Since a Simulacrum is a illusionary spell, 'technically', of a creature, does it suffer from mental attacks as the creature or not? Further, how does it react to sneak attacks? Finally, the big one, do they count under WBL? What happens to the S when the owner dies? Better put as: how long will the S continue its assigned task? Are they or can they become sentient? This is not a problem yet, but our loot last night included a scroll with this on it and I already have the lesser form and having oodles of fun with it.
With a summer to boost levels, etc., I might be eligible to take it by fall and really would like to add it to the arsenal, but want a bit more feel for what mischief I can get out of it. BTW, the GM has the following additions to the spell:
1) 3.5 requirement for a sample of the subject
2) sculpture can be of a range of 'lesser; materials. No steel or such.
3) sculpture must be MW, but you can have it made by a craftsman.
4) not that they have lasted long enough after the party encounters them, but the BBEG making the ones we fight hasn't seen fit to really use them as more than a mail service to his minions. Until last night. Imagine our surprise when the puny L4 mail-bot starts dropping spells of L3! My idjit self nearly died by blowing 3 straight saves! Fortunately 'he' was porcelain and my sonic spells were amped by our Bard. Other than monetary cost, is there a limit on how many one might have?
5) As we have been cheerfully removing S from the BBEG inventory, should we have been salvaging the 'dead'?
I am still wasted from a 9 hour backed up by another 5 today gaming session and am to tired to be sure I covered it all. If you see something I missed, volunteer!
I have been involved in several discussions on these boards about simulacrums, and have even had numerous questions answered by the game developers in this regard. Let's see if I can help:
Since a Simulacrum is a illusionary spell, 'technically', of a creature
For the purposes of all effects and rules, a simulacrum counts as a creature, not as a spell effect. The spell outlines a few exceptions, such as healing and gaining power. You cannot dispel a sim. Spells affect it just as they might the base creature it is designed to mimic.
does it suffer from mental attacks as the creature or not?
Unless the creature it is imitating is immune to mind-affecting effects or something, the sim is affected normally by mental attacks.
Further, how does it react to sneak attacks?
Unless the creature it is imitating is immune to precision damage effects or something, the sim is affected normally by sneak attacks.
Unless the base creature is immune to sneak attack, the
Finally, the big one, do they count under WBL?
The material component expenditure probably should count, but it is ultimately up to the GM I think.
What happens to the S when the owner dies?
Nothing. The sim persists.
Better put as: how long will the S continue its assigned task?
Until it is completed, if it can be completed. If not, it keeps on keeping on. When it has fulfilled all of its late master's orders, it becomes a free willed creature with no ability to heal or gain power.
Are they or can they become sentient?
Unless the base creature is mindless or possessed bestial intelligence, the sim is sentient from the get go.
This is not a problem yet, but our loot last night included a scroll with this on it and I already have the lesser form and having oodles of fun with it.
Why would having fun be a problem?
BTW, the GM has the following additions to the spell:
1) 3.5 requirement for a sample of the subject
A great and balanced house rule that helps to keep the spell in line. Very popular I hear.
2) sculpture can be of a range of 'lesser; materials. No steel or such.
So you can make sims out of things other than snow in your games?
3) sculpture must be MW, but you can have it made by a craftsman.
Not sure why that would matter. Once the spell is complete, the starting material is, well, immaterial.
4) not that they have lasted long enough after the party encounters them, but the BBEG making the ones we fight hasn't seen fit to really use them as more than a mail service to his minions. Until last night. Imagine our surprise when the puny L4 mail-bot starts dropping spells of L3! My idjit self nearly died by blowing 3 straight saves! Fortunately 'he' was porcelain and my sonic spells were amped by our Bard. Other than monetary cost, is there a limit on how many one might have?
The number of sims a caster can have under their control is limited only by the creator's resources.
Also, sonic spells have no greater effect on sims, not even those created by porcelain, unless the base creature had vulnerability to sonic.
5) As we have been cheerfully removing S from the BBEG inventory, should we have been salvaging the 'dead'?
If the sims had valuable loot, then by all means loot their melted puddle corpses.
I am still wasted from a 9 hour backed up by another 5 today gaming session and am to tired to be sure I covered it all. If you see something I missed, volunteer!
