Alchemist building a alchemical golem

[baalbamoth]

k I'm a little confused, to build an alchemical golem costs 3,000 GP in 1000 lbs of alchemical gear as raw material.

if so why is the cost 18,000 if you have the capacity to cast the spells? (is that for the time it takes to actually build the thing?)

further... if you want to give the golem the sheild ability... is that halved if you have the skill to add/craft the ability as well?

further... can you use the golem sheild or armor abilities on golems that are larget size than yourself? how does that work? is there a spell you can cast other than "shrink item" to do this? (shrink item only works on non-magical items)

[John Mangrum]

baalbamoth wrote:

k I'm a little confused, to build an alchemical golem costs 3,000 GP in 1000 lbs of alchemical gear as raw material.

if so why is the cost 18,000 if you have the capacity to cast the spells? (is that for the time it takes to actually build the thing?)

In general, the extra costs go to reagents, special materials, and other exotic stuff that gets used up in the process of bringing the golem to life. The cost you mention is literally just to build the body--not to bring it to life.

baalbamoth wrote:

further... if you want to give the golem the shield ability... is that halved if you have the skill to add/craft the ability as well?

No; that expense is added to the cost (the "make it yourself price"), not its market price.

[baalbamoth]

yikes