I recently picked up Craft Construct for my alchemist, and I've been having a lot of fun looking through the bestiaries trying to find a mechanical companion. However, my alchemist is pretty good in melee combat, and the majority of the constructs I've seen so far seem to serve the role of bodyguard, which I have little use for. However, I noticed that the iron cobra can be used to deliver potions instead of poisons, and it can be used to track targets. I thought that was pretty cool. So I was wondering, can anyone think of other constructs that can serve utility or non-combat purposes?
Craft Construct creates permanent animated objects not susceptible to dispelling and antimagic.
The CR of a potential animated object depends on its size and abilities, as explained in the animated object entry.
Think of a mechanical device that would make your day easier.
Build it as an animated object.Mechanical horse, wagon, or chariot?
Yep.
Flying saddle?
Possible.
With an animated object , time, and a GM who allows imagination, many things are possible.
The Four Horsemen wrote the Construct Companion to try and cover all construct needs. It covers some pretty diverse applications of the Craft Construct feat, and a lot of constructs with utility purposes. For example, animated vehicles (tanks, dirigibles, galleys, etc.) and animated traps that activate at advantageous times or reset themselves. We also included a lot of modification options like animated object abilities/flaws and feats that improve your constructs.
There are also some specific construct creature statblocks with utility purposes, like the mechanical manservant (think transforming construct butler) or secret scarab (little disguised spying construct).
Craft Construct creates permanent animated objects not susceptible to dispelling and antimagic.
The CR of a potential animated object depends on its size and abilities, as explained in the animated object entry.Think of a mechanical device that would make your day easier.
Build it as an animated object.Mechanical horse, wagon, or chariot?
Yep.
Flying saddle?
Possible.With an animated object , time, and a GM who allows imagination, many things are possible.
Huh, I'd overlooked animated objects. I hadn't realized there were crafting rules for them, or that Ultimate Magic added a whole bunch construct modification rules. Thanks for pointing that out. The flying saddle idea is really cool too.
The Four Horsemen wrote the Construct Companion to try and cover all construct needs. It covers some pretty diverse applications of the Craft Construct feat, and a lot of constructs with utility purposes. For example, animated vehicles (tanks, dirigibles, galleys, etc.) and animated traps that activate at advantageous times or reset themselves. We also included a lot of modification options like animated object abilities/flaws and feats that improve your constructs.
There are also some specific construct creature statblocks with utility purposes, like the mechanical manservant (think transforming construct butler) or secret scarab (little disguised spying construct).
Sounds interesting, I'll definitely look into this. Do many of the new creatures list their crafting requirements?
Sounds interesting, I'll definitely look into this. Do many of the new creatures list their crafting requirements?
Yep! Every new animated object and construct in the book includes a construction block showing requirements and cost.
I forget what they're called, but the little ones that are basically glyphs that cast first level spells at will. Those alone have 1001 uses.
Edit: Rune Guardians.
Sounds interesting, I'll definitely look into this. Do many of the new creatures list their crafting requirements?Yep! Every new animated object and construct in the book includes a construction block showing requirements and cost.
Ok, thanks! I might order a copy later this week.
I forget what they're called, but the little ones that are basically glyphs that cast first level spells at will. Those alone have 1001 uses.
Edit: Rune Guardians.
From the Godsmouth Heresy, right? I actually have that module, too. For some reason I didn't think of them though. Guess I remembered them as traps rather than constructs or something. My character's even from Kaer Maga, those could fit pretty well. Thanks!
Hmm, might build a rune guardian with a 1st level buff/utility spell, combined with some modifications from UM and/or the above mentioned Construct Companion. Could make for an awesome, er, construct companion?