A town guarded by robots

[CIDE]

In my own homebrew universe, there's going to be a town with a guard and militia staff supplemented heavily by Effigies. May even be a few Elder Eidolons in the mix too but these would likely be intelligent and in more of a leadership position between the effigies and organics. The problem is their shape.

Every single one is going to be humanoid in shape. A few specifically are going to be made based on the PHB races as well. But I don't want to be limited to just that selection and want at least some of them to be battle ready for other sorts of monsters and at least a few decent murder hobos that decide to show up. I know of plenty of good animal/monster forms that can supplement the Effigy/Elder Eidolon creature but I'm trying to avoid that except in some very small numbers.

So, I have come to the infinite wisdom of the the playground. If I wanted to optimize humanoid-shaped (not necessarily humanoid type) Effigies/Elder Eidolons what base creatures would you guys suggest? The only real limitation is no homebrew. As I'm the DM and I allow all sorts of stuff the sky's the limit here on what sources are allowed.

I do want to add that in this world I treat the Effigy as a stand alone creature. So, for those of you that--for whatever reason-- think the effigy is something you take an existing creature and alter it into a construct... I don't play that game. No one's turning a human into an effigy. The effigy was made in a shop like any other construct. I will note that I have heard the Dustform creature stacking shenanigans.

[DrMotives]

The Quesar from Exalted Deeds are some interesting sentient constructs. If the NG alignment isn't working for you, refluff them. They already have free will explicitly in the write up, so they could do anything they want.

[Gildedragon]

You probably want to either awaken the constructs or make intelligent ones. Otherwise they may be a bit... ah... ineffective at guarding.
You want guards to have maxed Sense Motive, Listen, Spot, and possibly Appraise.

There's also the Sacred Guardian (Bestiary of Krynn) template. Devote them to Law or Community or Protection or Rune domains; nice thing is this can be slapped on top of the eidolons/effigies

I'd possibly go with a couple different sized "cops"
Eyeball-like effigies would float and be great for patrolling.
Some stronger humanoid-like ones as your usual beat cops
Some heavy hitters for the SWAT teams

[Coidzor]

So we've got any aberration, animal, dragon, giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid, plant, or vermin to choose from.


Animals:

Apes are Large, 4 HD, Str 21, Dex 15. War Apes(Dragon#292) are Medium, 4 HD, Str 18, Dex 14. Dire Apes are Large, 5 HD, Str 22, Dex 15. Legendary Apes are Medium, 13 HD, Str 30, Dex 17.

Babboons are Medium, 1 HD, Str 15, Dex 14.

Monkeys are Tiny, 1 HD, Str 3, Dex 15.

Taga'rivvins are Large, 3 HD, Str 21, Dex 10. (hairless, albino apes)



Giants:

Fire Giants are Large Size, 15 HD, 31 Str. Frost Giants are Large, 14 HD, 29 Str. Stone Giants are Large, 14 HD, 27 Str. Hill Giants are Large, 12 HD, 25 Str.

Trolls are Large, 6 HD, 23 Str. Ogres are Large, 4 HD, 21 Str. Ogre Magi are Large, 5 HD, 21 Str. Skullcrusher Ogres are Large, 8 HD, Str 25. I suppose Merrow and Scrags have the same stats as Ogres and Trolls, but with swim speeds if those are retained, can't recall that right now. Ettins are Large, 10 HD, 23 Str.

War Trolls (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20040815b&page=6) are pretty nice from what I recall, 12 HD, 31 Str. Forest Trolls are Medium sized and have 5 HD.


Monstrous Humanoids:

Minotaurs are Large, 6 HD, 19 Str.

Dragonkin are draconic Monstrous Humanoids with 7 RHD and Large size. Claws and Rake, Str 19, IIRC.

Medusa are Medium, 6 HD, Str 10, Dex 15.

Annis Hags are Large, 7 HD, Str 25, Dex 12. Green Hags are Medium, 9 HD, Str 19, Dex 12. Sea Hags are Medium, 3 HD, Str 19, Dex 12.

