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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Devon" data-source="post: 39979" data-attributes="member: 1446">I've been thinking about how to determine what goes into creating a golem (spells, creator level, money, materials), and I've come up with a list of observations about how they seem to be handled in the 3e monstrous sourcebook.  Hopefully these observations will serve as a guide for determining golem construction requirements.Please, if anyone else has additional observations based upon golem-related material from other supplements (or from Sword & Sorcery), we might be able to work out a system for determining how much a given golem will cost.  Feel free to counter any observations I have with other examples.Thank you,-   DevonConclusions:Construction costs:Total costs range from 50,000 to 100,000 gp.  While it can be argued that making smaller golems should reduce this, it should be noted that only a fraction of this cost is associated with the body itself, which ranges from 500 to 1500 gp.Creation: Golems normally require one or more Craft skills to create.  Sometimes Profession will work, or even Heal in the case of reanimating living tissue.  These skills are usually determined by the golem's nature (Glass golems require glassmaking, gem golems require gemcutting, stone golems require sculpting or masonry).  The DC for these checks depends not upon the power of the golem, but on the materials used.  DCs range from 13 to 20.In addition, most golems require that the creator set up a ritual workspace furnished with alchemical and ritual  apparatus usually costing another 1,000 gp, but these workspaces are reusable.Supplemental items:Occasionally golem crafters will also create a supplemental item for the golem, such as an amulet to control it, or a defensive item to protect the creator from the golem or one of its powers.  These items are usually included in the construction cost, require no XP expenditure, and are less difficult to make than the golem itself (requiring a lower DC).Creator:Creators usually need to be able to cast arcane or divine spells.  Although not all golems specify the Craft Wondrous Item feat as a requirement, it should be assumed that it does.  Creators usually require a minimum level to understand the ritual associated with constructing the golem, ranging from 12th to 16th level depending on the golem's power.XP Drain:XP drains for creating a golem ranges from 1,000 to 2,000 xp, depending on the golem's power.Spells:Golems usually require great magics to make them work. The basic spells are usually geas/quest, limited wish, and polymorph any object.  Golems from divine sources (such as the clay golem) usually substitute animate objects, bless, commune, prayer, and resurrection.  The net effect of these spells is to imbue the golem with an animating force, render it obedient to its master, bind it to the body, and enchant the body such that it is able to move of its own volition, as well as providing the near immunity to all magic typical of golems.  Lesser golems can be created which are not immune to most magics, and limited wish seems to be the one spell absolutely required to activate the golem (in the case of arcane spellcasters), providing it with animating force.  Even geas/quest seems optional in certain golems.In addition to these motivating and binding spells, the golem's unusual powers and abilities require the casting of additional spells.  All of the spells must be cast personally by the creator, but they can come from outside sources, such as scrolls, presumably of her own creation.</blockquote>

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