Converting Monsters from Dungeon Magazine

[Cleon]

Great idea on using the construct bonus hps.

Updated.

CR 9 is probably workable, but note that they do have the poisonous breath of the larger iron golem.

The construction looks fine to me.

Are we finished?

Oh blast, I must have got confused somewhere. I was sure they didn't have poison breath.

I'm starting to lean towards thinking they are worth CR10.

They have a mighty good AC and DR for a creature with 12 Hit Dice, plus immunity to magic. Not to mention they could be auto-repairing by standing in a fire.

I suspect they would be very hard monsters to kill.

Also, why is their Trip modifier +17? It should just be a +7 bonus from Strength, were does the extra 10 points from?

Oh, and their bite attack and grapple should both be +16 melee, not 15 - 9 BAB plus 7 for Strength. (I think we forgot to change the numbers after upsizing the firedog from Small)

 

[Shade]

Updated. Finished?

 

[freyar]

I think so. We could decrease natural armor a little if we're really fussy, but I think they're ok.

 

[Cleon]

Updated. Finished?

Good dog!

It looks sound to me.

 

[Shade]

In the exact center of the room stands an impressive statue of gleaming brass in the form of a watchful ancient warrior. Bound in a golden circlet on its brow is a magnificent topaz gem that bathes the room in yellow light.

The statue is actually a brass golem, a weaker version of an iron golem. The golem will animate and attack under three conditions.

-It is ordered to attack by Irinia or the magic mouth.
-The crystal is removed from its brow.
-It is struck by something capable of damaging it.

As with any golem, the creature attacks fearlessly, attempting to carry out its instructions. The golem will not pursue intruders out of the library.

Brass Golem: INT non-; AL N; AC 4; MV 6; HD 16; hp 70; THACO 5; #AT 1; Dmg 5-30; SA breathes a stinking cloud in a 10’ cube once per five rounds; SD +2 or better weapon to hit; immune to poison, hold, charm,fear, and all mind-based spells; electrical attacks cause 1 hp damage and slow it for three rounds; magical fire and cold attacks cause half damage; magical darkness deactivates the golem for one round; SZ L; ML 20; XP 12,000.

Originally appeared in Dungeon Magazine #45 (1994).

This differs from the brass sentinel golem from Polyhedron and the brass (minotaur) golem in MM2.

 

[freyar]

Not a whole lot to work with here, but I'm thinking we could do some light-based powers centered on the (removable?) gem stone.

 

[Shade]

The crystal was apparently important to the adventure, and not really a function of the golem. However, I'm more than happy to try to incorporate it for our genericized brass golem.

According to Wikipedia, brass also has good acoustic properties (that's one reason why it's used in musical instruments), so we might give it some sort of sonic effect as well.

 

[freyar]

Well, let's see what else we've got before we go with the light effects.

The sonic idea is interesting. Since it attacks if "It is struck by something capable of damaging it," what if we make a sonic retributive type defense SQ? Then stick with the standard weak iron golem (maybe weaken the breath weapon a little compared to iron, also).

 

[Cleon]

Well, let's see what else we've got before we go with the light effects.

The sonic idea is interesting. Since it attacks if "It is struck by something capable of damaging it," what if we make a sonic retributive type defense SQ? Then stick with the standard weak iron golem (maybe weaken the breath weapon a little compared to iron, also).

Something like reflects Sonic attacks back at the attacker?

 

[freyar]

Well, that would work, but it might happen too rarely to be worth it. What about if it releases a burst of sonic energy if it's struck with a slashing or bludgeoning weapon (piercing ones hitting it in the wrong fashion to "ring" it)?