Thoughts on the spell?
VIGILANT JUNKBOT TECHNOMANCER 2
School transmutation
Casting Time 1 round
Range touch
Targets 1 bulk of inert electronic equipment; see text
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
You turn the target into a robot that can guard you. This spell works like handy junkbot insofar as targeting parameters and your inability to target the same equipment after the spell ends. The junkbot you create is Tiny and appears in your space. A vigilant junkbot can take no actions. Instead, you instruct the junkbot to perform its melee protocol or ranged protocol. You can change the protocol telepathically as a move action. In its melee protocol, the junkbot attaches to you, granting you a +1 bonus to KAC for every 4 technomancer levels you have. In its ranged protocol, the vigilant junkbot hovers at strategic angles to cover you, granting you concealment against ranged attacks. Additionally, when you take damage from an attack that matches the protocol (melee or ranged), the junkbot takes the first 3 damage. Any additional damage passes to you. Enemies can target the junkbot instead of you. Its KAC and EAC are each 10 + your caster level, and it has Hit Points equal to one-quarter of your own (but no Stamina Points). The junkbot uses your saving throw bonuses, and it is a construct with the magical and technological subtypes.
I have a "junk" character and "squeed" when I read the description of this spell. I was suddenly filled with disappointment once I read the casting time and duration. Here are my thoughts:
I feel that this spell would be fantastic if one of three things happen:
1) The casting time becomes a standard action. If this happens, then it can be cast more reliably during combat. The ability to effectively "waste" a target's attack can be worth the spell slot.
2) The duration changes to at least 1min/level. It can now be used as a reliable pre-encounter buff, offsetting the long casting time and saving your character from a hit or two in an upcoming fight.
3) Making it so the junkbot cannot be targeted. As is, the junkbot easily has the lowest AC and HP between it and the caster, combined with the high attack and damage values of the average enemy at any given level, it is "doomed" to be destroyed. If the enemy at any point decides to attack your junkbot directly, consider the junkbot dead as the attack will likely hit and deal more than enough damage to destroy it.
If even one of these changes occurs, I think this spell would be a good addition to any "junk" character or meleemancer, but in its current shape, I think I'm going to avoid it. It takes too much time to create something too fragile that doesn't last long enough to see much benefit.
But maybe I'm not seeing something, so that's why I came here. What do you all think?
I like it for thematic reasons, but it's worse than Mirror Image at low levels.
At high levels I could see arguing that the melee protocol attaching to you means it should be included in a Greater Invisibility, making it hard to target but still giving that KAC benefit.
If a GM accepts that argument, I could also see it as being a bit better.
I'm just a little sad. I might end up taking it for theme anyways, but probably never actually cast it as it has way too many flaws to justify the loss of the spell slot.
I like it thematically too.
My Junkbear that only ever uses Junksword and heavy Junkarmor will defiantly use it, but it is pretty underwhelming. I think having it last 10min/level alone would do it justice. It's a cute little buff, and we can even say if the "concealment" works to negate the attack, the bot takes the entire hit. Makes sense to me.
I was going to suggest Extended Spell, but I forgot it costs a frigging resolve point.
I'd rather stick with summon creature: robot. It doesn't have concealment, but it can provide cover and (laughably) attack. Not to mention the other three creature options, and not needing to carry junk around.
But thematically, yeah… it’s tough.