D&D 3E/3.5 [3.5] Killing Stone Golems with torches?

[Philip]

I am puzzled at the Golem changes in 3.5

In 3.0 Golems were (amongst others):

- Immune to almost all magical and supernatural effects.
- Immune to most forms of energy

In 3.5 Golems are:

- Immune to spells and spell-like effects that allow SR.
- Vulnerable to most forms of energy (normal vulnerability)

Which means you can now bypass a Stone Golem's damage reduction and hurt it by using you flaming weapon, alchemists fire, or even an ordinary torch.

Additionally, Stone Golems can now use their Slow ability on their opponent when fighting an Iron Golem or get Mind Blasted by a Mind Flayer.

Why would they have changed the golem abilities this much? What do you think of the new 3.5 Golem immunities?

 

[Celtavian]

I think they should have given the golems perhaps a little bit of energy resistance enough to resist torces and weapon enhancements, but I like the fact that they can be destroyed by dragon fire and supernatural energies.

They still won't be affected by a Mind blast though because they are constructs which are immune to mind-affecting effects. Remember the construct traits before assuming all supernatural abilities affect them.

 

[Philip]

They still won't be affected by a Mind blast though because they are constructs which are immune to mind-affecting effects. Remember the construct traits before assuming all supernatural abilities affect them.

I agree, but many supposedly (and obviously) mind-affecting supernatural abilities don't mention that they are mind-affecting, while some of them do.

Nothing is mentioned in the entry of the mummy's Despair ability, but in the entry of a similar ability as the Nightwalker's Evil Gaze it is mentioned. Strictly speaking something isn't mind-affecting unless it says so.

 

[Caliban]

I agree, but many supposedly (and obviously) mind-affecting supernatural abilities don't mention that they are mind-affecting, while some of them do.

Nothing is mentioned in the entry of the mummy's Despair ability, but in the entry of a similar ability as the Nightwalker's Evil Gaze it is mentioned. Strictly speaking something isn't mind-affecting unless it says so.

Regardless of whether it's mind affecting or not, constructs are immune to being stunned.

 

[Henrix]

Nothing is mentioned in the entry of the mummy's Despair ability, but in the entry of a similar ability as the Nightwalker's Evil Gaze it is mentioned. Strictly speaking something isn't mind-affecting unless it says so.

But both of those mention fear, which constructs are immune to (all 'morale effects', they're by default mind-affecting), and cause paralysis, which constructs are immune to.