Centaurs are Large, 4 HD, Str 18, Dex 14. Derro are Small, 3 HD, Str 11, Dex 14.

Gargoyles are Medium, 4 HD, Str 15, Dex 14. Kapoacinth Gargoyles have a Swim Speed.

Grimlocks are Medium, 2 HD, Str 15, Dex 13. Doppelgangers are Medium, 4 HD, Str 12, Dex 13.


Humanoids:

There's that mutant gargoyle from the 3.5 redux of the Tomb of Horrors that is a Humanoid-typed creature of... I think Medium size and something like 20 RHD.

Bugbears are Medium, 3 HD, Str 15, Dex 12.

Gnolls are Medium, 2 HD, Str 15, Dex 10.



Adding Lycanthropy into the mix and creating them in hybrid form will increase their HD and their Str and Dex. Same for Emantothropy IIRC.

Ankylosaurus(Huge) +9 HD, +18 Str, -4(?) Dex
Cave Ankylosaurus(Large) +7 HD, +10 Str, -4(?) Dex

Black Bear(Medium) +3 HD, +8 Str, +2 Dex
Brown Bear(Large) +6 HD, +16 Str, +2 Dex
Polar Bear(Large) +8 HD, +16 Str, +2 Dex

Boar(Medium) +3 HD, +4 Str, +0 Dex

Carcass Eater(Small) +1 HD, -2(?) Str, +6 Dex
Ceratosaur(Huge) +14 HD, +14 Str, +4 Dex

Crocodile(Medium) +3 HD, +8 Str, +2 Dex
Giant Crocodile(Huge) +7 HD, +16 Str, +2 Dex
Cryptoclidus(Large) +3 HD, +8 Str, +6 Dex

Dekayi(Large) +3 HD, +8 Str, +0 Dex
Desmodu War Bat(Huge) +10 HD, +14 Str, +12 Dex
Desmodu Hunting Bat(Medium) +4 HD, +4 Str, +14 Dex
Desmodu Guard Bat(Large) +4 HD, +6 Str, +12 Dex
Riding Dog(Medium) +2 HD, +4 Str, +4 Dex
Dragon Newt(Small) +1 HD, -4(?) Str, +6 Dex

Eagle(Small) +1 HD, +0 Str, +4 Dex
Elgonn(Large) +9 HD, +16 Str, +2 Dex

Fhorge(Large) +12 HD, +18 Str, +0 Dex
Forest Sloth(Large) +14 HD, +14 Str, +10 Dex
Killer Frog(Medium) +4 HD, +6 Str, +2 Dex

Giant Banded Lizard(Huge) +10 HD, +18 Str, +0 Dex
Giant Gar(Huge) +5 HD, +14 Str, +4 Dex
Glyptodon(Large) +10 HD, +10 Str, -2(?) Dex

Hippo(large) +8 HD, +14 Str, -2(?) Dex
Helicoprion(Large) +8 HD, +10 Str, +6 Dex
Hyena(Medium) +2 HD, +4 Str, +4 Dex

Ichthyosaur(Large) +10 HD, +10 Str, +6 Dex

Jagendar(Large) +7 HD, +10 Str, +6 Dex
Jhakar(Medium) +3 HD, +4 Str, +4 Dex

Leopard(Medium) +3 HD, +6 Str, +8 Dex
Lion(Large) +5 HD, +10 Str, +6 Dex
Dark Lion(Large) +5 HD, +10 Str, +6 Dex
Monitor Lizard(Medium) +3 HD, +6 Str, +4 Dex
Pack Lizard(Large) +8 HD, +10 Str, +2 Dex
Riding Lizard(Large) +4 HD, +8 Str, +4 Dex
Lynx(Small) +1 HD, -4(?) Str, +6 Dex

Mastyrial(Large) +12 HD, +12 Str, +0 Dex
Megatherium(Huge) +13 HD, +16 Str, +2 Dex

