This question arose during a recent game session: Can a construct be petrified?
As per the PF SRD:
Construct Traits (Ex) Constructs are immune to death effects, disease, mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects), necromancy effects, paralysis, poison, sleep, stun, and any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects, or is harmless). Constructs are not subject to nonlethal damage, ability damage, ability drain, fatigue, exhaustion, or energy drain. Constructs are not at risk of death from massive damage.
Now, according to the italicized text, it would suggest that a construct would NOT be subject to petrification. But it isn't completely clear. Anyone care to elaborate? Thanks in advance.
DogBone
This question arose during a recent game session: Can a construct be petrified?
As per the PF SRD:
Construct Traits (Ex) Constructs are immune to death effects, disease, mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects), necromancy effects, paralysis, poison, sleep, stun, and any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects, or is harmless). Constructs are not subject to nonlethal damage, ability damage, ability drain, fatigue, exhaustion, or energy drain. Constructs are not at risk of death from massive damage.
Now, according to the italicized text, it would suggest that a construct would NOT be subject to petrification. But it isn't completely clear. Anyone care to elaborate? Thanks in advance.
DogBone
Hello, can anyone answer?
I don't think so either, but there could always be extenuating circumstances I suppose. But per the cockatrice's entry, its petrification requires a Fort save and only works on fleshy creatures. So I wouldn't think it would work on constructs. But a medusa's gaze turns things to stone (which could technically be used against objects) so that could possibly be used against constructs to turn them into stone (would that work on stone golems?).
What is the case in question, if you please? Thanks!
A medusa requires something to meet her gaze. An object can't do that, so the medusa's gaze would not work on a construct. It also doesn't work on blind creatures.
Now, if you were to use "Polymorph Any Object" to turn it to stone, that could work. In the case of a stone golem, you would likely want to change it to "an unmoving statue". Notice the (object) tag on the saving throw. If a spell can effect a golem or object it's supposed to have that listed.
A medusa requires something to meet her gaze. An object can't do that, so the medusa's gaze would not work on a construct. It also doesn't work on blind creatures.
I'm not sure about that. Intelligent magic items can see. I don't know if meeting her gaze requires eyes, it's not very clear, but I could see magic items having sort-of eyes anyway. An intelligent mask or skull, for example, or an intelligent version of Eye of Charming or the Apparatus of Qualch.
Granted, that happening would be extremely rare and might never ever happen, but if a medusa's gaze could theoretically affect an intelligent magic item, it could be argued that you should be able to affect constructs with it too (as long as they can see/have eyes)
I don't think so either, but there could always be extenuating circumstances I suppose. But per the cockatrice's entry, its petrification requires a Fort save and only works on fleshy creatures. So I wouldn't think it would work on constructs. But a medusa's gaze turns things to stone (which could technically be used against objects) so that could possibly be used against constructs to turn them into stone (would that work on stone golems?).
What is the case in question, if you please? Thanks!
It started with a fight against a flesh golem. It's flesh, but a construct. But it's made of flesh, but it's not alive, etc, etc, etc. Around and around it went...
DogBone
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I'm not sure what isn't clear about this one. Constructs are immune to any effect that requires a Fortitude save unless that effect can target an object.
If the effect or spell in question allows a Fortitude save and targets some number of creatures (but not objects), then the effect or spell cannot affect a construct.
It's pretty clear to me. RAW, constructs are immune to petrification.
A construct is not immune to petrifaction.
A flesh golem is immune to the flesh to stone spell, to a cockatrice bite, to a gorgon's breath, and so forth. However, if you can find a petrifaction effect that does not allow a Fortitude save, then the golem (or any other construct) could be affected by it.
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I'm not sure what isn't clear about this one. Constructs are immune to any effect that requires a Fortitude save unless that effect can target an object.
If the effect or spell in question allows a Fortitude save and targets some number of creatures (but not objects), then the effect or spell cannot affect a construct.
It's pretty clear to me. RAW, constructs are immune to petrification.A construct is not immune to petrifaction.
A flesh golem is immune to the flesh to stone spell, to a cockatrice bite, to a gorgon's breath, and so forth. However, if you can find a petrifaction effect that does not allow a Fortitude save, then the golem (or any other construct) could be affected by it.
I'm pretty sure all petrification effects (petrifying gaze, etc) require a fort save. Ergo, constructs are immune to it. Just trying to give the guy a clear answer.
A medusa requires something to meet her gaze. An object can't do that, so the medusa's gaze would not work on a construct.
Just a note but it is my understanding that constructs are NOT "objects" but are in fact "creatures."
Were the PCs trying to cast flesh to stone on the flesh golem? If so, then no it would not work. Flesh to stone targets 1 creature (not an object), so the construct's immunity to petrification that requires a Fort save that doesn't work on objects comes into play.
If it was some other weird petrification effect that also works on objects, then the golem might have been affected. Hard to say unless we know more about the specific situation. There can always be weird corner cases. Good luck!
Does the effect require a Fort save? Yes/No
If yes:
Can the effect target an object? Yes/No
If no:
The construct is immune.
If yes:
The construct is not immune.
Simple enough.
I want to note that a golem is kind of an animated object.
If you did manage to petrify it, it would become a stone golem.
If you could stone to flesh a stone golem, it would become a flesh golem. The change in state should not negate the animation.
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I want to note that a golem is kind of an animated object.
If you did manage to petrify it, it would become a stone golem.
If you could stone to flesh a stone golem, it would become a flesh golem. The change in state should not negate the animation.
It takes different sorts of magic to animate the different types of golems. To craft a stone golem it costs 105,000gold, a flesh golem is 20,000 gold. You can't just craft a fleshie and flesh to stone it.
A medusa requires something to meet her gaze. An object can't do that, so the medusa's gaze would not work on a construct. It also doesn't work on blind creatures.I'm not sure about that. Intelligent magic items can see. I don't know if meeting her gaze requires eyes, it's not very clear, but I could see magic items having sort-of eyes anyway. An intelligent mask or skull, for example, or an intelligent version of Eye of Charming or the Apparatus of Qualch.
Granted, that happening would be extremely rare and might never ever happen, but if a medusa's gaze could theoretically affect an intelligent magic item, it could be argued that you should be able to affect constructs with it too (as long as they can see/have eyes)
A medusa's gaze can't affect an intelligent magic item, even if the item can "see" her. Intelligent items are considered constructs (not objects) per RAW, so are immune to the medusa's gaze the same way a golem would be.
Were the PCs trying to cast flesh to stone on the flesh golem? If so, then no it would not work. Flesh to stone targets 1 creature (not an object), so the construct's immunity to petrification that requires a Fort save that doesn't work on objects comes into play.
If it was some other weird petrification effect that also works on objects, then the golem might have been affected. Hard to say unless we know more about the specific situation. There can always be weird corner cases. Good luck!
Yeah, they wanted to use a spell. I pretty much thought it wouldn't work, but the players just would not let it go. Just needed some 'official' clarification to back me up.
Thanks everyone.
DogBone
Maybe if you wanted to waste a wish spell.
You would get a small stone golem.
The standard flesh to stone spell would not be powerful enough.