I hope this helps.
This GM's game has been lurching from edition to edition since the fabled '3 little pamphlets' of yore. We have a number of grandfathered rules, customs and thefts from other rules (hey, 3.0 looted Earthdawn!). Two I hate, as a Wizard, are the spell trees (think prerequisites) and spell acquisition when leveling up (Roll to gain a chosen spell or get bounced to the random spell chart). But I play socially, as long as the rules are consistent and known, I'll play rock/paper/scissors. The big 'S' question has just never come up. Having read you numerous posts on the subject, I welcome you insight and advice.
"Why would having fun be a problem?" For me, no problem, but Casters already have it over Martials at higher levels. Giving me a stable of 'eager apprentices to churn out lower end magic items would be almost too wrong. I already have an even dozen tireless servants of complete loyalty. An army of eternal and undieing 1HD functionaries with absolute obedience would scare me to death in our world, much less a world brimming with magic! I really doubt our GM is up to it. Heck, I'm 60+ and the notion is a cold non-starter!
"So you can make sims out of things other than snow in your games?" Legacy from the '70s, the DM put treasure in the 'cheapie golems', typically wands and rings. In this game, the actual sculpture can be of anything suitable, but not advantageous (like steel). With an npc 'brother' being a glass worker, I am looking at glass as a base. I hope his skill is capable of it when I get the spell. I've already provided him with 4 lesser S as assistants. Started seeing a weakness in the system about there! Who needs Leadership?
"Not sure why that would matter. Once the spell is complete, the starting material is, well, immaterial." AND "Also, sonic spells have no greater effect on sims, not even those created by porcelain, unless the base creature had vulnerability to sonic." Not sure if there was an 'immaterial pun' there, but its part of the casting requirement, combined with Special Effects legacy from Champions (Hero games), which 5 of us played way too much, back in the day. All S are required to have a 'flaw', original material qualifies, as does 'imperfect copy' for a stealth or impersonation S, and so on (almost 20, at last check). It is a limitation imposed to counter another 'legacy' quirk, one I am not privy to. All I know is no one feels at ease on the Shadow Planes.
"If the sims had valuable loot, then by all means loot their melted puddle corpses." We have disemboweled critters for swallowed coins and gone after fillings. The Acolyte of Skin tried to salvage a magical tattoo off a 'Red Wizard type'. I was more interested in the actual body retaining some of that 500gp/HD investment. That's a potential 16,000gp left on the ground! My share could be up to 2,000gp. If it counts for WBL, it should hold some residual value...
Man, I don't think I'd be able to stand that level of complexity/alteration.
Unless your GM has a house rule in place that says otherwise, deceased sim remains are worthless.
I already have the lesser form and having oodles of fun with it.
I'm dead curious: what exactly are you doing with the Lesser Simulacrum spell? 'cause I really can't see much of a use for it myself.
As mentioned above, my npc 'brother' is a glassworker, (expert 3) and has four of my early works as assistants. I have a cook, butler, maid and private secretary at home and a pair that run my arcane supply store. The last 2 pull an assortment of minor duties because I got carried away and made them while on a roll.
The GM limits the Lesser to npc classes. I could get real kinky or weird with them, but I like the idea of coming home to a warm fire, good food, no pressing correspondence, a bit of music (yes, I have a string quartet) and such comforts. The lab is always clean and stocked, my clothes clean and the flowers fresh plucked. I grant you its all background RP stuff, but I'm having fun with it.
When I get the REAL spell, I will start with Scroll-bots! The 500gp investment will pay itself off way too quickly. Might take up spell book publishing...
But the spell only lasts for a few hours, so the best you might come home to is a few puddles of meltwater.
Duration 1 hour/level
But the spell only lasts for a few hours, so the best you might come home to is a few puddles of meltwater.
Duration 1 hour/level
Shhhh! The GM doesn't know that...yet.
Shhhh! The GM doesn't know that...yet.But the spell only lasts for a few hours, so the best you might come home to is a few puddles of meltwater.
Duration 1 hour/level
Correction, he knows, but wasn't happy with it. That's why they're limited to npc classes and 1/4 HD. Campaign specific ruling.