Constructs: Taking them alive. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Constructs: Taking them alive. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
RequiemOfReason
04-03-08, 07:31 PM I'm playing a 4th level Gnome Artificer in a homebrew campaign, and I have a strong inclination that my party will be coming up against some sort of constructs this Sunday.
Probably, though not definitely, a group of clockwork horrors.

Now, my battle cry when encountering some fascinating creature, especially a construct, tends to be "Let's take 'em alive and experiment on 'em!". All the better to come up with ingenious new ideas for constructs and magic items. Also, I've probably been playing a bit too much X-COM recently.

I'm curious as to how best to go about this. I seem to remember Clockwork Horrors being stunned by shatter, which I have as an infusion.

The rest of the party consists of a Gnoll Wiz1/Ftr1, a elven Bard 4, and a Fiendish Ranger 2, as well as various few mounts, familiars, and animal companions. None of them are likely to be particularly interested in capturing a "live" specimen, but would probably be willing to play along.

So, fellows, what would you advise me to do?
Dig a pit and wait for a Horror to blunder into it?
Drop a cage on one?
Research with some sort of Hold Construct infusion?
Zillah
04-03-08, 09:11 PM turn it into XP
Wih
04-03-08, 11:43 PM Constructs have VERY bad reflex saves, and almost always a bad DEX and almost never any ranks. Grease it. It'll be flat-footed for not having ranks in balance, and most likely fall over. Fighting it will not be a problem.
My advice for catching it would be, if you're willing to spend some time and money, find a scroll of Otiluke's Telekinetic Sphere, and make yourself some crazy gnomish device to contain the Golem. Golems cost a LOT of money, so the investment is worth it. It's 90% likely to fail it's save, and then you can concentrate on the sphere to move the golem into your storage device.
RequiemOfReason
04-04-08, 03:28 PM turn it into XP

Unfortunately, that method
a) Takes a day to perform, and
b) Isn't gained until fifth level.

If I could actually do that at a timeframe that's useful in combat, however, it would be absolutely hilarious.

I like the idea of the Telekinetic Sphere, but even a scroll thereof would significantly strain my budget. Grease, however, seems quite attainable.
Grease, on an incline, leading to a pit...
Holy_Beholder
04-05-08, 06:55 PM By turn it into xp, he means kill it.

Also grease, then force cage, then drop it in a portable hole. Then take it somewhere it can't get out of, and get its allegiance.
Half_Dragon_Infernal
04-06-08, 02:22 PM Actually, he probably means the 5th level artificier class ability. I love that ability. Great way to use all those annoying useless items.
blade265
04-07-08, 08:11 AM There is a warforged feat, Construct Lock from races of eberron p119, that may do what you are looking for but it's a warforged feat. You may be able to houserule the prerequisites for something else.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
RequiemOfReason 04-03-08, 07:31 PM	I'm playing a 4th level Gnome Artificer in a homebrew campaign, and I have a strong inclination that my party will be coming up against some sort of constructs this Sunday. Probably, though not definitely, a group of clockwork horrors. Now, my battle cry when encountering some fascinating creature, especially a construct, tends to be "Let's take 'em alive and experiment on 'em!". All the better to come up with ingenious new ideas for constructs and magic items. Also, I've probably been playing a bit too much X-COM recently. I'm curious as to how best to go about this. I seem to remember Clockwork Horrors being stunned by shatter, which I have as an infusion. The rest of the party consists of a Gnoll Wiz1/Ftr1, a elven Bard 4, and a Fiendish Ranger 2, as well as various few mounts, familiars, and animal companions. None of them are likely to be particularly interested in capturing a "live" specimen, but would probably be willing to play along. So, fellows, what would you advise me to do? Dig a pit and wait for a Horror to blunder into it? Drop a cage on one? Research with some sort of Hold Construct infusion?
Zillah 04-03-08, 09:11 PM	turn it into XP
Wih 04-03-08, 11:43 PM	Constructs have VERY bad reflex saves, and almost always a bad DEX and almost never any ranks. Grease it. It'll be flat-footed for not having ranks in balance, and most likely fall over. Fighting it will not be a problem. My advice for catching it would be, if you're willing to spend some time and money, find a scroll of Otiluke's Telekinetic Sphere, and make yourself some crazy gnomish device to contain the Golem. Golems cost a LOT of money, so the investment is worth it. It's 90% likely to fail it's save, and then you can concentrate on the sphere to move the golem into your storage device.
RequiemOfReason 04-04-08, 03:28 PM	turn it into XP Unfortunately, that method a) Takes a day to perform, and b) Isn't gained until fifth level. If I could actually do that at a timeframe that's useful in combat, however, it would be absolutely hilarious. I like the idea of the Telekinetic Sphere, but even a scroll thereof would significantly strain my budget. Grease, however, seems quite attainable. Grease, on an incline, leading to a pit...
Holy_Beholder 04-05-08, 06:55 PM	By turn it into xp, he means kill it. Also grease, then force cage, then drop it in a portable hole. Then take it somewhere it can't get out of, and get its allegiance.
Half_Dragon_Infernal 04-06-08, 02:22 PM	Actually, he probably means the 5th level artificier class ability. I love that ability. Great way to use all those annoying useless items.
blade265 04-07-08, 08:11 AM	There is a warforged feat, Construct Lock from races of eberron p119, that may do what you are looking for but it's a warforged feat. You may be able to houserule the prerequisites for something else.