Awakened Shield Gaurdian [Archive] - Wizards Community

Awakened Shield Gaurdian [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
HalfMunchkin
06-06-07, 12:08 AM If Awaken Construct was cast on a Shield Gaurdian, would the Shield Gaurdian still be tied to the amulet and therefor a slave of the amulet wearer?
Also, if the amulet was put on the awakened Shield Gaurdian, Would he be his own master?
JiCi
06-10-07, 07:47 AM Yes, but it wouldn't consider itself a slave, but much more like devoted guardian.

And yes, the guardian with its own amulet would be its own master, thus free.
cwslyclgh
06-10-07, 12:20 PM I agree with JiCi.
Talisman
06-10-07, 07:13 PM Yes, but it wouldn't consider itself a slave, but much more like devoted guardian.

Depending, of course, upon the relative morality (i.e., alignments) of the shield guardian and master:

Evil Wizard: "Guardian, protect me while I murder those schoolchildren."
Good Shield Guardian: "Yes, Master...you #%!" (inaudible grumbling and cursing)
Dead_Weasel
06-10-07, 10:31 PM Hm... it would probably still feel a compulsion to protect the amulet-wearer, but it might also value its own preservation more, even demanding that the amulet be given to it to wear. Depends a lot on what the DM feels the shield guardian's motivations would be once it became sentient.
Sarlax
06-11-07, 12:41 PM If Awaken Construct was cast on a Shield Gaurdian, would the Shield Gaurdian still be tied to the amulet and therefor a slave of the amulet wearer?
I've always considered a construct's obedience to be perfect. Even an intelligent construct like a nimblewright is a slave to its "programming" and never has moments of doubt or crisis.

I don't think it's clear that an awakened shield guardian would be enslaved, however. The text for Awaken Construct (SC) says: [b]The awakened creature is independent of both you and the being who made it, though it is initially friendly to both you and its maker.[b]" This text would seem to override other enslavement conditions, whether that occurs through an amulet or just be fiat, as in the case of golems.

If you want a smart shield guardian, you can use the intelligent item creation rules in the DMG. Just start your guardian with some initial intelligence; it'll save you a ton of XP and you don't need to risk freeing your slave.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
HalfMunchkin 06-06-07, 12:08 AM	If Awaken Construct was cast on a Shield Gaurdian, would the Shield Gaurdian still be tied to the amulet and therefor a slave of the amulet wearer? Also, if the amulet was put on the awakened Shield Gaurdian, Would he be his own master?
JiCi 06-10-07, 07:47 AM	Yes, but it wouldn't consider itself a slave, but much more like devoted guardian. And yes, the guardian with its own amulet would be its own master, thus free.
cwslyclgh 06-10-07, 12:20 PM	I agree with JiCi.
Talisman 06-10-07, 07:13 PM	Yes, but it wouldn't consider itself a slave, but much more like devoted guardian. Depending, of course, upon the relative morality (i.e., alignments) of the shield guardian and master: Evil Wizard: "Guardian, protect me while I murder those schoolchildren." Good Shield Guardian: "Yes, Master...you #%!" (inaudible grumbling and cursing)
Dead_Weasel 06-10-07, 10:31 PM	Hm... it would probably still feel a compulsion to protect the amulet-wearer, but it might also value its own preservation more, even demanding that the amulet be given to it to wear. Depends a lot on what the DM feels the shield guardian's motivations would be once it became sentient.
Sarlax 06-11-07, 12:41 PM	If Awaken Construct was cast on a Shield Gaurdian, would the Shield Gaurdian still be tied to the amulet and therefor a slave of the amulet wearer? I've always considered a construct's obedience to be perfect. Even an intelligent construct like a nimblewright is a slave to its "programming" and never has moments of doubt or crisis. I don't think it's clear that an awakened shield guardian would be enslaved, however. The text for Awaken Construct (SC) says: [b]The awakened creature is independent of both you and the being who made it, though it is initially friendly to both you and its maker.[b]" This text would seem to override other enslavement conditions, whether that occurs through an amulet or just be fiat, as in the case of golems. If you want a smart shield guardian, you can use the intelligent item creation rules in the DMG. Just start your guardian with some initial intelligence; it'll save you a ton of XP and you don't need to risk freeing your slave.