Hi everyone, I would like some opinions on a mindless animated thing. Would an undead or an animated object that has been triggered to defend a place or an object stop striking a PC, that has triggered it, if that PC has gone unconscious? Would it move to the next viable threat? What defines someone as a target? And when does that target, no longer become a target? Would it continue striking the first PC that activated it even though the PC is long dead?
I think it would stop once the initial target stopped moving. If he keeps squirming on the ground, it would keep hitting him. Once he stops moving, it would move to the next closest moving target in the area it was set to guard, same deal hitting it until it stops moving, etc. etc.
The only way it would stop once triggered would be for there to be nothing remaining in its set area to beat on, either because the other creatures fled, or they're all unmoving.
That's how I'd play it anyway.
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With no real intelligence, movement would be the qualifier to be a target unless directed by higher intelligence. Given the only way to effectively destroy objects is to break them, same logic would apply to the construct on how to destroy an enemy. Bust them into pieces.
Undead are animated with negative energy, so while this may not equate "life sense" to see hidden things, it's probably fair to say they know when a foe is still alive or not.
With no real intelligence, movement would be the qualifier to be a target unless directed by higher intelligence. Given the only way to effectively destroy objects is to break them, same logic would apply to the construct on how to destroy an enemy. Bust them into pieces.
Undead are animated with negative energy, so while this may not equate "life sense" to see hidden things, it's probably fair to say they know when a foe is still alive or not.
So would breathing count as movement? Or would there be a limit on the amount of movement? For example, if a small rat that has been infesting the area triggers the guardian then it very well could be chasing the stooped thing around for some time. I like the movement concept. And I agree that an undead with intelligence would attempt to slay living if given the opportunity, in most cases. Then there is Geb where the undead exist alongside some living. In this case we are talking about an animated mindless thing. Be it undead or object it has been given an order to protect, let’s say, a room. A PC enters the room and triggers the guardian, who surprises the PC and strikes him down to -1 HP. Round 1 two more PC enter the room to try and save their fallen friend. Would the mindless guardian attack the new threat or continue to attack the still alive, breathing target lying on the ground?
The movement thing sounds very plausible considering it is a guardian. The question is more from a neutral position. Would most GM’s finish off the dying PC with a killing blow, or would most move to the next viable threat? I’m thinking, either choice would probably be justified, to anyone except the dying PC.
As a GM I would likely consider that the guardian has at least two directives in its "programming".
1. Protect the room/location/item/person in question.
2. Protect itself.
In a situation where there are multiple PCs in the area and one is already on the ground the rest are likely also fighting against the aforementioned guardian or guardians. In that case it would prioritize taking care of the still active hostile targets before finishing off non-moving (non-threatening) targets.
Of course if all the PCs get put down it's up to the GM whether they get finished off or not.
As for attacking a rat or noticing a breathing character there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, what kind of "programming" is this creature following? If the orders given were simply "Defend this room from all intruders who don't speak the password oogaboo" then it's very much up to the GM to decide what the guardian perceives as an "intruder". If more complex orders are given and the guardian is capable of understanding them then that narrows things down a bit.
Most people creating or buying constructs/undead are probably smart enough to know what sort of orders will work for their purposes, or else rich enough to hire someone professional to do it for them.
Second, noticing a character breathing is probably a DC15 or lower Perception check (based on the DC to hear someone whispering). That's not terribly hard for anything with a rank or two in the skill, so then it's again up to the guardian's programming. If the orders are "Kill all intruders" well, things are pretty clear. If the orders are just "Don't let anyone in there" or, "Don't let anyone touch that" then they may either kill them, let the bodies lie, or dump them out of the protected zone.
Really it all depends on the orders given and the inherent nature, if any, of the guardian. Anything undead or made to be a killing machine will likely use murder as a first resort unless otherwise instructed. Likewise something that seems more passive or defensive in nature will likely just follow the letter of the law, and only kill if that is what's necessary to fulfill it's duties.
Anyway, that's how I see the situation and how I would run it in one of my games, I'd probably avoid having a creature specifically focus on coup-de-grace-ing a PC unless there was a specific story reason to do it, or it was a total party wipe and everyone is assumed dead anyway.