Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jaxom 03-23-05, 01:30 PM	I'm writing a one shot adventure for a party that averages 25th or 26th level. The creature I'm advancing is an Alchemical Golem from Monster Manual III. Large Construct Starting HD = 22d10+30 (151 hp) Armor Class = 26 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +16 natural) touch 10, flat-footed 25 Base Attack/Grapple = +16/+26 Attacks: Slam +21 melee (2d8+9 plus 2d6 acid) Abilities = Str 23, Dex 12, Con Ø, Int Ø, Wis 10, Cha 1 CR = 11 Advancement HD = 23-33 HD (Large); 34-44 HD (Huge) Advancent rules for Constructs CR advances +1 per 4 HD added So if I add another 22 HD then the CR will be [11 + (22/4 = 5)] = 16 From the chart in the Monster Manual... +8 Str, -2 Dex, +4 Con (N/A for Constructs), +3 Natural Armor, -1 to AC and Attacks - Damage changes from 2d8 to 3d8 Changes so far... Huge Construct HD: 44d10+? (300 hp or so) Armor Class = 27 (-2 size, +Ø Dex, +19 natural) touch 9, flat-footed 27 Base Attack/Grapple = +33/+43 [I hate calculating grapple so this might be wrong] Attacks: Slam +42 melee (3d8+15 plus 2d6 acid) [+4 added to attack and +6 damage from Str increase] Abilities = Str 31, Dex 10, Con Ø, Int Ø, Wis 10, Cha 1 CR = 17 [edit - I was going off of memory and forgot the CR increase from size] I think the above is pretty close, if anyone wants to check it for me I'd appreciate it. Now the unfortunate part is that I need an Epic Encounter Level of about 25 or 26. This means I need somewhere between 5 and 9 CR 21's... which could be done if I add another 22 HD to the above golem and bringing it to a 66 HD creature with about 500 or more HP's. I don't worry about a few hundred hit points at Epic Levels... once some character gets to lay into a monster the fight doesn't last long. This fight is taking place in a steamed up foggy swamp-like area that should make it a little more challenging for the characters. Since that advancement isn't part of the statistic write up, what would adding another 22 HD do? Would it change the size to Gargantuan? I figure someone has to have covered this already and I'm hoping someone here can point me in the direction I need to go to answer these questions... thanks :)
Board_Rider 03-23-05, 02:15 PM	I don't believe that the change of HD would make the golem grow. However you could change the size category if you wanted to. If you really want an epic level category kind of fight put the golems "creator" there. A 27th level Wizard or something. Add a few 10th level fighter bodyguards and you will have your encouter.
Sildatorak 03-23-05, 02:30 PM	Adding HD doesn't make a golem grow...it is simply a matter of making a bigger golem in the first place. The CR for the 44 HD alchemical golem would be 17, btw. Increasing its size from large to huge is worth +1 CR. As for the appropriate size increase for even more HD, I would say do as you will. Bumping it up to gargantuan will be worth +1 CR and every 4 HD you add will be another +1 CR. If you really want the fight to challenge them, though, perhaps it should be in a swampy area that contains the ruins of the golem's creator's tower so that you have a valid reason to have vats of the alchemical reagents it can use to heal itself.