Nifern(Medium) +2 HD, +6 Str, +4 Dex

Giant Octopus(Large) +8 HD, +10 Str, +4 Dex
Octopus(Small) +2 HD, +2 Str, +6 Dex

Porpoise(Medium) +2 HD, +0 Str, +6 Dex
Pternadon(Large) +3 HD, +8 Str, +4 Dex

Quetzalcoatlus(Huge) +10 HD, +16 Str, +2 Dex
Quillflinger(Medium) +3 HD, +4 Str, +6 Dex

Razortail(Medium) +2 HD, +4 Str, +10 Dex
Razorwing(Large) +4 HD, +6 Str, +8 Dex

Titan Salamander(Large) +4 HD, +8 Str, +2 Dex
Seal(medium) +2 HD, +2 Str, +4 Dex
Sea Lion(Large) +3 HD, +6 Str, +2 Dex
Sea Tiger(huge) +10 HD, +8 Str, +2 Dex
Serval(Small) +1 HD, +2 Str, +6 Dex
Seskarran(Medium) +3 HD, +2 Str, +2 Dex
Sewerm(Small) +2 HD, +6 Str, +6 Dex

Huge Shark(Huge) +10 HD, +10 Str, +4 Dex
Large Shark(Large) +7 HD, +6 Str, +4 Dex
Medium Shark(Medium) +3 HD, +2 Str, +4 Dex

Smilodon(Large) +9 HD, +14 Str, +4 Dex

Winged Viper Snake(Large) +3 HD, +0 Str, +6 Dex
Whip Snake(Medium) +3 HD, +6 Str, +6 Dex
Two-headed Adder Snake(Small) +1 HD, -4(?) Str, +6 Dex
Glacier Snake(Medium) +2 HD, +6 Str, +6 Dex
Dung Snake(Medium) +3 HD, +6 Str, +6 Dex
Snake:
Viper(Small) +1 HD, -4? Str, +6 Dex
Viper(Medium) +2 HD, -2? Str, +6 Dex
Viper(Large) +3 HD, +0 Str, +6 Dex
Viper(Huge) +6 HD, +6 Str, +4 Dex
Constrictor(Medium) +3 HD, +6 Str, +6 Dex
Giant Constrictor(Huge) +11 HD, +14 Str, +6 Dex
Sea(Small) +1 HD, -4? Str, +6 Dex
Sea(Medium) +2 HD, -2? Str, +6 Dex
Sea(Large) +3 HD, +0 Str, +6 Dex
Sea(Huge) +6 HD, +6 Str, +4 Dex
Spitting Cobra(Large) +3 HD, +0 Str, +6 Dex
Spitting Cobra(Medium) +2 HD, -2? Str, +6 Dex

Giant Squid(Huge) +12 HD, +16 Str, +6 Dex
Squid(Medium) +3 HD, +4 Str, +6 Dex

Taga'rivvin(Large) +3 HD, +10 Str, +0 Dex
Terror Bird(Large) +7 HD, +8 Str, +6 Dex
Tiger(Large) +6 HD, +12 Str, +4 Dex
Red Tiger/Snow Cat(Large) +8 HD, 12 Str, +4 Dex
Snapping Turtle(Small) +2 HD, +2 Str, -2? Dex

Vulture(Small) +1 HD, -2? Str, +4 Dex

Walrus(Large) +5 HD, +6 Str, -2? Dex
War Mastiff(Medium) +3 HD, +6 Str, +2 Dex
Wolf(Medium) +2 HD, +2 Str, +4 Dex
Wolverine(Medium) +3 HD, +4 Str, +4 Dex
Orca Whale(Huge) +9 HD, +16 Str, +4 Dex

