Constructs

[Krith]

Are constructs considered monsters or magical items? We've been doing some teleporting in our game and I'm curious if they should act as "gear" or as a medium/large creature.

The creator also brought up that the construct has the Construct Armor ability and therefore it can be worn as armor (and not take up a valuable teleport slot).

Thoughts? Thanks.

[That Crazy Alchemist]

A construct is a creature and would take up a teleport slot.
Construct armor does not say anything about the construct ceasing to be a creature while being used as armor, and would still take up a teleport slot.

[Krith]

So if constructs are creatures, do they require the Leadership feat and corresponding cohort rules for PCs to utilize? I'm not familiar with the creation of constructs, obviously...

[dragonhunterq]

Just because a construct is a creature doesn't mean that it isn't a magic item too. The terms are not mutually exclusive.

If the player paid to build the construct it should count against that players WBL.

Leadership (with GM approval) would allow a player to recruit a construct without needing to build it, or alternatively take it outside that players wealth.

[Krith]

Curious about the magic item vs creature rules. I'm thinking this falls very closely near where intelligent magic weapons rules would be.

If a druid Wild Shapes with an intelligent weapon, I'm assuming the weapon melds as normal gear would. Likewise, what would happen if a druid is wearing a construct with construct armor? It acts like a breastplate, and if intelligent magic weapons would meld, I don't know why other intelligent magic items wouldn't...

[Cyrus Lanthier]

Many constructs lack any sort of "free will" as they are mindless, so you don't need them to be "loyal," which is what Leadership does. If you pay to build/buy a construct, it generally obeys you without the need for Leadership. If you encountered a sentient construct NPC (a warforged? I don't know...) and wanted to get it to be your loyal companion and friend, Leadership would be appropriate.

Similarly, if you want to pay for some hirelings/men at arms, that just costs gold, generally - no leadership required. They probably aren't very loyal, though, and an intelligent, well-connected foe could probably buy them out from under you... Which is why constructs are great servants, guards, and men-at-arms if you can afford them and make sure they don't die/break.