I am playing a wizard and looking to build a golem or two in a level. I noticed the alternate rules for Animated Objects under Building & Modifying Constructs. First, do I have access to CP's when building a golem and second, I would assume that I would use the size of the Golem to determine how many CP's I have?
Thanks for the clarification!
Nope, CPs are strictly an Animated Object thing.
Are you sure?!?! And do you know of any add ons to golems like the CP's to keep them a little more relevant for a few more levels?
Look at the Building and Modifying Constructs page below Animated Objects. There are all sorts of things that can be added onto a golem or other non-AO construct, and you can do so at any time, not just at creation. (Caveat: You can only add hit dice to a max of 150% of those at creation.) The rules there are why CPs aren't relevant, non-AOs have their own system. Will those serve your purposes?
Okay, totally overlooked that - it looks like the leavers for increasing DMG, to hit, HP and AC are all controlled by the basic modifications section of Building & Modifying Constructs. This all makes sense and really simplifies it.
Second clarification: the section of "Pricing a New Construct" refers to a NEW (never before created) construct - correct? (EX- Carpet Golem) Thus, does not apply to an existing template like a Flesh Golem or Stone Golem. For pricing and increasing stats, I would simply use the Basic Modifications section and pricing it according to those rule. Am I reading this correctly?
Basic Template HD / Cost = Cost per HD. Increase HD up to 150%, but no more. Multiply by the Cost per HD = Flesh Golem on Steroids, correct? All the other stats are driven by HD in the Bestiary on pg 290-291.
The ones in the bestiaries were all priced more or less according to those rules AFAIK, so it shouldn't matter if the new construct has ever been made before. But if all you want to do is increase stats or other flat-cost items to a bestiary golem then you should certainly take the bestiary price and add said flat costs. If you want to make a flesh golem that can fly then you need to derive the price from scratch.
Also, you can use the same rules to make upgrades to an existing golem (that you created), just calculate the full price of the upgraded construct (as if it were new), calculate the price of the pre-upgrade construct, and pay the difference. This is where the "150% of initial HD" rule comes in. If you're making a brand new golem you can give it all the HD you can afford.
Hmm, that was not my best writing ever. Let me know if some of it didn't make sense.
No, I think that makes sense. My DM and I are discussing how to price out a golem. So I think what you are say is that Pricing a New Construct is where I would go to price out, from scratch, a golem that does not exist in the Bestiary. BUT, if all I am aiming to do it increase the base stats - in this case to keep it more relevant in the game longer - then I would do the math i listed out above to calculate it, correct?
In this particular case, I am trying to create a flesh golem that has HD of 14. the base HD are 9.
The market cost of a golem is $20,000 gold. My building cost is 10,500. I would assume I would subtract the body parts cost ($500) and then divide the $10,000/9 which arrives at $1,111.11. Multiply 1,112 x 14 HD = $15,556 + $500 (body parts) = New golem cost is $16,056 gold.
I would then go into the Bestiary and look up the increase in base stats which is driven entirely by HD, correct? That would then give me my new DMG, BAB, STR, HP, etc, etc, etc.
Let me know if my thinking is right. I am trying to avoid paying the Pricing a New Construct cost, which are pretty astronomical......
Some constructs have a defined cost for increasing Hit Dice. To calculate the cost per Hit Die of other constructs, divide the construct's construction cost by its existing Hit Dice.
So you don't get to subtract out the body parts cost, but it's not much of the total cost anyway. I guess you need extra organs to make a tougher golem.
Otherwise you are correct on pricing and on deriving new stats. If you decide to pump up the golem more post-creation, its max new HD are 1.5 x 14 = 21. That'll keep it relevant for a good long time.
Remember to preserve the golem's size-based HP bonus that constructs get (30, because it's Large) when you calculate the new HP.
Interesting you say you can modify after it's created. It says that no modifications can be made once the construct is active. So is there an on/off switch or something?
Also, the level requirements for the construct remain the same even though i am beefing it up?
And finally, if I die, does the construct just stop doing stuff and stand there?
The construct has to be deactivated to be modified (or repaired). Fortunately
At any time, a construct's creator can deactivate a construct under his control with a touch and a standard action.
I'm not sure how they figure the CL requirement, but since the spells used in the construction won't change just for added HD I don't imagine the CL will change either.
The golem doesn't know you're dead, just that you're absent (or at least uncommunicative), so its behavior is governed by:
Being mindless, golems do nothing without orders from their creators. They follow instructions explicitly and are incapable of complex strategy or tactics. A golem's creator can command it if the golem is within 60 feet and can see and hear its creator. If uncommanded, a golem usually follows its last instruction to the best of its ability, though if attacked it returns the attack. The creator can give the golem a simple command to govern its actions in his absence, or can order the golem to obey the commands of another, but the golem's creator can always resume control by commanding the golem to obey him alone.
Oh, and since you're doing research on constructs, if your GM allows 3pp you might want to check out The Construct Companion from Rogue Genius Games. Lots of new golems, new modifications, feats for you to take to improve your twisted creations, etc.
Awesome - thanks. Didn't know I can deactivate it with just a touch. That is handy. There are a lot of rules on golems now, which is great! They were so useless in D&D - now they seem to be a lot more relevant. I don't understand why people are so down on them.....
Check out Williamoaks construct crafting guide (discussion).
In this thread, a number of items, abilities, and spells are mentioned.
In this thread, the dunklezhan and I go back and forth on the mechanics of creating a brand new construct.
Ultimate Magic(?) has additional rules for constructs. The SRD has put them in an easy reference under Building and Modifying Constructs.
/cevah
Last Question on this: If I decide to increase the HD of my golem and the HD go above 11 - does the DR increase to DR 10/adamantine? OR does it say the normal DR 5/Adamantine? And would it increase AC as well? Since it does tell me to use the Monster Creation rules.....
I seem to have a disconnect with my DM. He is insisting that the "Pricing a New Golem" guide is what I should be following to price out my super flesh golem. While I continue to point out that that particular guide is specifically for a golem that isn't in the Bestiary - a never before seen golem or abilities added to a golem that the particular golem that exists does't have.
I have also pointed out that the Construct Modifications part, specifically Basic Construct Modifications clearly outlines and supports my argument.
Thoughts, clarifications? Thanks! Trying to put this to bed and it just keeps coming back up....grrrr
Bump
No one has an answer to this question?
Nothing says the DR would increase, so it stays at DR 5.