Yallix(Small) +1 HD, +0 Str, +4 Dex


Dire Ape(Large) +5 HD, +12 Str, +4 Dex
Dire Bat(Large) +4 HD, +6 Str, +12 Dex
Dire Polar Bear(Huge) +18 HD, +28 Str, +0 Dex
Dire Bear(Large) +12 HD, +20 Str, +2 Dex
Dire Boar(Large) +7 HD, +16 Str, +0 Dex

Dire Hawk(Medium) +5 HD, +2 Str, +12 Dex
Dire Hippo(Huge) +18 HD, +24 Str, -4(?) Dex
Dire Jackal(Large) +4 HD, +10 Str, +4 Dex
Dire Lion(Large) +8 HD, +14 Str, +4 Dex

Dire Opossum(Medium) +3 HD, +2 Str, +6 Dex
Dire Puma(Large) +6 HD, +10 Str, +6 Dex
Dire Snake(Huge) +7 HD, +14 Str, +10 Dex
Dire Shark(Huge) +18 HD, +12 Str, +4 Dex
Dire Squirrel(Small) +2 HD, -2(?) Str, +10 Dex

Dire Tiger(Large) +16 HD, +16 Str, +4 Dex
Dire Weasel(Medium) +3 HD, +4 Str, +8 Dex
Dire Wolf(Large) +6 HD, +14 Str, +4 Dex
Dire Wolverine(Large) +5 HD, +12 Str, +6 Dex
Dire Vulture(Large) +6 HD, +6 Str, +2 Dex

Legendary Ape(Medium) +13 HD, +20 Str, +6 Dex
Legendary Bear(Large) +20 HD, +26 Str, +4 Dex
Legendary Eagle(Small) +12 HD, +4 Str, +20 Dex
Legendary Shark(Huge) +30 HD, +18 Str, +8 Dex
Legendary Snake(Large) +16 HD, +16 Str, +14 Dex
Lgendary Tiger(Large) +26 HD, +22 Str, +8 Dex
Legendary Wolf(Medium) +14 HD, +14 Str, +18 Dex



Battletitan Dinosaur(Huge) +36 HD, +32 Str, +0 Dex
Bloodstriker Dinosaur(Large) +9 HD, +12 Str, +0 Dex
Deinonychus Dinosaur(Medium) +4 HD, +8 Str, +4 Dex
Elasmosaurus Dinosaur(Huge) +10 HD, +16 Str, +4 Dex
Fleshraker Dinosaur(Medium) +4 HD, +6 Str, +8 Dex
Megaraptor Dinosaur(Large) +8 HD, +10 Str, +4 Dex
Mosasaur Dinosaur(Huge) +15 HD, +18 Str, +2 Dex
Tyrannosaurus Dinosaur(Huge) +18 HD, +18 Str, +2 Dex
Cave Tyrannosaurus Dinosaur(Large) +9 HD, +14 Str, +4 Dex



If Lycanthropy can be stacked multiple times, then that can greatly increase a creature's RHD, although you can't really gain the benefit of more than one set of bonuses to STR/DEX.

Half-Dragon (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/halfDragon.htm) is essentially a free +8 Strength. Multiple times if you can stack different kinds of Half-Dragon.

Half-Minotaur and Half-Ogre as templates can increase the size category of smaller creatures and give a boost to Str. +4 Str for either them, potentially more Str for increasing size category by 1 or 2.

The Fetch half-undead template can give -2 Str for +2 Dex, Gheden can give +4 Str for -2 Dex, Ghul gives a Bite attack and +2 Str and +4 Dex, Katane(Half-Vampire) gives +2 Str and +2 Dex

Other Templates:

Woodling adds at least one Slam attack and +7 Natural Armor to a base creature.



If you can dig it up, the Mr. Roboto build included an awful lot of template stacking to make a truly nasty thing to tussle with.

[AlanBruce]

If you are running a homebrew setting, then perhaps using homebrew constructs wouldn't be out of place.

Here are some I used for an old abandoned robot factory, which vary in CR, but make for interesting encounters, depending on the party's make up:

Here's the list. (https://dnd-wiki.org/wiki/3.5e_Monsters/Constructs)

Mind you: they are homebrew and power may vary wildly, but as stated before, you can adjust the creatures to fit the party's ECL.


