how much would *you* pay for a stuffed homunculus? [Archive] - Wizards Community

how much would *you* pay for a stuffed homunculus? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
m15a
10-11-04, 02:31 PM hi, our group has come in possession of 3 iron defender carcasses. (i'm sure a lot of you know from where.) i figured they have to be worth something to somebody. maybe trying to get back to raw materials? or maybe they could be stuffed as really awesome sculptures. how would you go about selling them, and how much do you think they'd go for?

also, suppose these iron defenders weren't brought down to -10 hp, but only to, say, -5. could they be activated in the way a warforged could with some repairs? could they be controlled?
Sorcerer
10-11-04, 02:38 PM I once kept the head of an Iron Cobra, just for a souveneir. That character I played would cut off horns, claws, mementoes of especially dangerous foes (never from humanoids though-those were just looted).

I would think Iron Defenders/low level constructs would be too damaged in a fight to be of much worth. You might let them trade the carcasses in for some free drinks at a tavern (in need of exotic decor).
m15a
10-11-04, 02:51 PM c'mon. they look totally fierce, though! and those "battle scars" only make them look tougher!!!

. . . maybe i'd look into stuffing them and putting them in our rooms, though. (our group has 3 defenders and 3 bedrooms. seems to work out well.) what would be the cost of getting them stuffed? are they full of decayable organic material? or could we just prop them up and put them on display?
Hanuman47
10-11-04, 03:13 PM I would guess that a most homunculi would just collapse into dust upon death - the filcher might turn into smoke and simply disperse. Iron defenders - hmm - maybe they would be a little sturdier, but I still picture them as metal plating on a less durable material framework. Framework turns to dust and you're left with a pile of beat up junk. I'd take the free drinks, although maybe you can find a goblin tinker who'll give you a few crowns for the scrap metal.

All in my opinion, of course. You could just as easily argue (based on the pics) that the iron defender is solid metal. Still probably only worth the salvage value of the metal, though. But nice haggling!
m15a
10-11-04, 03:37 PM don't think any components could be salvaged for crafting a new iron defender?

am still considering reactivating them, too. have no idea how that'd work, though. (if it would at all.)
Hanuman47
10-11-04, 03:48 PM don't think any components could be salvaged for crafting a new iron defender?

am still considering reactivating them, too. have no idea how that'd work, though. (if it would at all.)
I doubt it. I imagine homunculi as having mystical/alchemical components and the lifeforce (blood) of the creator infused into every single part from the very beginning of the crafting process. Once the animating force is destroyed, the individual components loose that intrinsic infusion. Gotta start from scratch each time.

Again, this is how I interpret it for my campaign.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
m15a 10-11-04, 02:31 PM	hi, our group has come in possession of 3 iron defender carcasses. (i'm sure a lot of you know from where.) i figured they have to be worth something to somebody. maybe trying to get back to raw materials? or maybe they could be stuffed as really awesome sculptures. how would you go about selling them, and how much do you think they'd go for? also, suppose these iron defenders weren't brought down to -10 hp, but only to, say, -5. could they be activated in the way a warforged could with some repairs? could they be controlled?
Sorcerer 10-11-04, 02:38 PM	I once kept the head of an Iron Cobra, just for a souveneir. That character I played would cut off horns, claws, mementoes of especially dangerous foes (never from humanoids though-those were just looted). I would think Iron Defenders/low level constructs would be too damaged in a fight to be of much worth. You might let them trade the carcasses in for some free drinks at a tavern (in need of exotic decor).
m15a 10-11-04, 02:51 PM	c'mon. they look totally fierce, though! and those "battle scars" only make them look tougher!!! . . . maybe i'd look into stuffing them and putting them in our rooms, though. (our group has 3 defenders and 3 bedrooms. seems to work out well.) what would be the cost of getting them stuffed? are they full of decayable organic material? or could we just prop them up and put them on display?
Hanuman47 10-11-04, 03:13 PM	I would guess that a most homunculi would just collapse into dust upon death - the filcher might turn into smoke and simply disperse. Iron defenders - hmm - maybe they would be a little sturdier, but I still picture them as metal plating on a less durable material framework. Framework turns to dust and you're left with a pile of beat up junk. I'd take the free drinks, although maybe you can find a goblin tinker who'll give you a few crowns for the scrap metal. All in my opinion, of course. You could just as easily argue (based on the pics) that the iron defender is solid metal. Still probably only worth the salvage value of the metal, though. But nice haggling!
m15a 10-11-04, 03:37 PM	don't think any components could be salvaged for crafting a new iron defender? am still considering reactivating them, too. have no idea how that'd work, though. (if it would at all.)
Hanuman47 10-11-04, 03:48 PM	don't think any components could be salvaged for crafting a new iron defender? am still considering reactivating them, too. have no idea how that'd work, though. (if it would at all.) I doubt it. I imagine homunculi as having mystical/alchemical components and the lifeforce (blood) of the creator infused into every single part from the very beginning of the crafting process. Once the animating force is destroyed, the individual components loose that intrinsic infusion. Gotta start from scratch each time. Again, this is how I interpret it for my campaign.