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View Full Version : Born of the Nine Swords [Creature]



The Demented One
2006-09-16, 05:49 PM
Martial Automaton
Size/Type: Medium Construct
Hit Dice: 5d10+20 (47 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 20 (+2 Dex, +8 natural), touch 12, flatfooted 18
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+7
Attack: Bastard Sword +7 (1d10+6)
Full Attack: Bastard Sword +7 (1d10+6)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Maneuvers, script proficiencies
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 3/adamantine, darkvision 60 ft., script skill, script slots
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +3
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 14, Con –, Int 16, Wis 16, Cha 10
Skills: Balance +11, Concentration +9, Diplomacy +5, Hide +7, Intimidate +9, Jump +9, Martial Lore +13, Sense Motive +8, Tumble +9
Feats: Power Attack, Improved Initiative
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: Martial scripts
Alignment: Same as creator’s
Advancement: 6-20 HD (Medium)
Level Adjustment: –

Martial Automatons are just one example of the genius of Reshar, the first Master of Nine. He originally designed them to serve as guards for the Temple of Nine, thinking warriors who could plan and improvise. It took years, however, for him to enable them to use the martial techniques of the Sublime Way. He had originally tried to simply teach the techniques to them, a plan which, sadly, failed. However, he eventually discovered that martial scripts, temporary recordings of martial maneuvers, could be integrated into the constructs, granting them use of the maneuvers stored within. In the years since the fall of the temple, Martial Automatons have gained in popularity as guards or allies for martial adepts who learned the secrets of their construction from Reshar. Martial Automatons look like armored, humanoid warriors, but close inspection reveals that beneath the armor lies an intricate system of cogs and gears, glowing with magic runes. While intelligent, they do not speak, but can understand Common and any languages spoken by their creator. For more information on Reshar, the Sublime Way, and martial scripts, see Tome of Battle.

Maneuvers (Ex or Su)
A Martial Automaton knows the maneuvers contained in the martial scripts stored in its script slots, assuming its initiator level, which is equal to its HD, is high enough. It can ready all of them. It can refresh all of its expended maneuvers as a swift action, which must be followed by a single melee attack. It can ready new maneuvers by meditating for five minutes. Using one of its maneuvers has no effect on the martial script containing that maneuver, unlike simply using a maneuver from a script. The Martial Automaton presented here has the following maneuvers readied:

Strikes: emerald razor, flashing sun, foehammer
Boosts: iron heart surge
Counters: wall of blades

Script Proficiencies (Ex)
A Martial Automaton is proficient with any weapon that is an associated weapon of a discipline of one of the scripts stored in its script slots. The Martial Automaton presented here gains proficiency with the following weapons due to its slotted scripts: bastard sword, dwarven waraxe, falchion, greatclub, light mace, light pick, longsword, maul*, rapier, scimitar, shortspear, spear, trident, two-bladed sword
[size=1]*From Complete Warrior

Script Skill (Ex)
A Martial Automaton gets a +4 bonus checks of skills that are key skills of a discipline of one of the scripts stored in its script slots. In addition, it gains a bonus on Martial Lore checks equal to twice the number of martial scripts stored in it. The Martial Automaton presented here gains this bonus to the following skills: Balance, Concentration, Intimidate, Tumble.

Script Slots (Ex)
The torso of a Martial Automaton contains five slots which can store martial scripts (see Tome of Battle). The automaton, or one of its allies, may place a script in a slot or remove a script from a slot as a standard action. It may exchange a slotted script for another as a full-round action. Anyone can remove a slotted script from a Martial Automaton once it has been destroyed. The Martial Automaton presented here has scripts of the following maneuvers stored in its script slots: emerald razor (Diam 2), flashing sun (Desert 2), foehammer (Devo 2), iron heart surge (Iron 3), wall of blades (Iron 2)

Creation
The body of a Martial Automaton is made from a suit of masterwork full plate. It must be specially modified, requiring a DC 15 Craft (Armorsmithing) check and a DC 15 Martial Lore check. Martial Automatons with additional HD can be created, but each additional HD adds +3,000 gp to the automaton’s price. You may not create a Martial Automaton with an amount of HD greater than your initiator level. Every HD added increases the automaton’s initiator level by one. For every two HD added, the automaton’s DR/adamantine increases by one. For every five HD added, the automaton gains an additional script slot.

IL 5th, Craft Martial Construct (see below). Cost 6,600 gp + 400 xp. Price 10,000 gp (does not include cost of scripts).

Craft Martial Construct
You can create constructs empowered by the Sublime Way.
Prerequisite: Initiator level 5th, Martial Lore 8 ranks
Benefit: You can create any martial construct whose prerequisites it meets. Creating a martial construct takes one day for each 1,000 gp in its market price. To create a martial construct, a martial adept must spend 1/25 the construct’s price in XP and use up raw materials costing half of this price. You can repair martial constructs that have taken damage. In one day of work, you can repair up to 20 points of damage by expending 50 gp per point of damage repaired.

The Demented One
2006-09-22, 11:06 PM
Oh come on, this bugger's nearing a hundred views, and no response. At the very least, could someone just tell me its awful, and I ought to commit hara-kiri with a rusty fork?

Gralamin
2006-09-23, 12:30 AM
umm shouldn't this be a living construct?

The Demented One
2006-09-23, 12:33 AM
umm shouldn't this be a living construct?
Nein, in constructs, sentience=/=life. See homunculi and inevitables.

Gralamin
2006-09-23, 12:48 AM
Nein, in constructs, sentience=/=life. See homunculi and inevitables.

Right, Its just the flavour text reminds me of warforged I guess.
I love the idea of it, and it looks like it was implemented well.