FoxWander
Adventurer
So, my new character is a Gnome Artificer (Eberron, not the racial PrC) and I plan to build a minor golem soon for some martial power/protection. With a big, armored brute and a small, smart guy in charge I naturally thought of MasterBlaster from Mad Max. Cheesy as it might be to actually play like that, I have to wonder what the merits and flaws of it are, as well as the rules to do it.
Here's the proposed set-up: Build the Golem with an armored, but comfortably padded on the inside, backpack which the Gnome rides in, leaving the gnome's hands free to cast, use wands, etc.. The golem will be medium size, the gnome is, of course, small.
Here are the problems/rules to work out:
1) Does the gnome get a cover bonus to AC because of the golem? I'm thinking yes (the standard +4) vs. ranged attacks, but I'm unsure about melee attacks from opponents the golem is engaged with.
2) Do opponents engaged with the golem get AoO when the gnome uses spells/wands? Again, I'm thinking yes, but what about the cover issue above-if that applies, can you make AoO through cover?
3) What kind of concentration check does the gnome have to make to cast while the golem is in combat? I'm thinking 10 or 15 per vigorous/violent motion of riding a mount. Which would apply to a "mount" in combat?
4) What kind of negative, if any, does the gnome suffer on ranged attacks while the golem is fighting? Can the golem (if it has an Int score) "aid another" to give the gnome a bonus to hit?
5) Given all these potential problems, is this schtick even worth attempting? (not counting the sheer silliness of it) Sure the golem would make an awesome "mount", but would I be better off just jumping out when combat starts?
Hmm, I think that covers everything. Let me know if I've overlooked something. So what do you think? Even if you can't answer any of the questions, I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!
Here's the proposed set-up: Build the Golem with an armored, but comfortably padded on the inside, backpack which the Gnome rides in, leaving the gnome's hands free to cast, use wands, etc.. The golem will be medium size, the gnome is, of course, small.
Here are the problems/rules to work out:
1) Does the gnome get a cover bonus to AC because of the golem? I'm thinking yes (the standard +4) vs. ranged attacks, but I'm unsure about melee attacks from opponents the golem is engaged with.
2) Do opponents engaged with the golem get AoO when the gnome uses spells/wands? Again, I'm thinking yes, but what about the cover issue above-if that applies, can you make AoO through cover?
3) What kind of concentration check does the gnome have to make to cast while the golem is in combat? I'm thinking 10 or 15 per vigorous/violent motion of riding a mount. Which would apply to a "mount" in combat?
4) What kind of negative, if any, does the gnome suffer on ranged attacks while the golem is fighting? Can the golem (if it has an Int score) "aid another" to give the gnome a bonus to hit?
5) Given all these potential problems, is this schtick even worth attempting? (not counting the sheer silliness of it) Sure the golem would make an awesome "mount", but would I be better off just jumping out when combat starts?
Hmm, I think that covers everything. Let me know if I've overlooked something. So what do you think? Even if you can't answer any of the questions, I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!
