Feat for Iron Defender [Archive] - Wizards Community

Feat for Iron Defender [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rechan
09-07-07, 04:35 AM The artificer in the game I DM just made himself an Iron Defender, and dropped the 2,000gp to give it an extra HD.

However, with 3 HD, it now has a feat. But I can't seem to find a good feat. It needs a +4 BAB to qualify for Improved Natural Attack, and it doesn't have a Con score, so it can't qualify for Improved Natural Armor.

So, any good tips out there for a suitable feat?
Kreistor2
09-07-07, 12:39 PM Constructs don't gain feats. No worries.
Rechan
09-07-07, 03:28 PM Constructs don't gain feats. No worries.
The Iron Defender has the feat Weapon Focus: Bite. How could it get that if it iddn't gain feats?
Veritatis
09-07-07, 05:25 PM As a matter of fact, constructs usually do not gain feats as they have no intelligence scores... but homunculi do have it, so they got theirs.

My artificer´s "Adamantine" Defender has already 4 HD... I chose Track, since my party didn´t have any ranger, but I talked to my DM to increase its Intelligence so it could get skill points also. He agreed at a cost of 1,500 gp per point (totally ad hoc and only for four points). Other options you should consider are Toughness (one never knows when one hit point is the difference between survival and destruction, remember homunculi don´t have the -10 hp window characters have), Dodge and Armor Proficiency. Of course, the se cond is only if you´re planning in adding Improved Homunculus as a feat to your artificer, which mine has, so you can later add another feat, as Mobility, and the third if you got enough money to craft an armor (or better, a magic one) for it.
Rechan
09-07-07, 05:42 PM Be aware it's not MY character, but a character in the game I DM. The player is new to Eberron, so I'm helping him stat out his Homuculus and give it an appropriate feat. I don't know exactly what he plans to do with it, but in general it's shaping up to be the stand-in Tank (the party has a cleric who plays front-liner, and that's about it).
Veritatis
09-07-07, 05:49 PM Best choice then for me, is definitely Toughness, followed by Armor Proficiency.
Rechan
09-07-07, 06:04 PM How would you outfit it with armor?
Veritatis
09-07-07, 06:15 PM With a Craft (armorsmithing) check the artificer can make :)

I mean the Defender has no armor, just natural armor, so he can wear additional protection. Start with the easiest: light armor. Its speed won´t be reduced, and it will be able to help the frontline cleric witt less hits achieving to do it damage. And the feat will rid the penalties off.
Rechan
09-07-07, 06:52 PM Allow me to rephrase.

What's the mechanics of that? Just slapping on barding (see: horse armor) or actually taking the stats for studded leather or what?
Veritatis
09-07-07, 07:00 PM Just grab the stats of your prefered armor... barding just applies to mounts, and homunculi are not mounts. Íf any, I´d compare them to animal companions.
Captain_Kobold
09-07-07, 10:06 PM Treat it as armour for a small, nonhumanoid creature. As such it would cost twice the listed price, and weigh half as much.

If you are feeling generous, and the artificer has had access to a creation forge or similar resources, you might allow the homunculus to take a warforged armour feat. You're into houserule territory there however.
Gurv
09-10-07, 11:19 PM I have a player who advanced a packmate homunculus and gave it the Spellhand feat from the Complete Arcane. Although I was reluctant to allow it at first, it has surprised us by making a lot of sense.

His packmate loots for the party now, and all the powers granted by the feat aid it in doing so. The construct is remarkably capable of moving treasure. He spent the extra skill points on Search.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rechan 09-07-07, 04:35 AM	The artificer in the game I DM just made himself an Iron Defender, and dropped the 2,000gp to give it an extra HD. However, with 3 HD, it now has a feat. But I can't seem to find a good feat. It needs a +4 BAB to qualify for Improved Natural Attack, and it doesn't have a Con score, so it can't qualify for Improved Natural Armor. So, any good tips out there for a suitable feat?
Kreistor2 09-07-07, 12:39 PM	Constructs don't gain feats. No worries.
Rechan 09-07-07, 03:28 PM	Constructs don't gain feats. No worries. The Iron Defender has the feat Weapon Focus: Bite. How could it get that if it iddn't gain feats?
Veritatis 09-07-07, 05:25 PM	As a matter of fact, constructs usually do not gain feats as they have no intelligence scores... but homunculi do have it, so they got theirs. My artificer´s "Adamantine" Defender has already 4 HD... I chose Track, since my party didn´t have any ranger, but I talked to my DM to increase its Intelligence so it could get skill points also. He agreed at a cost of 1,500 gp per point (totally ad hoc and only for four points). Other options you should consider are Toughness (one never knows when one hit point is the difference between survival and destruction, remember homunculi don´t have the -10 hp window characters have), Dodge and Armor Proficiency. Of course, the se cond is only if you´re planning in adding Improved Homunculus as a feat to your artificer, which mine has, so you can later add another feat, as Mobility, and the third if you got enough money to craft an armor (or better, a magic one) for it.
Rechan 09-07-07, 05:42 PM	Be aware it's not MY character, but a character in the game I DM. The player is new to Eberron, so I'm helping him stat out his Homuculus and give it an appropriate feat. I don't know exactly what he plans to do with it, but in general it's shaping up to be the stand-in Tank (the party has a cleric who plays front-liner, and that's about it).
Veritatis 09-07-07, 05:49 PM	Best choice then for me, is definitely Toughness, followed by Armor Proficiency.
Rechan 09-07-07, 06:04 PM	How would you outfit it with armor?
Veritatis 09-07-07, 06:15 PM	With a Craft (armorsmithing) check the artificer can make :) I mean the Defender has no armor, just natural armor, so he can wear additional protection. Start with the easiest: light armor. Its speed won´t be reduced, and it will be able to help the frontline cleric witt less hits achieving to do it damage. And the feat will rid the penalties off.
Rechan 09-07-07, 06:52 PM	Allow me to rephrase. What's the mechanics of that? Just slapping on barding (see: horse armor) or actually taking the stats for studded leather or what?
Veritatis 09-07-07, 07:00 PM	Just grab the stats of your prefered armor... barding just applies to mounts, and homunculi are not mounts. Íf any, I´d compare them to animal companions.
Captain_Kobold 09-07-07, 10:06 PM	Treat it as armour for a small, nonhumanoid creature. As such it would cost twice the listed price, and weigh half as much. If you are feeling generous, and the artificer has had access to a creation forge or similar resources, you might allow the homunculus to take a warforged armour feat. You're into houserule territory there however.
Gurv 09-10-07, 11:19 PM	I have a player who advanced a packmate homunculus and gave it the Spellhand feat from the Complete Arcane. Although I was reluctant to allow it at first, it has surprised us by making a lot of sense. His packmate loots for the party now, and all the powers granted by the feat aid it in doing so. The construct is remarkably capable of moving treasure. He spent the extra skill points on Search.