Help balancing a construct

[LokiDR]

I don't know if this belongs here or home rules, but I have a problem. I want to create a low CR construct gaurd with stats similar to those below. It is suppose to be a weaker small arrowhawk / lantern archon.

Hover Sentry
Tiny Construct
Hit Dice: 2d12 (11 hp)
Initiative: +5 (Dex)
Speed: Fly 60 ft. (perfect)
AC: 22 (+2 size, +5 Dex, +5 natural)
Attacks: Light ray +6
ranged touch;
Damage: Light ray 2d6
Face/Reach: 2.5 ft. by 2.5 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Light ray
Special Qualities: Construct, Damage
reduction 10/+1
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +7, Will +2
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 21, Con -,
Int -, Wis 13, Cha 1
Skills: Intuit Direction +2, Listen +7,
Search +7, Sense Motive +7, Spot +7 Search +10,
Feats: None
Climate/Terrain: Any
Organization: Solitary or patrol (2-5)
Challenge Rating: 1
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 4-6 HD (Small)

 

[LokiDR]

I don't know if the CR is right. Are there any official sources for creating something like this?

 

[Crothian]

The DR alone makes it CR 2 or 3. Add in all the immunities of the construct and this is a pretty tough low level encounter. The AC is to high for a CR 1 as well. I think this is a CR 3 or 4 the way you have it. The attack is a ranged touch attack that does 2d6. That'll kill most first level characters on a strong hit. With two average hits you'll kill all but the toughest Barbarians, talking 1st level characters of course.

 

[Gaio Macareg]

Not to mention the AC of 22. Let's say a level 1 half-orc barb with 20 str in a rage. That's an attack bonus of 1 (BAB) + 5 (Str) + 2 (rage) + 1 (masterwork weapon) = 8 and that's the best he can possibly get short of another +1 for weapon focus or something. Needs to roll a 14 to hit. Thanks to the ranged touch and an attack bonus of +6 it's hitting him on something around a 6. He's dealing at most 1d12 + 7 (str) -10 (its damage reduction). It's dealing 2d6.

With a +5 init it's going to move before most other characters.

With a 60-ft fly speed and a ranged attack it's probably immune to melee altogether.

For starters, try something more like this:

Hover Sentry
Tiny Construct
Hit Dice: 1d12 (7 hp)
Initiative: +3 (Dex)
Speed: Fly 30 ft. (perfect)
AC: 15 (+2 size, +3 Dex)
Attacks: Light ray +5 (0 = 1 HD Construct, +3 Dex, +2 size)
ranged touch (30 feet);
Damage: Light ray 1d6
Face/Reach: 2.5 ft. by 2.5 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Light ray
Special Qualities: Construct
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +2
Abilities: Str 6, Dex 16, Con -,
Int -, Wis 13, Cha 1
Skills: Intuit Direction +2, Listen +5,
Search +5, Sense Motive +5, Spot +5 Search +7,
Feats: None
Climate/Terrain: Any
Organization: Solitary or patrol (2-5)
Challenge Rating: 1
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 2-3 HD (Tiny); 4-6HD (Small)
-------------

However, even here, you're looking at something that flies, is immune to a lot of different abilities, has great saves (for a low-level critter), more hp and a better base attack than an orc warrior, and a whole mess of skills. More than most 2nd level characters. So it's still fairly dangerous. If it gets in two attacks on the same character, someone's very likely to end up dead if they're not a front-line fighter with decent hp.

 

[Grazzt]

CR is too low in the first one. Definitely at least CR 2.

Also- in each versions posted....Constructs do not get skills. First, it would require an Int score to have skills. Secondly, constructs just dont have skills (check the MM or Dragon 276).

Advancement range is likewise too high in the second version. Monsters normally are allowed to advance to 3x their HD (animals and some undead are limited). So- at HD 1, the max these guys could go to would be HD 3.

In both versions, the hit die type is wrong as well. Constructs use d10 for hp. The first version should have 11 hp. The second one 5 (1/2 of 1d10; round down).

Also- the saves are off in both versions. Constructs get poor saves across the board (at 1st and 2nd level (or HD), this is +0 to all saves without ability mods).

 

[Grazzt]

Are there any official sources for creating something like this?

The "How to Create a Monster Article" is a good place to start. You can find it in Dragon #276 (or in PDF form [by permission of WotC] on my site (link is in my signature).

You can also post in the HomeBrews forum under the Creature Catalog forums. There are a lot of helpful people in there that do nothing but post monsters all day and give advice as well.

 

[LokiDR]

Thanks for pointing out the link Grazzt. I will have to look at that when I am not at work

So, how about this:

Hover Sentry
Tiny Construct
Hit Dice: 1d10 (5 hp)
Initiative: +4 (Dex)
Speed: Fly 30 ft. (perfect)
AC: 15 (+2 size, +4 Dex)
Attacks: Light ray +6 (0 = 1 HD Construct, +4 Dex, +2 size)
ranged touch (30 feet);
Damage: Light ray 1d6
Face/Reach: 2.5 ft. by 2.5 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Light ray, Explode
Special Qualities: Construct, hardness 5, Remote View
Saves: Fort +0, Ref +4, Will +1
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 18, Con -,
Int -, Wis 13, Cha 1
Skills: None
Feats: None
Climate/Terrain: Any
Organization: Solitary or patrol (2-5)
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 2-3 HD (Tiny); 4-6HD (Small)


Where explode is 3d6 damage in a 5' radius spread, and remote view is basically a camera linked to some fixed monitor.

 

[Krishnath]

Very good, just a few pointers:

AC is slightly to low, I suspect that it is a small mistake on your part, but AC should be 16.

replace the hardness with the following: damage reduction 5/-, this reduces all damage that the construct takes from non energy sources by 5.

Other than that, I have no comments, it's a good idea though

 

[Gaio Macareg]

Well the advancement is still to high (I made the same problem, what I get for not paying attention) since they can only triple their base HD. So try 2-3 HD (Small). The AC thing is a math error, you have the numbers correct in the breakdown, but added wrong.

I'd say that 3d6 damage is a bit much for an explosion against 1st level characters. In your favor, it flys, so it'll probably be out at range and you did only give it a 5' radius. However, personally, I'd go with something around 2d4. 3d6 is going to give an average of 11 points of damage. Even with a reflex save for half (say DC of 14 or 15) many first levels are either going to fail the save or die after making the save anyway. Especially if it hit them once before. At 2d4 you're looking at an average of 5 damage, 3 if you make a save for half. That's scary to a 1st level character. But 11 points on average, means that if you get even a little lucky you just killed a dwarven barbarian at full strength in one blow. If you roll an 18 on that 3d6 you just killed him while he was raging but unharmed.

 

[LokiDR]

Your point about AC and advancement is well taken, though I never use advancement, so I wouldn't know about that.

As for the explode, that was late thought. I would think it would be DC15 ref save for half. I don't want to reduce the damage though. A 1st level dwarf barb isn't what it was focused at, and it is a CR 2. I was thinking of it as a devices that could be dangerous in large numbers, almost not matter what your level was. I don't want this to be too much weaker than the arrow hawk it was based on (CR 3, AC 20, +9 ranged touch for 2d6 damage, several imunities/resistances)

My next question would be how much this little sucker would cost? Obviously less than the 50,000 gp/1000XP of a flesh golem. But what would be the body and total costs? What spells would be need? What level?

I would make a wild guess of something like 12,500gp, 200 for the body, needing fly, searing light, and clairvoyance. Ideas, improvements?