Okay third topic based on the 4th bestiary.
The clockwork mage was a godsend for someone who likes golem armor (or at least the idea of it)
having finally a medium golem that's well suited for mages, I'm making one. few questions though;
- do enhancements on the golem's natural armor count as enhancements on the "armor"
- the entry says that its made out of mitral for the most part. if I pay the extra "mitral armor cost" would it count as an mitral breastplate?
- A clockwork mage seems pretty magical, magical gear is masterwork, would my breastplate be masterwork?
- Can I make my "armor" legendary? (legendary item, mythic rules)
In my biast opinion, I would probably rule al but the last one with yes.
However people's opinions would be welcome.
The problem with construct armor is that it isnt actually armor. It merely counts as a breastplate, augmented with whatever "enhancement" bonuses you gave to armor.
1) So no natural armor. You can enchant it like armor though, since construct can normally be given armor enchatments.
2) THat's a GM call, since it's not technically armor.
3) Again, iffy, they just say it counts as a regular breastplate will all the same hindrances. If you could convince a GM for #2, you could probably convince them of this. But I would say no.
4) Not sure. I you could give the construct a legendary armor enhancement, sure, but since it isnt technically armor, it's open to interpretation.
You also loose access to all it's abilities (so no spellcasting for you unless you come out). The armor is basically a HP sink, unfortunately. If you look up for a few FAQs they had on the subject, they designers where VERY sure they didnt want to create a synthesist summoner 2.0.
The first time I saw this, I was like "so cool". Then I did a little research and realised it was more of a hindrance than anything else, ESPECIALLY for a mage of any sort.
2) THat's a GM call, since it's not technically armor.
I believe that the requirements for mithril armor x is that its made mostly out of that material, a golem made out of that material counting as armor would fit both requirements no?
4) Not sure. I you could give the construct a legendary armor enhancement, sure, but since it isnt technically armor, it's open to interpretation.
I believed that since the legendary item ability does not require it to be armor, or a weapon, just an object, it might, although I was inclined to say no on this one to
The first time I saw this, I was like "so cool". Then I did a little research and realised it was more of a hindrance than anything else, ESPECIALLY for a mage of any sort.
If point 2 is allowed, it changes a lot for, its suddenly light armor, getting the remaining spell failure chance out of the way is not that hard at that stage.(a single feat)
Edit: and by all that is nerdy I will make powerarmor work for my mage!
Well, whatever you do, it's still a breastplate. Even a mithral breastplate will have 15% spell failure, so you will need at least arcane armor training 1& 2 to eliminate all of it (so at least 2 feats). And while it's true that mithral armor counts as light armor in certain respects, you still need medium armor proficiency to not get the ACP, and you will be very slowed by it. Dont forget, you keep your stats and everything else; all that the golem is is an immobile pool of hit points, that CAN be bypassed (by a brilliant energy weapon for example).
For point 2, I'm still thinking it's no. I mean, if you make the armor out of a clay golem, is it clay armor? No, it's still treated as a vanilla breastplate. The composition of the golem has no effect in my opinion, since, again, it's not technically armor, it's just treated like armor.
Good luck man, but you wont get true power armor by RAW. There's a reason so many people ban the sysnthesist summoner, and that's the closest I've seen to actual power armor in pathfinder.
and you will be very slowed by it.
Because the "counts as breastplate" section doesn't say it affects your speed (presumably because the construct is partially animate and able to help you move), it does not affect your speed.
That doesn't seem to be the case, even for non-mithral.
Personally, I'd be more likely to use a combo of Still Spell metamagic rods, wands and staves to bypass the spell failure chance over Arcane Armor training as a pure caster. As an EK, I'd probably go the AAT route. There's also that Hellknight caster whose name I can't remember who I'd also go the AAT route with.
You also loose access to all it's abilities (so no spellcasting for you unless you come out). The armor is basically a HP sink, unfortunately. If you look up for a few FAQs they had on the subject, they designers where VERY sure they didnt want to create a synthesist summoner 2.0.
I'm not so sure that's necessarily true. The FAQ I could find doesn't say anything about losing its abilities, nor does the wording for construct armor state that it loses its abilities, only that it takes no independent action.
It seems to me like it keeps its special attacks/abilities(though you do not benefit from its special defenses), but you have to spend your actions to activate them. It also seems like you would have access to all of its attacks, natural or weapon, but at your likely inferior(assuming a caster) BAB/Stat/Proficiency.
Since the comparison has already been mentioned: Ultimately, it's different from Synthesist in that you don't benefit from defenses or increases to your stats from it, but similar in that you probably get greater benefit from it by just letting it run around on its own protecting you with its own action economy.
There's also that Hellknight caster whose name I can't remember who I'd also go the AAT route with.
Hellknight Signifier
There's also that Hellknight caster whose name I can't remember who I'd also go the AAT route with.Hellknight Signifier
That's the one.