Well... since construct armor basically sucks...


Advice

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Dark Archive

As I believe I'm reading this correctly, and that it basically only really amounts to being armor that doesn't slow you, and that you don't get to use the special attacks nor abilities of the construct.

Is there anything that says you can't "ride" a construct/golem as a mount for your caster? I really like the idea of a clockwork "battlesuit" for my character, an alchemist/metal school wizard, but I'm not sure if construct armor is the way to go. I'd like to be able to use the golem(whichever I choose) as a suit, or even just be harnessed onto it, and retain it's abilities. Not sure if it matters in any way, but the character is a human, with the eventual goal being lichdom if I can pull it off.


Goblin Assassin wrote:

As I believe I'm reading this correctly, and that it basically only really amounts to being armor that doesn't slow you, and that you don't get to use the special attacks nor abilities of the construct.

Is there anything that says you can't "ride" a construct/golem as a mount for your caster? I really like the idea of a clockwork "battlesuit" for my character, an alchemist/metal school wizard, but I'm not sure if construct armor is the way to go. I'd like to be able to use the golem(whichever I choose) as a suit, or even just be harnessed onto it, and retain it's abilities. Not sure if it matters in any way, but the character is a human, with the eventual goal being lichdom if I can pull it off.

Could take a single level of Synthesis Summoner... and make the special effect as 'summoning' your clockwork armor. Would be WAY cheaper then buying the construct... mind you it would take a little special effect tweaking... but this is what I did with an NPC bad guy.

Dark Archive

Would it be worth it to only take a single level? Wouldn't the eidolon be essentially useless due to lacking evolution points?


Or you could buy a horse.

Dark Archive

That would kind of defeat the idea of him having a clockwork "battlesuit" for combat. If I wanted a regular mount I wouldn't have asked this in the first place.

Paizo Employee Design Manager

Wouldn't you still have any special properties of the armor? And couldn't you use your actions to activate it's abilities?

"So long as the creator wears it, the construct performs no independent actions, remaining under the control of the creator"

Dark Archive

As far as I've read, here on the forums, you do not gain any of the constructs abilities.


Goblin Assassin wrote:
Would it be worth it to only take a single level? Wouldn't the eidolon be essentially useless due to lacking evolution points?

A single level would give you-

A nice Physical Stat boost (seeing as a caster normally has really low physical stats)
Slight HP boost (The d8 and d10 hit dice is a little nicer than the normal d6)
A small AC boost-
And all without costing you a single gold.
(And should it be 'destroyed' in combat, a lot easier to fix).

But that still comes at the cost of multiclassing so... -shrug-
And your not gonna be able to get the real cool evolutions with just one level.

This is just a suggestion though... might give you something closer to what you want.

Paizo Employee Design Manager

Goblin Assassin wrote:
As far as I've read, here on the forums, you do not gain any of the constructs abilities.

If it's under your control though, you should be able to command it to utilize any special abilities it could otherwise take, at least based on the description. Plus you've got a nice pool of HP, likely with DR, that your enemies have to chew through first either way.

Dark Archive

Hmmm... Maybe a couple levels, I'll have to take a look at the synthesist, I've never really bothered to look at the summoner but it could possibly work. Any suggestions on how deep of a dip would be enough?


Goblin Assassin wrote:
Hmmm... Maybe a couple levels, I'll have to take a look at the synthesist, I've never really bothered to look at the summoner but it could possibly work. Any suggestions on how deep of a dip would be enough?

That all depends on how far your Campaign is going to take you, and how much of your big spell casting your willing to sacrifice to power up your 'clockwork armor'.

These links might help you out- and look over what you might be able to do.

Summoner:
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/summoner

Synthesist:
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/summoner/archetypes/paizo---su mmoner-archetypes/synthesist


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Let me tell you what one of my players has plans to do with a backup character:

He is an Oread Stone Oracle. He has taken the Oread Earth Glider feat, so he can "meld" with any unworked earth. He then used planar ally to summon a minor Earth Elemental that he has entered into a deal with to travel with him for a time in exchange for helping it defeat an rival elemental.

Then, using his Oread Earth Glider feat, he uses the Earth Elemental as a moving battle suit; using his Oracle power to see through earth and stone to cast from within the creature as it protects him totally.

Granted, this is quite costly due to the cost of planar binding... But it's still pretty darn cool & inventive if you ask me.


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I should really finish my Numerian Armiger class. It's based on the synthesist, with the idea that it's a character bonded to a suit of adaptive battle armour salvaged from a crashed spaceship.

Grand Lodge

Construct Limb is still awesome. Add some Weapon Modifications, and double you attacks.

Dark Archive

Construct limb?


Armiger

Grand Lodge

Construct Limb.


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Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Hard to beat animated object armor. It's cheap and extremely versatile. It can assist you in putting it on, it can fight all on its own, grant additional Perception checks for the party, it can "walk" you to safety when you are unconscious, multiple identical suits can mislead enemies, it might grant your additional movement modes, etc.


I don't know, I can't figure out why the original post is claiming Construct Armor sucks.

