afford an extra barrel or two of caltrops. 100 lbs of caltrops only cost 50 gp, and that's without any "buy in bulk" discount.
I think you had 2 novel ideas, those being a small golem and a golem made up of tiny objects. I just don't think they work as well together as you thought.
It IS interesting, I'll give you that. I just don't know yet if I will be voting for it.
Caltrop Golem
cut for space
This is the seventeenth monster that I am looking at. I do not read the comments below the entry before posting my opinion. An apology if this is duplicative of someone else’s entry, in part or whole.
Heh heh heh. Spiky Halfling! I kinda like that, for no good reason.
Powers:
*construct features (okay you cemented that)
*takes less damage from piercing and slashing weapons (cool)
*pass through tiny spaces like a caltrop (that’s very cool!)
*subdue opponents by slamming (wait, it’s spikey – come on, let’s do damage!)
*effective grappler (k, since it is small)
*it loses bits to make caltrops cover the area if you hurt it (like that as well!)
Summary: Wow, this is a simple critter that sings to me. It’s clever, works well within a certain niche, bordering on Grudge Monster territory, but not quite getting there the way it is described. Now, it’s nothing more than a golem. So I do have to read the remaining 15 entries. It’s entirely possible that something else out there might be better, and there are several contenders. So I don’t know if it will get my vote. However, I do find myself liking the idea of a mini-Hulk that bleeds little pointy things to make your feet hurt.
Caltrop Golem
Ok, this entry is a golem, yet not a normal golem, material but in fact something new. It's a golem, object. This idea opens up some quite interesting possibility for a whole set of monsters. ( A sword golem, a rope golem (which exists), gem golem, marbel golem,... not to talk about the sillyness of a fruit golem or the epic recursiveness of a golem golem ;) )
But after all this is jsut a golem. It takes a type of object ( rather than material) and modeling a standard golem with abilities based on the object ( rather than material). I really like some of the ideas you have and logical conclusions you draw here. But I'm not really sure if one can really call this creative or innovative.Innovation/creativity:
I like the idea of the caltrop golem, it naturally fits in line with the other golems yet is something completely different. Golems that aren't just materials but objects or even ideas have already come before, but the caltrop golem is the most natural fit I've seen so far.
At a plus I see them very low on the Cr scale, allowing even low level parties to encounter golems as simple guardians, not just as big boss monsters.
This entry really illustrates that you don't need to do something completly new ( what often leads to gonzo and wonkyness) to be creative and do something interresting. Naturaly this idea is not completely new, golems of all colors and shapes have been done before, and there are at least 2 other caltrop golems at the wizards and giantitp forums. ( a quick google search revealed those two)
Tilt:
While they are new and interesting, but they are golems, after all. they have the guardian role, which is rarely inspiring. this is again an additional option to choose from when needing something for this role, nothing that is inspiring in itself.
I'll consider giving you my vote, but i have preciously few. If you make it into round 2 make sure to step up a little, the results would surely intriguing.
Good work!
"Caltrop golems have the same approximate size and body proportions of an unusually stout Halfling.
"Their body’s appearance ..."
"Its composition also gives it a fluidity which allows it to pass through spaces only slightly larger than an individual caltrop."
"A caltrop golem will attempt to subdue any opponent by slamming into it"
"If a caltrop golem is sufficiently damaged, it will drop the damaged sections of itself"
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I plan to respond and explain myself a bit when the round is over. Though hopefully not right after the round is over.
interesting still it reminds me too much of Monte Cook's Nail Golem appearing in his Dungeon-A-Day.
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8
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This could be a little confusing ...
How did the author respond to the challenge? Mostly coherent description over rules references. It feels a little stretched to fill up the word count.
How does it stack up
- as an opponent? It's mostly a straightforward melee attacker. The point about shifting its constituent caltrops to cascade through a small space is nifty. I would have liked a description of the sound of that. Unless it's particularly low in CR - which is possible - its various caltrop-related abilities may not pose much of a threat.
- as something other than an opponent? The entry doesn't really say anything beyond the obvious about its construction, creator or intended purpose.
- in relation to other monsters? Hard to think that "X golem" was the author's solitary idea for this round of the contest, but not much else is new here. It's interesting to see a creature that breaks down into a lasting obstacle after death.
- in relation to the author's item? Not the same effect, but I'd have to say they're comparable in scope.
- in itself? A relentless compact mass of crudely formed iron spikes could lend itself to a fine encounter, if used well. I keep finding myself wanting to read more into the physical description or concept of this monster than the author has put there.
In the end it's too limited for me.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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Originality: Is this creature a unique creation? Does it fill a unique niche in the game?
Mojo/ spirit: Do I want to see your creature in my game?
Director of Brand Strategy
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I think you've got some really cool elements here, especially the fluidity, and grappling implications. Your text itself employs a lot of passive voice and excessive words, and you spend quite a bit of wordcount on basics. If it's a golem, we don't need to be told it's mindless and immune to magic. Tell me what makes this particular golem awesome. The fact that it's small is cool, and that it could disguise itself as a pile of caltrops and then congeal into a small humanoid form and ATTACK! is worth expansion. I think a few extra passes with the red pen would do this entry well. With tighter writing you can make more room for yourself to get across all the win in your next entry. Hope to see you in the next round!
I quite like this one. Sometimes it's hard to find a low level monster that stands out from the crowd, but this one is getting there.
It could be improved with a bit more editing, but on the whole it works well for me.
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka JoelF847
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While I think the golem made of caltrops is a nifty idea, and would like one in a monster book, the fact that it's too similar to other creatures mentioned (I also immediately thought of Monte's nailmen from dungeon a day, though admittedly, not a ton of people are familiar with that compared to more core monsters), and that the small size grappler doesn't seem like a very effective guardian makes me conclude that while this is a fine monster, it's not superstar.
Does it grab me visually: I like small golems, that’s interesting. It’s made of caltrops…I can see it. I’m not sure what you mean by dropping pieces of itself to create hazards for assailants. Is it dropping whole limbs? Getting grappled by this thing would hurt.
Would I use it in game: Probably. I like golems because they force players to revise tactics, especially to combat the magic immunity. I would really like to know what spells can affect this golem.
Would my players enjoy an encounter with it: Yes. One of my players loves using caltrops, so this monster would be all of his dreams come true.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
aka flash_cxxi
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I like it. A nice low CR Guardian Construct.
Love it's abilities and description. I'm not sure whether it would be classed as a True Golem given it would be a low CR Monster, so maybe the name needs some work, but otherwise a fine entry.
It's in my Keep pile for the moment.
Good Luck. :)
"Caltrop Golem Optimism: Things are Pointing Up!"
Or perhaps the slogan should be...
Vote Caltrop Golem, and stick it to their competitors!