EDIT: Just read the "no homebrew" clause. I am sure you will find a bunch of approved material that fits your setting in allowed books, though.

[CIDE]

Thanks for the responses. Can't do a thorough response now via phone tho

[Coidzor]

Ahh, here's Mr. Roboto (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=16924439&postcount=17)

[CIDE]

If you are running a homebrew setting, then perhaps using homebrew constructs wouldn't be out of place.

Here are some I used for an old abandoned robot factory, which vary in CR, but make for interesting encounters, depending on the party's make up:

Here's the list. (https://dnd-wiki.org/wiki/3.5e_Monsters/Constructs)

Mind you: they are homebrew and power may vary wildly, but as stated before, you can adjust the creatures to fit the party's ECL.


EDIT: Just read the "no homebrew" clause. I am sure you will find a bunch of approved material that fits your setting in allowed books, though.

Thanks anyway. I still look at homebrew but it mainly comes down to my own personal rules about what I allow. Short of deity stuff, artifacts, and other bits like that anything I include is something my PC's can include. When I start throwing homebrew in they're going to start throwing homebrew in and I almost universally hate homebrew and looking at it in that capacity.


Ahh, here's Mr. Roboto (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=16924439&postcount=17)


Wow... I personally don't think that particular monstrosity can exist but damn.

[Coidzor]

Wow... I personally don't think that particular monstrosity can exist but damn.

Indeed. I'm still a little surprised that it didn't incorporate more template stacking, though.

[unseenmage]

In my sig there's a link to a thread about the best feats ANY creature can benefit from (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=319962). I specifically made it for improving Constructs, who ofttimes suffer from not being able to meet the vast majority of prerequisites.



As for strong base forms for Effigy-fication, the Monstrous Compendium: Monsters of Faerun splat has a lot of creatures whose Ex abilities, HD, and physical stats are strong for their CR, even after the 3.5 update booklet is applied.



Additionally, if one is using the 'Constructs are Magic Items' rules interpretation then Magic Items could be added to the Constructs using the same process for combining any Magic Items found in the MIC. This can lead to wierdness so do use with caution.
The 'Feats in Magic Items' sidebar in Arms and Equipment is especially useful here. For the price if 10,000 gp plus 5,000 gp per prerequisite one can potentially give their Construct any feats they like.



Another trick of note is using the Greater Humanoid Essence spell (from Races of Eberron) on the Constructs, making them Humanoids for the duration and conveying all the weaknesses to mind-affecting etc that such entails.
Arguably they also count as living things for the duration so Vampirism, Lycanthropy, or even Ghoul fever could theoretically afflict them as well, though this might require a longer duration version of the spell.
It is also important to note that mind-affecting spells will likely still affect the Construct after the Greater Humanoid Essence spell wears off because if simply changing creature type was enough to negate a spell's effect then the GHE spell itself would cease functioning as soon as it took effect and changed the creature's type.



Two other spells of note, Minor Servitor from Savage Species, and Awaken Sand from Sandstorm. Both make free-willed, sentient Constructs.

The first is a better version of Animate Objects that is technically 3.0 and technically superceded by Awaken Construct in Spell Compendium but I like using it anyway. Used on a crafted-but-unenchanted Effigy body the effect is similar but Dispel-able and susceptible to Antimagic Field.

Awaken Sand on the other hand makes real un-Dispel-able Constructs. They are ooze-like but we can fix that. Used on Shapesand, a psychoactive alxhemical sand from the same book, we get a Construct that can shape itself into any mundane item, even an unanimated Effigy body. It does so veeeery slowly, and only in small portions at a time, but it can technically shape itself.


I hope you find some of this useful. Humanoid Effigies are one of my favorite little fun bits of minionmancy. Making magic robot replicas of the players is also always good for a laugh.