Interesting Objects to Animate?

[mythusmage]

In the Realm of Playing With Their Heads We Have...

Animated windows.

It's getting late. The sun is setting, night is falling, and the windows start to close all by themselves. Close and lock or bar themselves. Shades are drawn, as are drapes and curtains, blinds close, the sort of thing that might give the players the impression their PCs are being trapped. You could get them to waste a few spells to counter this vile plan.

 

[demiurge1138]

I've had very good results from an animated iron maiden. Grapples foes, then slams them in with all of the spikes.

I also do like the animated statue idea, but you could use interesting shapes. Imagine the confusion if the PCs were attacked by abstract art.

Demiurge out.

 

[Garnfellow]

Folks, this is great stuff -- just what I needed. Keep the ideas coming!

 

[David Howery]

One adventure my old DM ran way back in 1E days had animated treasure chests... when we reached into one, it bit us. They could talk, and we tried arguing them with to give up the goods, but they were stubborn. When we finally got mad and tried to smash them, they ran away. So, there we were, running down the hallways after a treasure chest that was screaming for help.....

 

[Whimsical]

Check out the list of things that Animate Objects can do in the Monster Manual entry. Then make up something that would fit each effect. Have items that blind, constrict, move on two legs, four legs, rolls around, etc. How about a library of books that fly by flapping its covers and swarm around intruders.

Also, I would recommend that you find a way to start a fire in the labratory, preferably when the PCs are almost done exploring. Not only would the players have normal smoke,, heat, and fire to deal with, but there could be areas full of magical smoke from burning mixed-up alchemical incredients that does wierd things like polymorph or compel or have you hallucinate phantasmal images or what have you. This would give a sudden time limit for them to do what they have to do then leave quickly.

This would be especially fun if the building was warded with the Guards & Wards spell.

 

[Kelleris]

Something made of copious amounts of papier-mache - it's light and hollow, so it should count for less than its size would indicate as far as animate objects is concerned. They pulled this trick in a Dungeon once, I think.

Anywoo...

papier-mache + programmed image + animate objects = instant terrasque

 

[Mighty Halfling]

Sewing needles. (They're real pricks!)
Hot Coals from a fireplace. (Fire damage and slam damage)
Food, just prior to being eaten. (Sure it would take some initial damage from being chewed but then it would deliver Slam damage from inside!)

 

[The Baron]

Did ya ever see Edward Scissorhands? What about that something like that crazy cookie making machine in the flashback sequence? Perhaps there's a bunch of "contruct making machinery" full of things that probe, smash, convey, cut, pierce, spray, etc. Besides the cool imagery, it allows a lot of different ways to attack.

 

[LeapingShark]

Animated glass beakers shuffle across the lab table, tilting their "bodies" forward to squirt streams of vile acids through their "necks".