low level constructs

[big teej]

Greetings Playgrounders,


I was writing an adventure for a low-level game last night, and I reached a point that I felt it would be appropriate to use a construct or two as a baddie.

however, given the critters of the dungeon, and the level of the party, I couldn't think of/remember any constructs that would have been remotely level appropriate, even as a boss fight.

I am/was somewhat impeded by not being able to check my books at the moment, but I should be able to later today

so I pose the question to the playground

what are some constructs that are appropriate for:
- a small contingent of goblins to have?
- appropriate to a level 2-3 party of 2-3 people?


I discarded warforged and scouts as being appropriate, and I couldn't find/remember anything else in the right ballpark.

[DrMotives]

MM2 has Automaton, which are CR 2, and Dragon magazine 341 has a bunch of Cr 1 through 5 lesser golems, things like junk, paper, tin, fungus, or wood golems.

[Firest Kathon]

If you do not mind backporting Pathfinder stuff, they have:

Golems (https://sites.google.com/site/pathfinderogc/bestiary/monster-listings/constructs/golem) (e.g a Wax Golem (https://sites.google.com/site/pathfinderogc/bestiary/monster-listings/constructs/golem/golem-wax)),
Clockworks (https://sites.google.com/site/pathfinderogc/bestiary/monster-listings/constructs/clockwork) (e.g. a Clockwork Servant (https://sites.google.com/site/pathfinderogc/bestiary/monster-listings/constructs/clockwork/clockwork-servant) [CR2] or a Clockwork Soldier (https://sites.google.com/site/pathfinderogc/bestiary/monster-listings/constructs/clockwork/clockwork-soldier) [CR3]), and
Robots (https://sites.google.com/site/pathfinderogc/bestiary/monster-listings/constructs/robot) (e.g. a Mechanical Viper (https://sites.google.com/site/pathfinderogc/bestiary/monster-listings/constructs/robot/mechanical-vipers-robot-iron-cobra) [CR2])
other constructs (https://sites.google.com/site/pathfinderogc/bestiary/monster-listings/constructs) (e.g. a Bronze Sentinel (https://sites.google.com/site/pathfinderogc/bestiary/monster-listings/constructs/sentinel-bronze) [CR2] or a Guardian Doll (http://www.dxcontent.com/MDB_MonsterBlock.asp?MDBID=2233) [CR3]).

I think Wood (http://www.dxcontent.com/MDB_MonsterBlock.asp?MDBID=353) (CR1) and Stone Idols (http://www.dxcontent.com/MDB_MonsterBlock.asp?MDBID=354) (CR3) feel very appropriate to a Goblin tribe.

You can use e.g. this tool (http://www.dxcontent.com/MDB_FilterTools.asp) to search for an appropriate creature type and challenge rating.

[Dgrin]

You can include one blue in that group of goblins, so that they could easily have a couple of astral constructs

[Darrin]

Clockwork Menders (MMIV). 1 HD, but you can scale them up by adding +1 HD per 2000 GP. Costs 400 GP to create, Craft check DC 15, can be made by a 6th level spellcaster with Craft Construct.

Beget Bogun (Spell Compendium). Even cheaper than clockwork menders, but requires a 7th level druid. Only 2 HD, but pure wicker-murder in the hands of a skilled basketweaver.

Astral Constructs (XPH) can be created by any 1st-level psion. They can look like anything you can imagine, and come with a variety of customization options. Ectoplasmic Swarm (Complete Psionic) might be a nice surprise from a higher-level psion, or unleashed from a Crystalline Spider Bead (1400 GP, same book page 114).

But the gold standard for small, annoying constructs is probably the Homonculi from Magic of Eberron. Requires Craft Construct, so you'll need at least a 6th level caster, but each one only costs 1250-ish GP, +2000 GP for extra HD.

Arbalester. Essentially an animated crossbow that walks around and shoots things for you. After pestering the PCs with a few dozen of these, I'd spring one on them that had a bunch of HD, mad sneak skillz, Darkstalker feat, and a quiver full of specialist ammo that would make Hawekeye/Green Arrow jealous. Thief goes invisible? Yeah, spell storing arrow + faerie fire. Fighter all stoked about a new mithral breastplate? Yeah, rust arrow turns it to dust. Thief turns invisible? Yeah, spellstoring arrow + faerie fire. Wizard tries to dimension door to safety? Yeah, those arrows that missed last round were full of anchor mist (Dungeonscape).

Packmate. It can make splash attacks by spitting acid or alchemist's fire. But there are plenty of other interesting splash weapons. Atramen Oil (Planar Handbook) reduces Fort saves, so pair it up with a poison-based attacker. Eggshell grenades (Oriental Adventures) can blind. Liquid Ice (Dragon Compendium) + Razor Ice Powder (Frostburn) for a little BFC. Liquid Smoke (Oriental Adventures) to block LOS (goblins have a wand of fire eyes from Masters of the Wild, and can see through the smoke). Aboleth Mucus (Savage Species) if you want them to hate you, and we haven't even gotten to spellvials (Magic of Eberron) yet.

Persistent Harrier. 2 HD, 40' speed, and 1d6 sneak attack, which makes them more dangerous in packs. Hmm. Probably too strong for goblins. Maybe a boss fight?

[Chronos]

I'm not sure where they came from, but I was in a low-level game where we faced Ragamuffins (basically animated piles of dirty laundry) and Clockroaches (clockwork bugs).

[Calimehter]

Don't forget about the Effigy template from Complete Arcane. Pick any CR animal you like and make a construct out of it!

[Sliver]

Dread Guards, from MM2. They are CR 2, but got updated to CR 3.

[Bronk]

Crawling claws? CR 1/3 diminutive construct from Monsters of Faerun. Might need a box of them...