Free Iron Golem [Archive] - Wizards Community

Free Iron Golem [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rinian2
07-26-03, 12:48 AM Free Iron Golem
Large Construct
Hit Dice: 12d10 (66hp)
Initiative: –1 (Dex)
Speed: 30ft (can’t run)
AC: 22 (–1 size, –1 Dex, +14 natural)
Attacks: 2 slams +12 melee
Damage: Slam 2d10+6
Face/Reach: 5ft by 5ft/10ft
Special Qualities: Living construct, magic immunity, damage reduction 15/+1, rust vulnerability.
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +8
Abilities: Str 22, Dex 9, Con –, Int 7, Wis 11, Cha 8

Climate/Terrain: Any land
Organisation: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 8
Treasure: None
Alignment: Neutral Good or Chaotic Good
Advancement: See Iron Golem Friend (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=68089).

A free iron golem is an iron golem whose bound spirit has gained control of its body. The spirit has, in effect, become a soul.

The reason for this change is that, at some time in the past, the iron golem was left alone. It received no commands for decades, maybe even centuries. During this time its mighty body began to rust.

As the prison that trapped it fell away, the spirit within discovered a certain amount of … loosening of the bonds that imprisoned it. It began to think. As it thought, it also explored its prison, discovering its secrets. As it thought, it started to understand. It gained control. It gained awareness. It became a free iron golem.

Because of its former existence, subject to the very whim of its creator, a free iron golem values freedom. They abhor the shells that imprison the animating force of mindless golems, quite often destroying them as soon as meeting them, to free the unwilling spirits from their slavery.

Combat

Free iron golems only attack mindless golems without provocation. If provoked, a free iron golem will not hesitate, it will attack with both fists. Although, no matter how they are provoked, a free iron golem will never use its Breath Weapon, as it views its use as cruel and evil as being imprisoned for no just cause.

Due to their long periods of inactivity on weakening, they are weaker than normal iron golems. Due to the new synergy between body and soul, they are able to move quicker than normal golems.

When meeting a mindless golem, a free iron golem will generally attack it. Free iron golems not being suicidal however, they will not attack if there is no chance of victory.

Living Construct: Immune to poison, disease, and similar effects. Not subject to critical hits, subdual damage, ability damage, energy drain, or death from massive damage. Free iron golems cannot be raised or resurrected, although a wish or miracle can restore it to life. Any Constitution loss is removed instead from Charisma. If the free iron golem’s Charisma ever drops to 1 or below, it becomes a mindless iron golem forever more.

Magic Immunity (Ex): A free iron golem is immune to all spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural effects, except as follows. An electricity effect slow is (as the slow spell) for 3 rounds, with no saving throw. A fire effect breaks any slow effect on the free iron golem and cures 1 point of damage for each 3 points of damage it would otherwise deal. For example, a free iron golem hit by a fireball cast by a 5th-level wizard gains back 6 hit points if the damage total is 18. The free iron golem rolls no saving throw against fire effects.

Rust Vulnerability (Ex): A free iron golem is affected normally by rust attacks, such as that of a rust monster or a rusting grasp spell.

Construction

A free iron golem cannot be constructed. They, in effect, create themselves.
Rinian2
08-01-03, 11:54 PM Anyone have any comments?

Anyone?

Anyone at all?
Mage of Sembia
08-02-03, 01:31 AM It looks good to me. How about more free golems? I think that they should be as intelligent as earth elementals (I can't think of it off the top of my head, is it really 7.) A free drolem would be wierd.
Edymnion
08-02-03, 01:57 AM Doesn't Savage Species have something along these lines in it? Something like Construct Incarnate, which is just a golem or shield guardian that essentially has had some sort of "Awaken for Constructs" cast on it?
Mercury Glitch
08-02-03, 04:10 AM Originally posted by Edymnion
Doesn't Savage Species have something along these lines in it? Something like Construct Incarnate, which is just a golem or shield guardian that essentially has had some sort of "Awaken for Constructs" cast on it?

