When creating a Sentient Waxwork Creature, it gets a 3d6 Intelligence score. Now, I imagine that's actually rolled and not selected by the crafter. But would there be any way to influence that roll? A smart creature would after all be a lot more useful than one with a three point Intelligence.
The line
Rarely, waxworks shaped like intelligent creatures develop minds of their own and can gain levels in character classes.
makes me think you can't make them with any Int, it's something that happens over time (or doesn't).
If you can make them sentient, I don't know of any way to influence a roll that's neither a d20 nor damage.
The line
Rarely, waxworks shaped like intelligent creatures develop minds of their own and can gain levels in character classes.makes me think you can't make them with any Int, it's something that happens over time (or doesn't).
Yeah, that's what I thought too, at first. But the description of Waxwork creatures continues with a) a recipe how to make sentient ones yourself, and b) the fact that some get possessed by spirits, and thus become self-aware. No further mention of "spontaneous smartness".
If you can make them sentient, I don't know of any way to influence a roll that's neither a d20 nor damage.
There's a recipe, so I'm guessing you can. I'm rather hoping for some sort of once-a-day Luck bonus on random dice rolls, or somesuch. But that's too vague to google for.
It seems that there's no way to influence a "non-standard" roll that you may not even make yourself - which is, come to think of it, probably a good thing. However, in my search I did unearth another problem with Waxwork creatures in general. Their value.
The price of a Waxwork creature is "1,000 gp per HD plus cost of wax". The weight of the creature is half that of its original, which is likely relevant. But:
- What's the price of wax? I can only find a listed value of sealing wax, which is something else entire.
- How much wax is being used? I imagine the creature isn't 100% wax; it's not a Golem after all. You also need glass eyes, false hair and probably an internal framework.
You best guide is a look at the "Awaken Construct" spell, which also only allows a drop of 3d6 without influence for INT. In many ways a "recipe waxwork creature" designed to be self-aware and intelligent is a poor mans Awaken Construct - you can make a waxwork without needing the ability to cast a 6th or 7th level spell (depending on your class) to make it intelligent. But a waxwork sentient creature is it's own being, not a simulacrum. I would follow the guidelines of the spell for some other elements as well:
"It gains feats and skill points according to its new Intelligence score, and the skill points are assigned appropriately for its function, as determined by the GM.
An awakened construct speaks one language that its creator spoke, plus one additional language that its creator knew per point of the construct's Intelligence bonus (if any). Its alignment is determined by the GM, but is usually within one step of its creator's alignment."
It's a construct, which golems are.
So it could be solid wax. Magically animated to simulate hair and glass
The schtick of Golems as opposed to other constructs though, is that they're made out of one particular substance. Still, you made me check out the Wax Golem. It costs 7000gp to make, and mentions needing a solid block of wax of at least 1000 pounds. So, my conclusion is that wax costs 7gp per pound. Which is rather expensive, but not abnormally so.
But a waxwork sentient creature is it's own being, not a simulacrum.
True, but there has been a few discussions on the forum regarding who controls a construct. Do you have any indication - apart from the Awaken spell - that intelligent constructs are innately independent?
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Sealing was costs 1 gp per pound.
Density is about 0.93, for about 60# per cu ft.
Standard human is about 2 cu ft.
Therefore you need about 120 gp of wax for a medium creature.
/cevah
So for 2000gp and two days of work, you can essentially have your very own Troll: indestructible except by fire. Except you can take this one to town with you. It's a very viable Constuct to make as soon as you get the required Feat. With their low CL the required skill check is simple to make; the investment is low and with their Waxen Regeneration not easily lost.
But crafting a Humanoid might not be the best use of the template. Ideally you'd take a base creature with:
- Many Natural Attacks and/or Weapon Proficiencies.
- An odd number of Hit Dice (for the feats).
- Great Strength and Dexterity scores (all the others are irrelevant).
- Many Extraordinary special qualities that improve its attacks.