PDA

View Full Version : Golem Manuals and dirt cheap golems?



Laurellien
2010-07-30, 11:34 AM
The spells included in a golem manual require a spell trigger activation and can be activated only to assist in the construction of a golem. The cost of the book does not include the cost of constructing the golem’s body. Once the golem is finished, the writing in the manual fades and the book is consumed in flames. When the book’s ashes are sprinkled upon the golem, it becomes fully animated.



A stone golem’s body is chiseled from a single block of hard stone, such as granite, weighing at least 3,000 pounds. The stone must be of exceptional quality, and costs 5,000 gp. Assembling the body requires a DC 17 Craft (sculpting) check or a DC 17 Craft (stonemasonry) check.



Does this mean that if one has a stone golem manual, one needs only to pay 5000 GP on top of the price of the manual to make a golem?

Snake-Aes
2010-07-30, 11:39 AM
Yes. ......

Marnath
2010-07-30, 01:32 PM
Isn't the book more expensive than just doing it yourself?

Snake-Aes
2010-07-30, 01:34 PM
Isn't the book more expensive than just doing it yourself?

Yes. ......

Marnath
2010-07-30, 02:47 PM
Yeah, thought so. So golem manuals aren't really cheap, just save you XP. Now for a de-rail, what exactly is your avatar a picture of snake? :smallconfused:

Snake-Aes
2010-07-30, 02:48 PM
Yeah, thought so. So golem manuals aren't really cheap, just save you XP. Now for a de-rail, what exactly is your avatar a picture of snake? :smallconfused:

The mad hatter.

Laurellien
2010-07-30, 04:56 PM
A stone golem’s body is chiseled from a single block of hard stone, such as granite, weighing at least 3,000 pounds. The stone must be of exceptional quality, and costs 5,000 gp. Assembling the body requires a DC 17 Craft (sculpting) check or a DC 17 Craft (stonemasonry) check.

CL 14th; Craft Construct, antimagic field, geas/quest, slow, symbol of stunning, caster must be at least 14th level; Price 90,000 gp; Cost 50,000 gp + 3,400 XP.


So with a manual, do you just have to pay the 5k or the 50k for material components?

Jack_Simth
2010-07-30, 05:12 PM
Does this mean that if one has a stone golem manual, one needs only to pay 5000 GP on top of the price of the manual to make a golem?
Well, it depends.

Let's look at the manual base description again, and focus on two different portions:

Golem Manual

A golem manual contains information, incantations and magical power that help a character to craft a golem. The instructions therein grant a +5 competence bonus on skill checks made to craft the golem’s body. Each manual also holds the prerequisite spells needed for a specific golem, effectively grants the builder use of the Craft Construct feat during the construction of the golem, and grants the character an increase to her caster level for the purpose of crafting a golem. Any golem built using a golem manual does not cost the creator any XP, since the requisite XP are "contained" in the book and "expended" by the book during the creation process.

The spells included in a golem manual require a spell trigger activation and can be activated only to assist in the construction of a golem. The cost of the book does not include the cost of constructing the golem’s body. Once the golem is finished, the writing in the manual fades and the book is consumed in flames. When the book’s ashes are sprinkled upon the golem, it becomes fully animated. (Emphasis and emphasis added, specific text copied from Here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#golemManual)).

The underlined portion is what the manual explicitly grants you for purposes of making the golem. The bolded portion is what it explicitly does not grant you.

The magical materials required for enchantment? It's not explicitly mentioned, either way. So there's two ways to look at it:
1: It gives you everything needed except what it explicitly says it doesn't.
2: It gives you exactly what it explicitly says it does and nothing more.

Interpretation 1 means that when making a Stone Golem, no, you don't need the 45,000 gp worth of magical crafting materials, just the 5,000 gp body (as it doesn't say it doesn't provide crafting materials).

Interpretation 2 means that when making a Stone Golem, you need the 45,000 gp worth of magical crafting materials in addition to the 5,000 gp body (as it doesn't say it does provide crafting materials).

Which interpretation is correct is up to the DM running the game.


From a balance perspective:
The Stone Golem Manual has a market price of 22,000 gp.
The crafting materials for a Stone Golem (Excluding the body) cost 45,000 gp.
It's a *ridiculous* savings if the book gives you the XP and the materials.

Beorn080
2010-07-30, 05:18 PM
One of the uses of the manual is to allows high UMD non magic classes to make their own golems.

I wonder if one can abuse them with artificer's.

Another_Poet
2010-07-30, 06:32 PM
Heck, just abuse them with rogues.

"Say hello to my new flanking buddy."

Coidzor
2010-07-30, 07:02 PM
One of the uses of the manual is to allows high UMD non magic classes to make their own golems.

I wonder if one can abuse them with artificer's.

Perhaps..., in order to get a better assembly line of golem production via the use of expert followers, maybe.



How many days does it take to make 'em with golem manuals if one has the body and book on hand already? Is it just a ritual(the checks) and bam, golem?

Because if so, there's no real point for the artificer doing anything other than just enchanting the golem himself... I think... Mostly because the XP cost is increased for the artificer for making the book when he can just make the golem.

Lhurgyof
2010-07-31, 12:01 AM
The mad hatter.

It looks like something Brom painted. :)