Incanate construct is a template pg 120 of savage species. Though it is significantly weaker than the free iron golem presented here, no Special ablities or qualities, and AC is droped to 3 if medium or smaller size, and 9 if larger.
Eyes in the Darkness
08-02-03, 01:17 PM I believe the spell is "Awaken Construct" and it gives an unintelligent construct intelligence without altering the body. So basically just give your golem the bonuses from the druid version of the spell to the mental statistics.
Mercury Glitch
08-02-03, 04:12 PM Originally posted by Eyes in the Darkness
I believe the spell is "Awaken Construct" and it gives an unintelligent construct intelligence without altering the body. So basically just give your golem the bonuses from the druid version of the spell to the mental statistics.

Partially correct. Both the awaken construct, and incarnate construct are spells cast by level 9 cleric or level 9 wiz/sorcs both cost the caster 5000 XP, both take 8 hours to cast, both cause the construct to gain the incarnate construct template (which as mentioned does reduce the special ablities and qualities), the only difference between them is that AC requires the brain of a humanoid that died less than 8 hours ago (so you have to kill it pretty close to the casting if not when casting starts or durring casting depending), and IC requires the heart of a humanoid with the same req of <8 hrs after it died. I don't know why they made two spells that do the same thing, have the same costs, same everything other than one material component. Though perhaps you can get two IC creatures from one being if you've got a 9th level wiz or sorc, and a 9th level cleric or another wiz or sorc.
Eyes in the Darkness
08-02-03, 06:57 PM No, Awaken Construct states that the construct is awakened to humanoid intelligence, but someone forgot what exactly this means so the best course of action is to treat the effect as if it were an Awaken spell cast by a druid. Incarnate Construct on the other hand does turn a construct into a living being, thus gaining the Incarnate Construct template. Also, I believe that both spells can be cast by clerics and wizard/sorcerers.
Mercury Glitch
08-02-03, 08:02 PM ah yes, going back over awaken creature I must have switched the part about that template (the rest is the same though).

I would think that the construct either becomes free and idependant, maybe gaining an int score (possibly all the mental scores of the previous owner of the brain.
lukelightning
08-04-03, 01:28 PM Darn, I thought this post was about how I could get an iron golem without paying any money....
chrisfish89
08-04-03, 03:55 PM i think a free golem ideea is pretty good but what does it do to ne thing besides mindless golems?:confused:
Rinian2
08-09-03, 01:04 AM Thanks for the comments.

Mage of Sembia, there was a reason that I chose the Iron Golem. Any Flesh Golem left for centuries would rot away. Any Clay Golem would be washed away with the rain. A Stone Golem may survive, but it could easily but worn away by wind over the course of centuries. I didn't even consider the Glass Golem (or the Epic ones for that matter!) Plus I thought an ancient Iron Golem was cooler.

Everyone who talked about Awaken Construct, the construct presented here gained its intelligence on its own. It is beholden to no-one, owes no favours, is not in debt to powerful mages. It is its own creature, and it follows its own path through the world.

lukelightning, the creation of golems is a cruel practise, the price is reasonable considering the underlying principle of slavery.

chrisfish89, the Free Iron Golem is a person, what would you to anything besides mindless golems?
VigorMortis
08-09-03, 04:05 AM Hmmmm. How would such a being react to awakened and incarnated golems? And how would it react to iron colossi, who are a lot bigger, intelligent on their own, but slaves?
Mercury Glitch
08-09-03, 04:10 AM Originally posted by Rinian2
Thanks for the comments.

Everyone who talked about Awaken Construct, the construct presented here gained its intelligence on its own. It is beholden to no-one, owes no favours, is not in debt to powerful mages. It is its own creature, and it follows its own path through the world.

um the awakened construct doesn't either, it's just probably not going to slaughter the mage that awakened it right way, if the mage attacks it then well Mr. Mage better run. Other than that the AC is free to do whatever it wants, no one tells it what to do, blah blah blah.

:)

seriously check the book out, I think it's savage species, it's a good book for creating monsters anyway.
Rinian2
09-06-03, 01:26 AM VigorMortis, the Free Iron Golem is an intelligent creature, and as such, if confronting any of the constructs you mentioned, it would probably accept them as equals in freedom, except for any of the colossi. Being intelligent, it would most likely run from those terrifying creations. Wouldn't you?

