Converting Creatures from Other Campaign Settings

[freyar]

I'm not sure I like the Sleight of Hand check. However tricky the golem is shouldn't affect how sickly the victim looks, for example.

That's probably a reasonable list for the immunities, though I could see dropping immunity to mind-affecting, especially if it keeps the Wis and Cha of the base creature.

Seems strange to me that it could gain or lose HD, though I could see swapping construct bonus hp for usual Con-based "bonus" hp. HD are a basic property of the creature; alternate form and change shape don't change HD, and even the more powerful polymorph spells only change HD in a limited way.

 

[Cleon]

I'm not sure I like the Sleight of Hand check. However tricky the golem is shouldn't affect how sickly the victim looks, for example.

I was only joking about Sleight of Hand. I'd put a after it but it didn't appear in the post for some reason. I'd better edit it back in.

Besides, I was thinking the Sleight of Hand would be in the skill contest vs Spot or Autohypnosise (i.e. to resist the attack), not against the Heal skill check.

That's probably a reasonable list for the immunities, though I could see dropping immunity to mind-affecting, especially if it keeps the Wis and Cha of the base creature.

I'd be OK dropping immunity to mind-affecting. It's still got immunity to magic, so it's not like it would crop up that often.

Seems strange to me that it could gain or lose HD, though I could see swapping construct bonus hp for usual Con-based "bonus" hp. HD are a basic property of the creature; alternate form and change shape don't change HD, and even the more powerful polymorph spells only change HD in a limited way.

Maybe it'd help if you looked at it another way. It's not shapeshifting per se, but manifesting a proxy (like a simulacrum but more powerful) to experience the world through. The 13 HD golem itself may be "possessing" the duplicate like a magic jar spell, or sitting in its phylactery and keeping in contact with it by a silver cord like effect.

In either case the Duplicate takes after the creature that was Infused, not the golem itself.

 

[freyar]

I dunno, it seemed pretty clear to me from the original text that it was the transient golem itself taking form. Though I admit that it was plenty confusing.

I'll let Shade cast the deciding vote.

 

[Shade]

I dunno, it seemed pretty clear to me from the original text that it was the transient golem itself taking form. Though I admit that it was plenty confusing.

I'll let Shade cast the deciding vote.

That was my take as well, so I'd vote for the golem's HD.

 

[Shade]

Added (finally!) to Homebrews.

 

[freyar]

Ok, before we get to the touch attack, let's make sure to fix these:

Immunity to Magic: - just copy the golem's.

and

Immunities (Ex): Although a transient golem duplicate has most of the body functions of a living creature it is only an imitation of life, so retains some of the Construct traits of its incorporeal form. The duplicate is immune to X.

Then we just need to decide on what the X is. I'm thinking we should give it the following:

* Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects).
* Immunity to death effects and necromancy effects.
* Not subject to ability damage, ability drain or energy drain.
* Not at risk of death from massive damage. Immediately destroyed when reduced to 0 hit points or less.
* Since it was never alive, a transient golem duplicate cannot be raised or resurrected.

Maybe rather than Immunities (since we already have a separate Immunity to Magic), we should call this something else. Like Partial Construct? I'm fine with listing all of the above, too.

 

[Cleon]

I dunno, it seemed pretty clear to me from the original text that it was the transient golem itself taking form. Though I admit that it was plenty confusing.

Well in the original text it doesn't even have Hit Dice until it copies something with its Infusion attack.

I'll let Shade cast the deciding vote.

You're just saying that because you know I'll be outvoted.

 

[Cleon]

Maybe rather than Immunities (since we already have a separate Immunity to Magic), we should call this something else. Like Partial Construct? I'm fine with listing all of the above, too.

Transient Immunities?

 

[freyar]

You're just saying that because you know I'll be outvoted.

Well, Shade is our benevolent dictator moderator.

Transient Immunities?

Fine with me.

You know, I'll be glad when this one is done. It's not as bad as the mold wyrm -- false Keraptis -- subsumed mind -- Mossmutter -- skin puppet business, but it's still pretty messy.

 

[Cleon]

Well, Shade is our benevolent dictator moderator.

Are you sure about the benevolent bit?

Fine with me.

You know, I'll be glad when this one is done. It's not as bad as the mold wyrm -- false Keraptis -- subsumed mind -- Mossmutter -- skin puppet business, but it's still pretty messy.

Fortunately for my sanity I was not involved in that one, although I did watch in horror from the sidelines.

Have you had any thoughts as to what base creature to use for a sample template?

I'm fancying a house cat and a dwarf fighter. Maybe make the latter a retired adventurer who's become a butcher...