It's not anything like armor that doesn't slow you down--it's another creature taking hits for you until it's destroyed or you ask it to do something else. That's crazy good.

Dark Archive

My main reason for saying it sucks is that, to my knowledge from what I've read on it, that it cannot use it's special attacks/abilities(ie: alchemical golem bombs, iron golem brash, fossil golem petrification) so to me it seems the it overpriced, glorified armor. Or have I missed something?


Goblin Assassin wrote:
My main reason for saying it sucks is that, to my knowledge from what I've read on it, that it cannot use it's special attacks/abilities(ie: alchemical golem bombs, iron golem brash, fossil golem petrification) so to me it seems the it overpriced, glorified armor. Or have I missed something?

That still leaves Ravingdork's animated object suggestion, which is quite a bit less expensive than a golem armor.

And really, I wouldn't think about it as armor. I'd think about it as a nice pool of temporary HP that can be healed with certain spells and magic items. Which makes me wonder...do things like Hardness and DR apply when "any attacks directed at the wearer first damage the construct"?


Golem Armour is ore for the Shield Golem/Guardian where you wear it when traveling for protection from Ambushes.

But (IIRC) you can also command it to use any special abilities.

And yes DR and Hardness apply. Though (again IIRC) you don't gain immunities or anything like that and still take damage from Splash Damage.

Dark Archive

If you're right Fayth, then maybe I've been looking at construct armor wrong. Still though, another thing that bugs me is the necessity for the armor to be the same size as the caster/creator. Kinda kills my image of the large, brutally armed battlesuit being ridden into combat.


Goblin Assassin wrote:
My main reason for saying it sucks is that, to my knowledge from what I've read on it, that it cannot use it's special attacks/abilities(ie: alchemical golem bombs, iron golem brash, fossil golem petrification) so to me it seems the it overpriced, glorified armor. Or have I missed something?

You've missed that it adds an entire extra character to take hits for you. It's like doubling your HP (not to mention you'd get the Golem's DR and probably the immunities (at least against damage spells with SR).

If you really want the special abilities, you can disengage from the armor. How is this anything less than awesome?

Goblin Assassin wrote:
Still though, another thing that bugs me is the necessity for the armor to be the same size as the caster/creator. Kinda kills my image of the large, brutally armed battlesuit being ridden into combat.

Well there's your problem--you want steampunk mecha in a game not designed with that aesthetic in mind.

I can't be a fighter pilot in Pathfinder, but I don't then decide that the Cavalier sucks because it only lets me ride a dumb horse instead of flying a spaceship.


You don't gain the immunities against any spell the Construct is immune to. It is one of those weird interactions. The is an FAQ or Post about it else where.

But construct Armour is nice on say a Warrior Magus.

Dark Archive

Hmmm, I'll have to think on it, maybe throw on some other modifications to make it more deadly

I'm kinda liking the idea of wearing the golem/construct/whatever before combat and then disengaging to allow it to fight while healing it with make whole and stuff. The idea behind the character is a combat machinist. Like a steampunk mad scientist I suppose. As of right now, he's going to have a couple levels of both alchemist and elemental-metalschool wizard. I was thinking of throwing in some gunslinger as well. He's not really good nor evil, he build all sorts of clockwork horrors and ideally would ride one almost like a mount into combat.


Goblin Assassin wrote:
The idea behind the character is a combat machinist. Like a steampunk mad scientist I suppose. As of right now, he's going to have a couple levels of both alchemist and elemental-metalschool wizard. I was thinking of throwing in some gunslinger as well. He's not really good nor evil, he build all sorts of clockwork horrors and ideally would ride one almost like a mount into combat.

I think it's a mistake multi-classing so much, especially with those classes. Why not just play an Alchemist? Or just a Wizard with the archetype that gives you bombs?


You might look into having him have some Clockwork Construct(Bestiary 3 I believe) Minions.

Dark Archive

I didn't know there was a bomber archetype for wizards. If you could point me in the direction of it that would be much appreciated. That would be great as a can go mainly wizards with a small dip in gunslinger.


Goblin Assassin wrote:
I didn't know there was a bomber archetype for wizards. If you could point me in the direction of it that would be much appreciated. That would be great as a can go mainly wizards with a small dip in gunslinger.

Why dip in Gunslinger?

You want guns, bombs, and magic. Here are options to do that without multi classing:

-Be a Spellslinger wizard. Take the Amateur gunslinger feats and put skill points into craft alchemy. You can make Acid and Alchemist's Fire and use them as bombs. they won't be a part of your class feature, but they're still powerful.
-Be a Spellbomber wizard. Take Exotic Weapon Proficiency (firearms) and Amateur Gunslinger as feats.
-Be an Alchemist. Take Exotic Weapons Proficiency (firearms) and then the Explosive Missile discovery. Not only do you have magic, bombs, and guns, but you essentially turn your gun into a rocket launcher with your bombs.

Multiclassing is almost always a bad idea unless you are going for a really specific, really effective build or are shooting for a prestige class like Arcane Archer.


Conductive Weapons are also an option for a Arcane Bomber to get a Rocket/Grenade Launcher.

