Constructs - being Magical Items - have a Caster Level, which determines the DC to craft one. But does this CL qualify them for magical crafting feats?
(Nah, I don't think so either. But a CL is a CL...)
So, to start with Normally constructs don't gain feats because they don't have an int score
Skill points equal to 2 + Int modifier (minimum 1) per Hit Die. However, most constructs are mindless and gain no skill points or feats. Constructs do not have any class skills, regardless of their Intelligence scores.
Barring that, it's difficult to find examples of constructs that cast spells. But I was able to find one the Tupilaq.
This creature has a single spell like ability chosen by the creator. That ability is as follows.
When a tupilaq is created, its creator can inscribe a single spell he knows (as long as that spell is no higher than 2nd level and requires no material components) into the tupilaq as a complex scrimshaw design. The tupilaq gains the ability to use that spell as a spell-like ability (CL 7th) three times per day.
Looking at the creature it seems to have a CL of 7 because it is a CR 7 creature.
It doesn't come from HD (the creature has 9 HD) and it doesn't come from the crafting requirements because those are as follows.
Construction
TupilaqA tupilaq is built from 30 pounds of whale bones, bound together with sinew. When the creature’s creation is complete, the sinew falls away and the bones fuse together to create the animated creature.
CL 8th;
Price 21,000 gp
Unfortunately, outside of this 1 example I was able to find I can't find any specfics on constructs and casting spells.
But it seems like a construct could have a magical crafting feat if
1. It has an int score
2. It can cast a spell
3. The crafting feat is lower than the construct's effective CL, which may be equal to it's CR.
In any case it's clear the the Construct's CL, has little to do with the CL required to create the construct.
In any case it's clear the the Construct's CL, has little to do with the CL required to create the construct.
I concur - the CL of a Construct as a caster doesn't seem linked to the one it has as a Magical Item. But when the Construct isn't a caster, it still has that one CL. And - strictly on a technicality - could qualify for, say: Craft Construct.
Without having any magical abilities whatsoever.
A CL for construction requirements is not the same as having a caster level. In the case of using SLA CL to qualify for crsfting fests we do have an faq on this exact topic, please allow me to quote it, and please also read the entire text, taking part out of context is sometimes misleading.
"Item Creation Feats: Does having a caster level from a spell-like ability meet the caster level prerequisite for selecting an item creation feat?
No."
Constructs have a Caster Level Requirement to create, they do not, once created, have a caster level of their own unless they acquire one through some other fashion.
In order for them to have a caster level, it would have to be in their creature stat block, not their construction requirements. As a comparison, they also don't all have craft construct as a feat.