Mercury Glitch, just a small reminder. Iron Golems are almost completely immune to magic.
Magic Immunity (Ex): A free iron golem is immune to all spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural effects, except as follows. An electricity effect slow is (as the slow spell) for 3 rounds, with no saving throw. A fire effect breaks any slow effect on the free iron golem and cures 1 point of damage for each 3 points of damage it would otherwise deal. For example, a free iron golem hit by a fireball cast by a 5th-level wizard gains back 6 hit points if the damage total is 18. The free iron golem rolls no saving throw against fire effects.
What this means is the Awaken Construct spell wouldn't work.
VigorMortis
09-06-03, 12:01 PM Hmmm. Awaken and Incarnate Constructs are most likely an exception to the rules, then, since in the book it features an Incarnated Stone Golem...
Rinian2
09-13-03, 02:16 AM It doesn't specifically mention that these spells bypass the Magic Immunity ability. Almost all golems have this ability.

It seems an incredibly obvious mistake; the picture of the incarnate stone golem seems to imply that they do work, and the spells are very powerful (being 9th-level).

But, even so, I like the idea of a golem (I chose iron because it would most likely last long enough) achieving its own sentience.
zenos_paradox
05-16-04, 04:59 PM cool, good story on the PrC too:bow:
Rinian2
10-29-04, 10:48 PM Aw gee! Thanks.
pita
07-18-05, 03:34 PM you have some amazing PrCs and great stories. Can you give me a template? I'd love to have something to throw at my group without crushing them or making them all struggle with the idea of what to ask the king of julajimola or whatever.
Rinian2
07-19-05, 10:32 AM you have some amazing PrCs and great stories.Thank you. There should (eventually) be more.Can you give me a template?Huh?I'd love to have something to throw at my group without crushing them or making them all struggle with the idea of what to ask the king of julajimola or whatever.Give them a few goblins maybe? They shouldn't crush them or make them struggle with ideas about asking the king of julajimola anything.

