Animate Object Spell, anyone seen it used well

[Lord Vangarel]

During last nights game the cleric pc in the group wanted to use the 6th level clerical spell Animate Object. After having a read of the spell as it has never been used before and a quick group discussion the player decided that the spell didn't really warrant 6th level and it would probably never get used.

Anyone seen any good uses for this spell?

 

[Sanackranib]

animated objects

works really well on the old 1e flying daggers. like yourself I think its overpowered as a lev 6 spell and think it should start at lev 3-4 then have more powerfull variations capable of animating larger items.

Gotta love those flying daggers!

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

IMC they always get a Gargantuan object (or objects that add up to that), based on the summoning article in Dragon.

A 6th-level summoning spell should summon a CR 8-9 creature, but use a weaker creature if summoning takes only a standard action, it's immune to banishment or magic circle against x, and has lots of hp. The objects have hardness, so I treated it as having lots of hp. Having said that, a Gargantuan Animated Object might be a bit more than CR 7.

You can break the spell if you put no limits on it. All you need is a 64-foot long steel chain...

 

[Sanackranib]

animate object

which is why there should be multiple levels of the spell.

 

[Methinkus]

the character of a friend of mine animated a Huge portrait of a villan's mother and attacked him with it.

 

[Sanackranib]

huge stuff

IMC they always get a Gargantuan object (or objects that add up to that), based on the summoning article in Dragon.

A 6th-level summoning spell should summon a CR 8-9 creature, but use a weaker creature if summoning takes only a standard action, it's immune to banishment or magic circle against x, and has lots of hp. The objects have hardness, so I treated it as having lots of hp. Having said that, a Gargantuan Animated Object might be a bit more than CR 7.

You can break the spell if you put no limits on it. All you need is a 64-foot long steel chain...

this spell should never be permited to relpace or surpass a golem of any sort. considering the feats/spells and signifigant time and gold required for golem creation.

 

[Delemental]

You can break the spell if you put no limits on it. All you need is a 64-foot long steel chain...

... or a big bag of caltrops...

 

[Delemental]

Re: huge stuff

this spell should never be permited to relpace or surpass a golem of any sort. considering the feats/spells and signifigant time and gold required for golem creation.

But the effects of this spell are temporary, as opposed to a permanent golem, and you also don't get any special abilities with an animated object (DR, magic immunities, etc). I don't see how you could ever surpass a golem with an animated object.

 

[Sanackranib]

surpassing

even a temporary gargantuan object could in theory defeat a golem. I say in theory because I haven't yet put it to the test in a game.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I didn't say you should break it. I've used it, and I've never actually carried around a 64-foot long chain to abuse it.

Anyway, Summon Monster VII can beat a golem (celestial dire bears!), so why not Animate Object?