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Wandering Monsters - Golems
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<blockquote data-quote="howandwhy99" data-source="post: 6063002" data-attributes="member: 3192"><p>Golems are actually highly combat resistant, not just magically resistant. They can be affected by magic and they can be affected by hit point damage, but neither of those are their weakness. Their weakness is that they are not capable of reprogramming themselves like a living creature could when facing new threats. They only operate upon the orders they were given. </p><p></p><p>Now if the controller of a Golem is around to give them orders they are a more fearsome threat. But, in general, they are the unstoppable force that is largely immune to most threats. They are vastly more easily avoided than confronted. In fact, if the controller is around, go after them and just delay the Golem however possible.</p><p></p><p>Normally, the more combat resistant the material of a Golem is made up by, the more magically resistant it is too. They are literally made of stuff like stone, so attacking one with swords, axes, and arrows is just going to ruin your weapons and barely affect the Golem.</p><p></p><p>Nor can these guys be reasoned with. They aren't big talkers any vocals being preprogrammed in. So a cleric isn't going to be able to convert them or thief bluff them through lies. They are probably most easily tricked into falling off a cliff instead - which they'll likely survive and keep hunting you, if that's what they are programmed to do.</p><p></p><p>The only major speed bump in the article is the animating force, the spirit of the Earth Elemental. I'm guessing that's some 2E leftover as they made a number of miscues during that time. The thing is, a Golem has no spirit, no soul, no animating force. That's really their whole deal, just look it up in the encyclopedia. They are magically created machines. They are the Terminator. "That terminator is out there. It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead." </p><p></p><p>In this case, Intelligence is actually a programming limiter rather than the current programming the Golem has. All of the knowledge map and strategies indicated by their INT score is imparted to them by their creator's.</p><p></p><p>Lastly, it is possible to bind a spirit with any object in D&D. In fact, that's a lot of the rationale behind magic items, especially Intelligent ones. So, while it is possible that Golems can have a spirit bound to them, I'd warn that it is not the de facto definition.</p><p></p><p>EDIT: Also, what's becoming clear from the article comments section is the Magic System is still largely undefined, so substance-based Golem immunities and weaknesses are appearing nonsensical or, at worst, dogmatic. I'd rather not have the Magic system something set in stone for every game (shades of AD&D again), but examples do need to be provided, at least ones that match up with the monster examples - like Golems. </p><p></p><p>If you go with the "No magic is required" for a campaign - no magic classes or items - then you could still create these guys, just treat them more as actual robots. Charge them with Lightning or something. Let it zap foes as well as be point of combat weakness.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="howandwhy99, post: 6063002, member: 3192"] Golems are actually highly combat resistant, not just magically resistant. They can be affected by magic and they can be affected by hit point damage, but neither of those are their weakness. Their weakness is that they are not capable of reprogramming themselves like a living creature could when facing new threats. They only operate upon the orders they were given. Now if the controller of a Golem is around to give them orders they are a more fearsome threat. But, in general, they are the unstoppable force that is largely immune to most threats. They are vastly more easily avoided than confronted. In fact, if the controller is around, go after them and just delay the Golem however possible. Normally, the more combat resistant the material of a Golem is made up by, the more magically resistant it is too. They are literally made of stuff like stone, so attacking one with swords, axes, and arrows is just going to ruin your weapons and barely affect the Golem. Nor can these guys be reasoned with. They aren't big talkers any vocals being preprogrammed in. So a cleric isn't going to be able to convert them or thief bluff them through lies. They are probably most easily tricked into falling off a cliff instead - which they'll likely survive and keep hunting you, if that's what they are programmed to do. The only major speed bump in the article is the animating force, the spirit of the Earth Elemental. I'm guessing that's some 2E leftover as they made a number of miscues during that time. The thing is, a Golem has no spirit, no soul, no animating force. That's really their whole deal, just look it up in the encyclopedia. They are magically created machines. They are the Terminator. "That terminator is out there. It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead." In this case, Intelligence is actually a programming limiter rather than the current programming the Golem has. All of the knowledge map and strategies indicated by their INT score is imparted to them by their creator's. Lastly, it is possible to bind a spirit with any object in D&D. In fact, that's a lot of the rationale behind magic items, especially Intelligent ones. So, while it is possible that Golems can have a spirit bound to them, I'd warn that it is not the de facto definition. EDIT: Also, what's becoming clear from the article comments section is the Magic System is still largely undefined, so substance-based Golem immunities and weaknesses are appearing nonsensical or, at worst, dogmatic. I'd rather not have the Magic system something set in stone for every game (shades of AD&D again), but examples do need to be provided, at least ones that match up with the monster examples - like Golems. If you go with the "No magic is required" for a campaign - no magic classes or items - then you could still create these guys, just treat them more as actual robots. Charge them with Lightning or something. Let it zap foes as well as be point of combat weakness. [/QUOTE]
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