Hold on a second. The king of what?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rinian2 07-26-03, 12:48 AM	Free Iron Golem Large Construct Hit Dice: 12d10 (66hp) Initiative: –1 (Dex) Speed: 30ft (can’t run) AC: 22 (–1 size, –1 Dex, +14 natural) Attacks: 2 slams +12 melee Damage: Slam 2d10+6 Face/Reach: 5ft by 5ft/10ft Special Qualities: Living construct, magic immunity, damage reduction 15/+1, rust vulnerability. Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +8 Abilities: Str 22, Dex 9, Con –, Int 7, Wis 11, Cha 8 Climate/Terrain: Any land Organisation: Solitary Challenge Rating: 8 Treasure: None Alignment: Neutral Good or Chaotic Good Advancement: See Iron Golem Friend (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=68089). A free iron golem is an iron golem whose bound spirit has gained control of its body. The spirit has, in effect, become a soul. The reason for this change is that, at some time in the past, the iron golem was left alone. It received no commands for decades, maybe even centuries. During this time its mighty body began to rust. As the prison that trapped it fell away, the spirit within discovered a certain amount of … loosening of the bonds that imprisoned it. It began to think. As it thought, it also explored its prison, discovering its secrets. As it thought, it started to understand. It gained control. It gained awareness. It became a free iron golem. Because of its former existence, subject to the very whim of its creator, a free iron golem values freedom. They abhor the shells that imprison the animating force of mindless golems, quite often destroying them as soon as meeting them, to free the unwilling spirits from their slavery. Combat Free iron golems only attack mindless golems without provocation. If provoked, a free iron golem will not hesitate, it will attack with both fists. Although, no matter how they are provoked, a free iron golem will never use its Breath Weapon, as it views its use as cruel and evil as being imprisoned for no just cause. Due to their long periods of inactivity on weakening, they are weaker than normal iron golems. Due to the new synergy between body and soul, they are able to move quicker than normal golems. When meeting a mindless golem, a free iron golem will generally attack it. Free iron golems not being suicidal however, they will not attack if there is no chance of victory. Living Construct: Immune to poison, disease, and similar effects. Not subject to critical hits, subdual damage, ability damage, energy drain, or death from massive damage. Free iron golems cannot be raised or resurrected, although a wish or miracle can restore it to life. Any Constitution loss is removed instead from Charisma. If the free iron golem’s Charisma ever drops to 1 or below, it becomes a mindless iron golem forever more. Magic Immunity (Ex): A free iron golem is immune to all spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural effects, except as follows. An electricity effect slow is (as the slow spell) for 3 rounds, with no saving throw. A fire effect breaks any slow effect on the free iron golem and cures 1 point of damage for each 3 points of damage it would otherwise deal. For example, a free iron golem hit by a fireball cast by a 5th-level wizard gains back 6 hit points if the damage total is 18. The free iron golem rolls no saving throw against fire effects. Rust Vulnerability (Ex): A free iron golem is affected normally by rust attacks, such as that of a rust monster or a rusting grasp spell. Construction A free iron golem cannot be constructed. They, in effect, create themselves.
Rinian2 08-01-03, 11:54 PM	Anyone have any comments? Anyone? Anyone at all?
Mage of Sembia 08-02-03, 01:31 AM	It looks good to me. How about more free golems? I think that they should be as intelligent as earth elementals (I can't think of it off the top of my head, is it really 7.) A free drolem would be wierd.
Edymnion 08-02-03, 01:57 AM	Doesn't Savage Species have something along these lines in it? Something like Construct Incarnate, which is just a golem or shield guardian that essentially has had some sort of "Awaken for Constructs" cast on it?
Mercury Glitch 08-02-03, 04:10 AM	Originally posted by Edymnion Doesn't Savage Species have something along these lines in it? Something like Construct Incarnate, which is just a golem or shield guardian that essentially has had some sort of "Awaken for Constructs" cast on it? Incanate construct is a template pg 120 of savage species. Though it is significantly weaker than the free iron golem presented here, no Special ablities or qualities, and AC is droped to 3 if medium or smaller size, and 9 if larger.
Eyes in the Darkness 08-02-03, 01:17 PM	I believe the spell is "Awaken Construct" and it gives an unintelligent construct intelligence without altering the body. So basically just give your golem the bonuses from the druid version of the spell to the mental statistics.
Mercury Glitch 08-02-03, 04:12 PM	Originally posted by Eyes in the Darkness I believe the spell is "Awaken Construct" and it gives an unintelligent construct intelligence without altering the body. So basically just give your golem the bonuses from the druid version of the spell to the mental statistics. Partially correct. Both the awaken construct, and incarnate construct are spells cast by level 9 cleric or level 9 wiz/sorcs both cost the caster 5000 XP, both take 8 hours to cast, both cause the construct to gain the incarnate construct template (which as mentioned does reduce the special ablities and qualities), the only difference between them is that AC requires the brain of a humanoid that died less than 8 hours ago (so you have to kill it pretty close to the casting if not when casting starts or durring casting depending), and IC requires the heart of a humanoid with the same req of <8 hrs after it died. I don't know why they made two spells that do the same thing, have the same costs, same everything other than one material component. Though perhaps you can get two IC creatures from one being if you've got a 9th level wiz or sorc, and a 9th level cleric or another wiz or sorc.
