Maedar

[demiurge1138]

"A glyptar only cooperates with living beings when it chooses to do so, and cannot be forced to comply. A glyptar is immune to telepathy and cannot speak, but can use an appropriate animated object to write out messages in any language that the maedar understood."

Seems like we're missing "is immune to mind-influencing effects", which is in the orignal text. Add that and drop "cannot be forced to comply", since most forms of forcing someone to comply in D&D are mind influencing effects. It's not like you're going to be blackmailing a rock.

Demiurge out.

 

[Shade]

Good point. Immune to mind-affecting handles most of that.

I'd rather the maedar be able to attach itself to items. It's easy enough to destroy as it is, and makes it more likely to figure actively in an adventure.

 

[Aspect of BOZ]

we've already got it that the glyptar has all construct immunities elsewhere in the text, so we shouldn't need to restate immunity to mind-affecting effects.

How is this?:
"A glyptar only cooperates with living beings when it chooses to do so. A glyptar cannot speak and cannot be contacted telepathically, but can use an appropriate animated object to write out messages in any language that the maedar understood."


Slight changes to the verbiage; how is this now?
"A glyptar can use animate objects, as the spell (Caster level 20) at will to move about. A glyptar can also use animate objects on any inorganic object if firmly attached to it. Such objects are under the direct control of the glyptar. A glyptar set in the hilt or handle of a melee weapon allows the weapon to function as if it has the dancing quality, allowing the glyptar to make attacks with the weapon using the maedar’s base attack bonus, and Strength bonus to damage. A glyptar set in the eye of a stone statue, allows the glyptar to animate the statue as if it were a stone golem. All of these effects end if the glyptar is removed from or removes itself from the item."

 

[Shade]

I like the rewrite to the animate objects, but don't see a point to the not being able to contact them telepathically. It just seems odd, and a bit unecessary. It can always ignore someone.

 

[Aspect of BOZ]

eh, just going for consistency. i can cut that bit out and leave us with this:

"A glyptar only cooperates with living beings when it chooses to do so. A glyptar cannot speak, but can use an appropriate animated object to write out messages in any language that the maedar understood."


of course, now that i think about it, i realize that the glyptar "can fly at a speed of 25 feet per round, with perfect maneuverability." is that line at odds with the whole idea of using animate object on itself? i.e., is it necessary to state that it can animate itself if we already have it able to fly?

 

[Conaill]

of course, now that i think about it, i realize that the glyptar "can fly at a speed of 25 feet per round, with perfect maneuverability." is that line at odds with the whole idea of using animate object on itself? i.e., is it necessary to state that it can animate itself if we already have it able to fly?

Well... one could argue that if it used Animate Object on itself, the glyptar would also acquire the properties of a Tiny Animated Object, i.e. a Slam attack (poison coated glyptar, anyone?), Construct traits (incl. immunity to all mind-affecting effects), etc. That starts to get pretty messy...

Also, do we really intend for the glyptar to be able to "animate a statue as if it were a stone golem"? Stone golems have a *lot* more powers than a default animated statue.

 

[BOZ]

no you're right - good point, and i don't really want to see them with that much power.

as for the glyptar being able to animate objects on itself, i guess it doesn't really need it since it can fly on its own. but it wouldn't bother me if it was able to do both - whatever makes the most sense, i guess.

 

[Shade]

Since the glyptar technically isn't an object, I'd stick with the fly speed and apply any other necessary traits.

 

[BOZ]

will do. updating this entry again...

when you have the chance, give this one a good read-over. let's make sure the stats (saves, skills, AC, etc) add up right. check the flavor text for grammar, passive voice, and other problems like that. let's make sure the text is also as clear as possible. if a line could be easily misinterpreted let's try to clean it up (without going overboard).

i've already gone over the text a number of times and made some changes (compare the current version to what is posted on the CC site), so hopefully it should be just about ready to go.

 

[Aspect of BOZ]

as you ponder that, here's a question.

should a maedar be able to activate magic items if attached to them, or simply animate them?


other one i found earlier in this thread regarding what a glyptar might be able to control:

A fiend can also possess a substance that ... is part of a larger object (such as a section of a wall). When it does so, a fiend cannot possess an area or a volume larger than 10 feet on a side.

note that before, a glyptar could animate a maximum of 1000 pounds.

and:

Controller: If the possessed object has moving parts, such as a wagon, clock, or crossbow, a possessing fiend can control the movement. A wagon can be made to steer toward a pedestrian on a street or roll out of a stable with no horse pulling it. A clock can slow or run backward. A crossbow can c-o-c-k and fire (but not aim or load itself). Possessed objects with wheels or legs cannot move faster than the fiend itself could move in its corporeal form.

I say give it DR 8/adamantine (8 is the usual hardness for stone, right?) because adding hardness to a creature, even a creature that's just a gem with a soul in it, is traditionally a cause for trouble and confusion, I find.

i'm reconsidering giving it hardness, myself. it's a tough call. animated objects do have hardness, but a glyptar is an actual living creature inside a non-organic body.