Animated Objects

[Silent Saturn]

I want to design an encounter for my playgroup that consists of several small Animated Objects, but I can't think of what kind of objects to animate. The Bestiary gives "candelabra" as the example object for the size and CR I'm aiming for, but what else?

If I made a wizard's spellbook into an animated object, would any wizards in the party be able to learn spells out of it afterwards?

If I used a weapon as the object, and spent a construction point on giving it flight, would it deal damage equal to its weapon damage or would it still get the slam attack listed in the Bestiary? What if I used a bear trap? Also, would trap sense help alert a PC to an animated object bear trap?

If I used a rope, does it act like the spell Animate Rope?

[Ravingdork]

Traditionally, animated objects can still be used as non-animated objects. An animated spellbook is still a spellbook and can do everything a normal spellbook can.

I would think it perfectely fine to allow a flying animated weapon to "wield itself" using it's own strength modifiers, base attack bonus, weapon damage (as opposed to slam damage), etc.

[Brambleman]

I would allow trap sense to help spot the trap. For thematic reasons.

[skrahen]

Ravingdork wrote:

Traditionally, animated objects can still be used as non-animated objects. An animated spellbook is still a spellbook and can do everything a normal spellbook can

Maybe he means after it's been hacked apart, fire balled, smashed with morning star, etc. Damage enough to kill it might make it harder if not impossible to use later.

[Salarain]

Put a shiny inside an Animated Objects like a bird cage; always fun this way.

[Bromton]

Animate Object on a skeliton or body looks like undead but not just to fuss with the cleric.
How about an umbrela? coat wrack, carts.

[Silent Saturn]

skrahen wrote:

Ravingdork wrote:

Traditionally, animated objects can still be used as non-animated objects. An animated spellbook is still a spellbook and can do everything a normal spellbook can

Maybe he means after it's been hacked apart, fire balled, smashed with morning star, etc. Damage enough to kill it might make it harder if not impossible to use later.

I meant both, actually. Even if the wizard can learn spells from an animated book, the book's not likely to sit still long enough for him to study from it unless it's killed. How would killing the book affect its usefulness as a spellbook? Should I roll percentiles to determine which spells are still legible in it? Would it depend on the means used to defeat it? Give the wizard a spellcraft check?

As for the bear trap, rogues get +1 on their reflex saves to avoid traps, so I'm thinking of treating the rogue's AC as 1 higher for attacks made by the bear trap.

I like the umbrella idea! I also thought about an hourglass and a teapot.