Eyes in the Darkness 08-02-03, 06:57 PM	No, Awaken Construct states that the construct is awakened to humanoid intelligence, but someone forgot what exactly this means so the best course of action is to treat the effect as if it were an Awaken spell cast by a druid. Incarnate Construct on the other hand does turn a construct into a living being, thus gaining the Incarnate Construct template. Also, I believe that both spells can be cast by clerics and wizard/sorcerers.
Mercury Glitch 08-02-03, 08:02 PM	ah yes, going back over awaken creature I must have switched the part about that template (the rest is the same though). I would think that the construct either becomes free and idependant, maybe gaining an int score (possibly all the mental scores of the previous owner of the brain.
lukelightning 08-04-03, 01:28 PM	Darn, I thought this post was about how I could get an iron golem without paying any money....
chrisfish89 08-04-03, 03:55 PM	i think a free golem ideea is pretty good but what does it do to ne thing besides mindless golems?:confused:
Rinian2 08-09-03, 01:04 AM	Thanks for the comments. Mage of Sembia, there was a reason that I chose the Iron Golem. Any Flesh Golem left for centuries would rot away. Any Clay Golem would be washed away with the rain. A Stone Golem may survive, but it could easily but worn away by wind over the course of centuries. I didn't even consider the Glass Golem (or the Epic ones for that matter!) Plus I thought an ancient Iron Golem was cooler. Everyone who talked about Awaken Construct, the construct presented here gained its intelligence on its own. It is beholden to no-one, owes no favours, is not in debt to powerful mages. It is its own creature, and it follows its own path through the world. lukelightning, the creation of golems is a cruel practise, the price is reasonable considering the underlying principle of slavery. chrisfish89, the Free Iron Golem is a person, what would you to anything besides mindless golems?
VigorMortis 08-09-03, 04:05 AM	Hmmmm. How would such a being react to awakened and incarnated golems? And how would it react to iron colossi, who are a lot bigger, intelligent on their own, but slaves?
Mercury Glitch 08-09-03, 04:10 AM	Originally posted by Rinian2 Thanks for the comments. Everyone who talked about Awaken Construct, the construct presented here gained its intelligence on its own. It is beholden to no-one, owes no favours, is not in debt to powerful mages. It is its own creature, and it follows its own path through the world. um the awakened construct doesn't either, it's just probably not going to slaughter the mage that awakened it right way, if the mage attacks it then well Mr. Mage better run. Other than that the AC is free to do whatever it wants, no one tells it what to do, blah blah blah. :) seriously check the book out, I think it's savage species, it's a good book for creating monsters anyway.
Rinian2 09-06-03, 01:26 AM	VigorMortis, the Free Iron Golem is an intelligent creature, and as such, if confronting any of the constructs you mentioned, it would probably accept them as equals in freedom, except for any of the colossi. Being intelligent, it would most likely run from those terrifying creations. Wouldn't you? Mercury Glitch, just a small reminder. Iron Golems are almost completely immune to magic. Magic Immunity (Ex): A free iron golem is immune to all spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural effects, except as follows. An electricity effect slow is (as the slow spell) for 3 rounds, with no saving throw. A fire effect breaks any slow effect on the free iron golem and cures 1 point of damage for each 3 points of damage it would otherwise deal. For example, a free iron golem hit by a fireball cast by a 5th-level wizard gains back 6 hit points if the damage total is 18. The free iron golem rolls no saving throw against fire effects. What this means is the Awaken Construct spell wouldn't work.
VigorMortis 09-06-03, 12:01 PM	Hmmm. Awaken and Incarnate Constructs are most likely an exception to the rules, then, since in the book it features an Incarnated Stone Golem...
Rinian2 09-13-03, 02:16 AM	It doesn't specifically mention that these spells bypass the Magic Immunity ability. Almost all golems have this ability. It seems an incredibly obvious mistake; the picture of the incarnate stone golem seems to imply that they do work, and the spells are very powerful (being 9th-level). But, even so, I like the idea of a golem (I chose iron because it would most likely last long enough) achieving its own sentience.
zenos_paradox 05-16-04, 04:59 PM	cool, good story on the PrC too:bow:
Rinian2 10-29-04, 10:48 PM	Aw gee! Thanks.
pita 07-18-05, 03:34 PM	you have some amazing PrCs and great stories. Can you give me a template? I'd love to have something to throw at my group without crushing them or making them all struggle with the idea of what to ask the king of julajimola or whatever.
Rinian2 07-19-05, 10:32 AM	you have some amazing PrCs and great stories.Thank you. There should (eventually) be more.Can you give me a template?Huh?I'd love to have something to throw at my group without crushing them or making them all struggle with the idea of what to ask the king of julajimola or whatever.Give them a few goblins maybe? They shouldn't crush them or make them struggle with ideas about asking the king of julajimola anything. Hold on a second. The king of what?