"Craft Construct: Homunculus" Rules Questions and Build Advice

[Alchy]

I have a level 10 wizard and I am considering building a Homunculus using the Craft Construct feat. I have some questions regarding the rules, primarily

1) How many HD can it have maximum? Is the Homunculus limited in its HD by size and/or HD of my wizard?

2) How many feats can it have based on HD? Which feats would be available (monster feats only or all feats)?

Also, does anyone have experience with building constructs in general or specifically a Homunculus, and what advice would you give regarding design?

My wizard already has a familiar, so I am building the Homunculus as a second companion, rather than as a familiar.

[Orfamay Quest]

Alchy wrote:

I have a level 10 wizard and I am considering building a Homunculus using the Craft Construct feat. I have some questions regarding the rules, primarily

1) How many HD can it have maximum? Is the Homunculus limited in its HD by size and/or HD of my wizard?

2) How many feats can it have based on HD? Which feats would be available (monster feats only or all feats)?

Also, does anyone have experience with building constructs in general or specifically a Homunculus, and what advice would you give regarding design?

There is no HD limit listed in the homunculus rules, so anything your GM imposes would be strictly a house rule, however, the amount of money you have will probably limit you (each additional die would be +2000 gp).

Every two HD you give it gives it one more feat. Again, there is no limitation imposed beyond the general rules -- for example, it doesn't have class levels so it can't take any feat that requires a specific level or class ability.

My general advice is that constructs are overpriced, and so throwing lots of money at a construct, especially a Tiny construct, is probably wasteful. If you wanted a 10 hit die meat shield, you can get it much more easily/cheaply with a scroll of heightened animate dead and it wouldn't have the issues of, for example, size. Homunculi are awesome scouts as is.

So, in general, think about what you want your little friend to be able to do, and design him to be able to do that, and not necessarily anything more.

[Alchy]

Thanks for your input Orfamay Quest.

I was thinking of working with the cleric to create various potions to infuse the Homunculus with Spell-LIke Abilities. Cure Serious Wounds with the monster feat "Empower Spell-Like Ability" seems like it could be useful. Maybe some spells like Barkskin and Shield of Faith.

My primary fear is that, even though I don't intend to have the Homunculus fighting on the front lines, an errant fireball or lightning bolt could destroy the poor little guy, and then i'm left with nothing.

I guess that is always a concern with companions. The more I think about it though, the homunculus just doesn't seem to be a worthwhile investment for the risk involved.

[mardaddy]

Plus you'll take 2d10 damage when it dies. Which could be annoying at an inopportune/vulnerable time.

[JDLPF]

Yep, at level 10 you have far better options available to you in the form of Summon Monster creatures. Spending your character's gold and feats on something so weak by comparison just doesn't add up.

[Vritra]

Of course, if you allow what Orfamay mentions (no HD cap), you can get exceptionally silly.

The more money you invest, the better the resulting Homunculus is. For instance...

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D7Q5AWLnOWCwuNkRBxOkPhKZt6MAkiyhYNovDm0 NRDw/edit?usp=drivesdk

Timmy is the busted thing that I've made, utilizing half the wealth of a 20th-level character to make a fighter than is far superior to a fighter. I'm unsure how far you could scale it back and have it still be very effective, but depending on how much money you put in it can be silly.

EDIT:
To elaborate, for 4,000 gp you add 1 feat, ~10 hp, and raises its attack bonus by 2. Further, for every 8,000 gp you also get +1 to one of the ability scores.

EDIT2:
The question now becomes when does a Homunculus become worth the purchase price, which probably depends on when it becomes equivalent to buying another martial.