Animated Objects much more powerful than they seem?

[Arravis]

Caryatid Column and Animated Objects both have Hardness ratings, not Damage Resistance... Does that mean that I have to apply the Energy Attack and Ranged Weapon Damage rules that applies to objects?
From the SRD:
"Energy Attacks: Acid and sonic attacks deal damage to most objects just as they do to creatures; roll damage and apply it normally after a successful hit. Electricity and fire attacks deal half damage to most objects; divide the damage dealt by 2 before applying the hardness. Cold attacks deal one-quarter damage to most objects; divide the damage dealt by 4 before applying the hardness.
Ranged Weapon Damage: Objects take half damage from ranged weapons (unless the weapon is a siege engine or something similar). Divide the damage dealt by 2 before applying the object’s hardness."

Annyway, any advice or guidance on the issue would be welcome, thanks guys!

 

[Shallown]

I would treat them just like objects with the appropriate energy protections and such. So yes they take less dmage from ranged and some energy attacks.

Makes things simple and seems to fit into the idea of Animated Objects.

later

 

[Arravis]

Caryatid Columns as well? Honestly, if those things are applied to Animated Objects and Caryatic Columns, their CR's are too low. Those are some incredibly nice advantages, and it seems very odd not to include such a critical thing in their description.

 

[Shallown]

Well Cr's are always an iffy thing anyways.

Yes they are some incredible advantages but my impression of animated objects when I read them was that the CR was too high. At the time I wsn't thinking of all the other advantages from egenergy they may have. I would probably rule that they are objects and treat them as such. Mostly becuase it makes them a little more unique and cool not becuase of game balance or CRs. I just think it is a btter theme. Especially since you can adjust Energy resistances for different kinds of objects or at least I would.

I'm just like that.

Later

 

[Scion]

I just looked at the CR 10 animated object.. I am not sure if it really qualifies for even that high unless it is made from a pretty hefty object how many colossal high hardness objects do you have laying around? lol

Incredibly low ac will definately count against it though I would think. I'd like to see how my last group would have dealed with a few of them at level 10..

 

[Gez]

Animated objects are incredibly weak. If their hardness was reduced to a mere DR, then they would be so puny even baby kobolds could grind them into a paste while blindfolded, so...

 

[Yair]

Animated objects are incredibly weak. If their hardness was reduced to a mere DR, then they would be so puny even baby kobolds could grind them into a paste while blindfolded, so...

Hey, my players just barely avoided a TPK at the hands of three kobolds, so show some respect! Granted, they were half-dragon barbarian kobolds, but still

Anyways, I have actually found that animated objects make for suprisingly reistant creatures. I even had some with no hardness, and it still took the players considerable effort to bring them down - more than what I expected from their CR, though not by much, and that was without the hardness and other quirks!
YMMV,
Yair