Dark Archive

Is it possible to combine spellslinger and spellbomber? Or are they incompatible?


They are incompatible.


I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet (admittedly it is rather expensive) but the Apparatus of the Crab can make for an excellent battlesuit for casters.

Just make sure to get a trained hireling to drive it for you so that you can direct your energy to spellcasting.


Can't you get an Imp Familiar to drive it?

Dark Archive

I completely forgot about the apparatus, that's a genius idea. Have a familiar pilot it, as Fayth suggests, and I'd be golden. Big steampunk combat armor, some clockwork construct "pets" and maybe a construct limb or two

Possibly something else other than an imp, are there any other improved familiars that'd make a good fit for the theme? I'm at work, so I'm sans books at the moment.


Or you could get a Clockwork Servant to Pilot it. Fits the theme a bit better.


Azaelas Fayth wrote:
You don't gain the immunities against any spell the Construct is immune to. It is one of those weird interactions. The is an FAQ or Post about it else where.

Here's the FAQ entry. I agree that animated object construct armor is the best you're going to get; for instance, hardness is pretty sweet compared to DR.


hogarth wrote:
Azaelas Fayth wrote:
You don't gain the immunities against any spell the Construct is immune to. It is one of those weird interactions. The is an FAQ or Post about it else where.
Here's the FAQ entry. I agree that animated object construct armor is the best you're going to get; for instance, hardness is pretty sweet compared to DR.

Thanks.

Can an Alchemist make an Animated Armour? Is it also possible to create a Intelligent Animated Armour?

All I can think of is making an Edward Elric parody Alchemist with an Intelligent Animated Armour for Alphonse Elric.

Dark Archive

I remember in 3.5 there was an awaken construct spell, haven't checked if it remains. And good idea with a clockwork servant being the pilot. Anyone remember offhand what size the Crab is?


It can hold 2 Medium or Small People.

Awaken might work... or the Robot Template...

Dark Archive

That's works perfect, now I just gotta decide what kind of construct limb I'd want to go with, and the wizard I'm making will be ready to rock. Probably going to go with an animated object construct armor as well as riding around in the Apparatus "battlesuit".

I wonder, is there anything that says the Apparatus can't be modified?


Goblin Assassin wrote:

That's works perfect, now I just gotta decide what kind of construct limb I'd want to go with, and the wizard I'm making will be ready to rock. Probably going to go with an animated object construct armor as well as riding around in the Apparatus "battlesuit".

I wonder, is there anything that says the Apparatus can't be modified?

Unless your GM says it, then no I don't believe there's anything that says it can't be modified.

Refer to the magic item creation rules for guidelines on how to create and modify magic items.


Is this an NPC or a PC?

But I would say enchanting the claws as weapons and the body as armour should be legal.

Dark Archive

This will be a PC, already assuming if the DM let's me play him. He's pretty lenient with concepts as long as they're creative and rules-legal.


Technically, He is.

Dark Archive

Exactly why I'm not too worried about getting to play him. At the moment I'm just deciding on construct choices for the character. Debating what if like best for a construct limb. We're going to be 14th level with full wealth by level for our level.


Goblin Assassin wrote:
Exactly why I'm not too worried about getting to play him. At the moment I'm just deciding on construct choices for the character. Debating what if like best for a construct limb. We're going to be 14th level with full wealth by level for our level.

Nice.


Ravingdork wrote:
Hard to beat animated object armor. It's cheap and extremely versatile. It can assist you in putting it on, it can fight all on its own, grant additional Perception checks for the party, it can "walk" you to safety when you are unconscious, multiple identical suits can mislead enemies, it might grant your additional movement modes, etc.

"This spell cannot affect objects carried or worn by a creature."

source

So if animated objects can't affect anything worn by a creature, how is animated object armor even possible? Or am I missing something.

Grand Lodge

Goblin Assassin wrote:

As I believe I'm reading this correctly, and that it basically only really amounts to being armor that doesn't slow you, and that you don't get to use the special attacks nor abilities of the construct.

Is there anything that says you can't "ride" a construct/golem as a mount for your caster? I really like the idea of a clockwork "battlesuit" for my character, an alchemist/metal school wizard, but I'm not sure if construct armor is the way to go. I'd like to be able to use the golem(whichever I choose) as a suit, or even just be harnessed onto it, and retain it's abilities. Not sure if it matters in any way, but the character is a human, with the eventual goal being lichdom if I can pull it off.

I don't believe you are reading it correctly.

1) Any attack that hits you damages the armor first instead. This is good and bad. As a squishy wizard, it does lets you have an extra buffer of HP.. Combined with its hardness, could be a greatly amount. (Be sure to protect your armor from spells using your magic though.)

2) Its under your control. It preforms no independent action. This doesn't stop it from being able to use its abilities when you control it to.

3) It functions even in Anti-magic fields if you use the craft construct feat.

I suggest using animated object construct. Its cheaper, and can add in more bonuses. Since it doesn't slow you down, you could go full adamantine I think, starting you off with a 20 hardness, 20 ac

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