How dumb are golems?

[Saeviomagy]

Errr....you'd alllow the PC to use the powers of the Chaos Diamond while it's back in his keep? Yoowza.

I didn't say that, and I note that you conspicuously didn't reply to any of the other examples. In D&D, many items work while in your 'possession'. Exactly what that possession means is a very, very vague term, and has to remain so, or interesting items like the figurines become a lot less powerful.

Oh absolutely. They even have a 12 step program to get in, and a LE bouncer at the door (Exp 2, of course).

Doesn't the LE bouncer rebel and refuse to do his job after a while? After all, he is EVIL...

Seriously: this "magic stone" idea is a neat one, even usable, but it's a long way from solving the problem. An intelligent stone has an Ego. That ego could rebel. Considering the situation, I think it quite likely it does.

Plot device!

Oh yeah, as a plot device, fine. In general, I doubt it.

 

[dcollins]

I didn't say that, and I note that you conspicuously didn't reply to any of the other examples. In D&D, many items work while in your 'possession'. Exactly what that possession means is a very, very vague term, and has to remain so, or interesting items like the figurines become a lot less powerful.

Not so much. DMG, "Using Items: Use Activated":

A few, such as a pearl of power, must simply be in the character's possession (on his person, not at home locked in a trunk).

 

[Nail]

I didn't say that, and I note that you conspicuously didn't reply to any of the other examples.

True, but it hardly seemed necessary. My point could be made with one of your examples. The others follow.

... or interesting items like the figurines become a lot less powerful.

Sounds like a topic for another thread: how do you determine "posession" of magic items that you ride on or live in? How could another "take posession"?

However: that's completely irrelevant to the topic at hand (which, I admit, is quite far a field even so. )

Let's get back to it:

Q: Are golems dumb?

A: Yep.

Q: How dumb are they?

A: Very dumb. They follow orders, but with no capacity to reason.

Q: But can't I put a magic intelligent stone a golem to give it orders?

A: Sure, but two things to note: #1) If the stone gives the orders, the orders might not be as you desire, and #2) We're not talking about how smart golems are any more, are we?

Doesn't the LE bouncer rebel and refuse to do his job after a while? After all, he is EVIL...

He might. He certainly isn't doing his job for the greater Good, is he?

 

[Saeviomagy]

Not so much. DMG, "Using Items: Use Activated":

Yup, that clears up some stuff, but it still doesn't work for the figurines or daern's fortress that specify their "owner", rather than possessor.

 

[Nail]

Like I said: let's get a new thread for that. Sounds interesting.