Constructs as PCs

[Thurbane]

I've always wanted to try a character based on the original Death's Head character - a sentient construct bounty hunter...err, freelance peacekeeping agent.

 

[arwink]

The d20 Future rules contain information about android PC's which are fairly easy to adapt to DnD. You can get them as part of the SRD if you're not up for buying d20 modern material.

 

[Iku Rex]

Fiend Folio has the Maug, a Large 2HD LA +3 race of intelligent construct warriors from Mechanus.
MM2 has the Nimblewright, a Medium 10HD LA +6 intelligent duelist/swashbuckler/assassin type construct.
Any construct can be turned into a PC with the incarnate construct template from Savage Species. (Note: It's made with MM golems in mind and does not necessarily work well with any construct.)

Edit: That last suggestion is kind of missing the point, isn't it? SS also has an awaken construct spell (3.5 version in Spell Compendium) that can give constructs intelligence. I'll pretend that's what I meant.

 

[BSF]

If you can find Dragonstar, by Fantasy Flight Games, that has a race of PC constructs called Soulmechs in it. While people accuse Warforged of being D&D robots, Soulmechs are explicitly stated to be robots (Dragonstar is a magitech universe featuring an insterstellar empire run by dragons), and they came at least a year before Warforged did. Unfortunately the Dragonstar line has been OOP for a while, I believe.

I forgot about the Soulmech. Hmm, I might need to take a look at scavenging that.

Golemcraft from Dog Soul, a pdf, has rules on creating constructs. There is a template in the back about adding intelligence (with a time limit that can be removed).

The Deluxe Book of Templates (released by Goodman in print form) has the automoton template that converts any creature into a construct (has many different materials).

Advanced Bestiary from Green Ronin has the lifespark template.

And don't forget the maug. Poor things have been forgotten ever since the warforged appeared.

The automaton doesn't look well suited for use as a player character race.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Is this question limited to d20 products? If not, I'd recommend Transhuman Space - which allows for digital intelligences (=sapient software programs) that can inhabit a large variety of robot bodies...

 

[Odhanan]

I didn't realize Warforged as in MMIII. Hmm, that is a possibility. Thanks for the heads up!

Warforged, Changelings, Kalashtar and Shifters are also included in the Races of Eberron supplement which, despite its name, isn't as Eberron specific as it is a tool box for non-Eberron DMs wishing to use use the setting's races.

 

[Stormborn]

Warforged, Changelings, Kalashtar and Shifters are also included in the Races of Eberron supplement which, despite its name, isn't as Eberron specific as it is a tool box for non-Eberron DMs wishing to use use the setting's races.

While I wrote Golemcraft (thanks for the plug DMH) I think that Races of Eberron would be the best choice for the OP in terms of what he intends to do and the value he gets for it, as Changlings and Shifters are some of the better examples of new races. There is also some other info in there that is Eberron specific, but can be adapted for any setting. If you don't want the so-so MMIII RoE is the way to go. Of the ones listed so far Warforged would be my first choice with Ironforged a second.

EDIT: And then buy Golemcraft anyway

 

[atomn]

Maybe it's not exactly what you want, but you could use the Half-Golem template from MM2. They aren't Constructs exactly but have many of the same characteristics. (For a +2, +3 or +4 CR adjustment.)

 

[SiderisAnon]

Dragonstar Constructs

If you can find Dragonstar, by Fantasy Flight Games, that has a race of PC constructs called Soulmechs in it. While people accuse Warforged of being D&D robots, Soulmechs are explicitly stated to be robots (Dragonstar is a magitech universe featuring an insterstellar empire run by dragons), and they came at least a year before Warforged did. Unfortunately the Dragonstar line has been OOP for a while, I believe.

Actually, Dragonstar is still available in PDF format. It's on my RPGNow wishlist as an alternative campaign world, just for something really different.

 

[Alzrius]

You might have a hard time finding this, as it's out of print now, but one of Fantasy Flight Games's Horizon line of books was Mechamorphosis, which is a complete d20 minigame on playing large sentient robots that can transform into various objects (robots in disguise!).

You might also just want to use the awaken construct spell from Savage Species, though it might need a bit of tweaking for 3.5.