Reanimate a Flesh Golem?

[DocShock]

Can you bring back a flesh golem as a skeleton or zombie? I can't find anything preventing it, but I'm wondering if there is anything official on this. Anyone know?

Thanks.

[dragonhunterq]

Both templates only require the target be corporal and not undead. Zombie is clearly valid.
Only possible problem is does a flesh golem have skeleton?

[CampinCarl9127]

Uhhhh, this seems like a very odd corner case. On the one hand, I don't think you can reanimate constructs, since they aren't really corpses (just objects). On the other hand, that is flesh. Good question. Dotting for other answers.

[Imbicatus]

I'd say no. That's not a single corpse, it's bits and pieces of six corpses fused together. It's not a valid target for a necromancy spell.

[CampinCarl9127]

Heh, I would say yes, but it's basically just an amorphous blob of flesh that can't do anything since it lacks bone structure.

[Nigrescence]

Flesh Golem wrote:

A flesh golem is a ghoulish collection of stolen humanoid body parts, stitched together into a single composite form.

It is a safe assumption that most anything that could be regarded as a humanoid body part would have bone structure, and the golem clearly has a composite form composed of humanoid parts. It seems to indicate something similar to Frankenstein's monster.

Not that it matters. Being a construct, it is treated like an animated object and has the following tidbit that, in my opinion, seals the deal.

Construct wrote:

A construct cannot be raised or resurrected.

Construct wrote:

Immediately destroyed when reduced to 0 hit points or less.

Destroyed. Not killed. Not dead. It is not a corpse.

Animate Dead wrote:

This spell turns corpses into undead skeletons or zombies that obey your spoken commands.

Wraps it up pretty nicely, if I say so myself.

If there are any objections to this being the case, then I plan to make my next Necromancer thrive off of Animate Dead cast on steaks and fur coats and animal skin rugs. Maybe take that spit-roast pig you just started eating and turn it into a zombie minion, too. Then the question is if the meat you've already just eaten becomes undead, or if it had to be attached to the corpse at the time.

[CBDunkerson]

dragonhunterq wrote:

Both templates only require the target be corporal and not undead.

Attack of the Zombie Tomatoes!

[Imbicatus]

CBDunkerson wrote:

dragonhunterq wrote:

Both templates only require the target be corporal and not undead.

Attack of the Zombie Tomatoes!

A Tomato is an object, not a creature. You could have a zombie treant though.

[Nigrescence]

Imbicatus wrote:

CBDunkerson wrote:

dragonhunterq wrote:

Both templates only require the target be corporal and not undead.

Attack of the Zombie Tomatoes!

A Tomato is an object, not a creature. You could have a zombie treant though.

Rather, a tomato isn't a corpse, even though it is corporeal (as opposed to a ghost or other spirit, which is incorporeal) (and the rules do have a tomato as an object).

Also, you can't have a zombie treant. It is a Plant.

Plant Type wrote:

This type comprises vegetable creatures. Note that regular plants, such as one finds growing in gardens and fields, lack Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores; even though plants are alive, they are objects, not creatures.

[CampinCarl9127]

Imbicatus wrote:

CBDunkerson wrote:

dragonhunterq wrote:

Both templates only require the target be corporal and not undead.

Attack of the Zombie Tomatoes!

A Tomato is an object, not a creature. You could have a zombie treant though.

WotW Book 2 Spoiler:

*Every WotW necromancer smiles*

Anyways, I think I would allow a crafty PC to build bodies from the remains, but they would be normal 1hd undead. Definitely not RAW, but I think it's plenty reasonable.

[CBDunkerson]

I was, of course, playing off the idea (from looking at the template alone) that "corporeal and not undead" were the only requirements. Obviously, other conditions need to be taken into account.

Other fun applications of the 'zombie flesh golem' precedent; Mud Zombie! Zombie Planet... meaning the ACTUAL planet! Zombie Skeleton (non-undead skeleton... raised as a zombie)! Zombie Yellow Musk Zombie!

[Archaeik]

Nigrescence wrote:

Plant Type wrote:

This type comprises vegetable creatures. Note that regular plants, such as one finds growing in gardens and fields, lack Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores; even though plants are alive, they are objects, not creatures.

Treants are indeed creatures, and can be targeted by Animate Dead.

Edit: It's subtle, but I just noticed the current wording on the PRD is different than yours.

Plant

Quote:

This type comprises vegetable creatures. Note that regular plants, such as one finds growing in gardens and fields, lack Wisdom and Charisma scores and are not creatures, but objects, even though they are alive. A plant creature has the following features.

[Mysterious Stranger]

Since the target of animate dead is “One or more corpses touched” a flesh golem would not be a legitimate target. While a flesh golem is composed of dead body parts it is not a corpse. It also requires special unguents and bindings which further alters it.

The other reason is that to animate a flesh golem requires animate dead. As far as I know you cannot animate the same corpse twice.