CR for a template? [Archive] - Wizards Community

CR for a template? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The_Fan
04-04-05, 11:31 AM My players have screwed up, and how. They've given an artifact with the ability to imbue constructs with intelligence and the drive to spread chaos and destruction to an amoral organization of artificers simply because their chosen representative was good-aligned.

So, as this thing exerts more and more influence over the organization, I've decided I'm gonna start hitting them with awakened constructs. First of all, theyre gonna run up against an unusually intelligent rogue clay golem. I've developed a template for this, and I'm wondering what the CR would be:

Awakened construct
This is an otherwise mindless construct (such as a golem) imbued with a malign intelligence. Although alignment typically matches that of the person who awakens it, the creation pattern Xulo always makes his creations chaotic evil.
All stats as the base creature, except as follows:
Attacks: Gains proficiency with one simple or martial weapon if generally humanoid in form.
Abilities: Int and charisma are set to 10
Skills: Creature now gains skill points equal to 2x(HD+3). These can go to two class skills, which are automatically maxed out. Normal choices are jump and climb due to high strength bonuses, but spot, listen, and occasionally Bluff are also common choices.
Feats: Gains 1+(1 per 3 HD). Common choices are from the power attack chain.
Advancement: By character class
CR: ?

So, how much tougher would this make a golem?
NexH
04-04-05, 11:58 AM I would say that the greatest weakness of a golem is it lack of intelligence: it follows simple orders and can't learn or reason. This template eliminates this weakness, and increases a golem's fighting ability greatly. It also gives the golem feats, which are not to be taken lightly.

I suggest a +3 CR for this template
jgbrowning
04-04-05, 01:36 PM I'd go with a +1 or maybe a +2. Intelligence is nice and all, but most situations where golems are a challenge are set up to where intelligence isn't necessary... ie. if it's easy to us the lack of intelligence against them they don't have their stated challange rating. Or in otherwords, intelligence is a big determiner of CR.
However, you could have some feat combos that could push the CR up to +3 depending upon circumstances, but generally I'd go with +1 or +2.

I'd put a proviso in the template that the golem gains skills/feats at a set pace depending on how long it has been awakened. You could then have a rolling CR value, say +1 for 1/2HD worth of skills/feats and a +2 for a full compliment of skills/feat according to HD.

joe b.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The_Fan 04-04-05, 11:31 AM	My players have screwed up, and how. They've given an artifact with the ability to imbue constructs with intelligence and the drive to spread chaos and destruction to an amoral organization of artificers simply because their chosen representative was good-aligned. So, as this thing exerts more and more influence over the organization, I've decided I'm gonna start hitting them with awakened constructs. First of all, theyre gonna run up against an unusually intelligent rogue clay golem. I've developed a template for this, and I'm wondering what the CR would be: Awakened construct This is an otherwise mindless construct (such as a golem) imbued with a malign intelligence. Although alignment typically matches that of the person who awakens it, the creation pattern Xulo always makes his creations chaotic evil. All stats as the base creature, except as follows: Attacks: Gains proficiency with one simple or martial weapon if generally humanoid in form. Abilities: Int and charisma are set to 10 Skills: Creature now gains skill points equal to 2x(HD+3). These can go to two class skills, which are automatically maxed out. Normal choices are jump and climb due to high strength bonuses, but spot, listen, and occasionally Bluff are also common choices. Feats: Gains 1+(1 per 3 HD). Common choices are from the power attack chain. Advancement: By character class CR: ? So, how much tougher would this make a golem?
NexH 04-04-05, 11:58 AM	I would say that the greatest weakness of a golem is it lack of intelligence: it follows simple orders and can't learn or reason. This template eliminates this weakness, and increases a golem's fighting ability greatly. It also gives the golem feats, which are not to be taken lightly. I suggest a +3 CR for this template
jgbrowning 04-04-05, 01:36 PM	I'd go with a +1 or maybe a +2. Intelligence is nice and all, but most situations where golems are a challenge are set up to where intelligence isn't necessary... ie. if it's easy to us the lack of intelligence against them they don't have their stated challange rating. Or in otherwords, intelligence is a big determiner of CR. However, you could have some feat combos that could push the CR up to +3 depending upon circumstances, but generally I'd go with +1 or +2. I'd put a proviso in the template that the golem gains skills/feats at a set pace depending on how long it has been awakened. You could then have a rolling CR value, say +1 for 1/2HD worth of skills/feats and a +2 for a full compliment of skills/feat according to HD. joe b.