Construct Ability: Will to Survive

[the Jester]

One of the best things to happen to undead in recent memory is the ability unholy toughness, introduced in the MM3. It allows an undead to use its cha bonus for hit points- in other words, a 10 HD undead with a cha bonus of +2 gets 20 extra hit points. That prodded me into thinking about constructs, who have a similar "survivability problem" as high-CR monsters (i.e. many fewer hit points than their CR warrants). This problem is only exacerbated by advancing them- a CR 20 nimblewright with class levels has a much lower hp total than a similar CR 20 bad guy with a con score.

So how about a construct variant of Unholy Toughness? Call it Will to Survive and give the construct its wis bonus to hit points. What do you think? Like unholy toughness, it would be an ability certain constructs (but certainly not all) would have. What do you think of this? Are there any instances in which it would be hella broken that I am overlooking or anything?

Thanks for any feedback!

 

[ValhallaGH]

Well, constructs already get bonus hp based upon their size category. That helps a lot. Not at CR 18, but it's more than undead get.

For specific, high threat / low hp, constructs this is probably a really good idea. It will increase their endurance without significant alteration. Just be careful with it; the monster manual golems all have the recommended hp for creatures of their CR (CR * 10). Giving it to them would make them even scarier, if they had a wisdom bonus.

Good Luck.