Best Constructs creatable by level

[Quertus]

So, what are the best constructs for an xth level character to make? What constructs are worth the WBL?

Or, what if it has to be the *same* character making them? Is there a good progression of "be this class, make these constructs"?

[MaxiDuRaritry]

Lessee, here...

Optimized astral constructs, at all levels after 3, or if you can boost your ML above 1 or 2 at the earliest levels (due to duration issues).

They're free to make, and at a usefulness-to-gp/xp ratio, said ratio's value approaches infinity as the gp/xp costs approach 0.

Alternatively, psicrystal, for the same reasons, but at all levels. Of course, nothing says you can't have both...

[Kayblis]

As mentioned, psionic classes have access to Astral Construct, easily the best Construct you can make as a player without shenanigans. The Constructor PrC makes them much better too, from extra choices to special transport modes to summoning many at once.

Now, if you want actual permanent constructs, and aren't willing to take a Psicrystal, you could ask for your DM to allow the 3.0 spell Minor Servitor, either as a scroll or a low-charges staff. Turning it into an item makes the XP cost become a GP cost, and it's not really that steep.

For constructs that specifically can be made with the Craft Construct feat, none of the base construct ones come close to being worth the cost. You'd actively be making yourself weaker by crafting them. You could instead make Effigy versions of creatures, which are definitely better and don't force you to suck to have minions.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

Warforged is likewise insanely useful, although that's a race more than anything; however, it's entirely within the realm of a polymorph any object when cast on another construct. Animated objects are, also, although that depends on what they are, exactly. Add permanency to them and have them under your control, and an animated house, boat (or houseboat), or land vehicle can be quite handy.

I'd say the only crafted construct (via Craft Construct) that's worthwhile is the dedicated wright, from Eberron. Cheap and insanely useful for crafting (but not for fighting). Beyond that? No, don't bother. Far too expensive for how easily they're downed.

[Telonius]

There should probably be an Artificer Exception here; if it's a choice between a Dedicated Wright and anything else you could create at that level, Dedicated Wright probably comes out ahead. The class's whole deal is making magic items, and the Wright lets you do that constantly.

[Quertus]

OK, Psion lets you make free short-term constructs, and Artificer… lets you cast a spell to count as charges of your Staff of Minor Servitor, and get the most out of a Dedicated Wright? Any way to usefully "gestalt" them (outside the "gestalt" rules)?

Which class is best at making permanent Animated Objects? Can they do any of these other useful tricks?

Other than Animated Objects, the only thing I've paid to use in combat is an Effigy. Sad to hear that that's about it that's actually worth crafting. Thoughts on whether it's worth it to go Effigy Master?

[Thurbane]

Has anyone created a list of the constructs from the various 3.X monster books that list creation reqs (level and cost)? That would be interesting.

The 3.0 sources format for creation is a bit wonky...



Monster
Source
CL req
Cost
CR
HD


Clay Golem
MM1
11th
21,500gp
10
11


Flesh Golem
MM1
8th
10,500gp
7
9


Iron Golem
MM1
16th
80,000gp
13
18


Stone Golem
MM1
14th
50,000gp
11
14


Stone Golem, Greater
MM1
14th
105,000gp
16
42


Homunculus
MM1
4th
1,050gp
1
2


Shield Guardian
MM1
15th
65,000gp
8
15


Stained Glass Golem
MM2
16th
10,000gp
5
12


Brass Golem
MM2
16th
200,000gp
10
16


Dragonflesh Golem
MM2
16th
200,000gp
13
30


Juggernaut
MM2
18th
70,000gp
11
18


Nimblewright
MM2
18th
35,000gp
7
10


Runic Guardian
MM2
16th
200,000gp
17
10


Alchemical Golem
MM3
14th
36.000gp
11
22


Gloom Golem
MM3
11th
25,000gp
7
8


Hangman Golem
MM3
16th
72,625gp
13
18


Mud Golem
MM3
14th
33,000gp
11
15


Prismatic Golem
MM3
17th
150,000gp
18
20


Shadesteel Golem
MM3
17th
130,000gp
11
18


Web Golem
MM3
14th
65,000gp
7
11


Grisgol
MM3
19th
110,000gp
15
19


Shredstorm
MM3
13th
50,000gp
8
14


Slaughterstone Behemoth
MM3
18th
90,000gp
15
29


Slaughterstone Eviscerator
MM3
16th
67,500gp
12
15


Topiary Guardian, Medium
MM3
13th
10,800gp
3
5


Topiary Guardian, Large
MM3
13th
32,400gp
7
10


Topiary Guardian, Huge
MM3
13th
62,100gp
13
20

[Particle_Man]

I guess the Leadership feat could eventually get you a construct if you force feed (ten times!) your cohort 1000 gp of that powdered green rock that makes a Green Star Adept.

Heck of a silly thing to do to a perfectly good cohort, mind you. :smallsmile:

[MaxiDuRaritry]

The thrallherd's thrallherd ability isn't [mind-affecting] and would allow you to get constructs as thralls, technically.

Warforged, if nothing else.

[DeAnno]

Of Thurbane's list the Greater Stone Golem seems most interesting. It costs [105,000 gp + 7,640 XP] and is technically CR 16, buildable at Level 14. Granted, you dump half a level of XP into it and the CR is a little fake, but it's not a bad beatstick. That Free action DC 31 Slow 1/2 rounds is no joke either. Shame about the speed and range though. Immunity to magic can be awkward, but if you use Stone to Flesh first (presumably outside combat) you can actually give it a buff.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

Could you substitute riverine for the normal building materials for a golem? Because that would make most golems a LOT more durable.

[icefractal]

If you include Pathfinder, then Trompe L'oeils (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/templates/trompe-l-oeil-cr-1/) are basically Ice Assassin but cheaper, you can store them on a card, no special limits on healing, and in fact they come back to "life" like a Lich. They also don't have the annoying "might go off and try to kill the original if it gets farther than a mile from you" factor.

Not a construct, but a thing that can be created by magic and is under the control of its creator - an Embodiment of Magic (http://spheresofpower.wikidot.com/sphere-templates#toc4) from Spheres of Power has HD equal to the CL of the effect that creates it, with no cap. And is a full sphere-caster if you have a way to assign its feats (such as Temporal Reversion). Incidentally, it's also an incorporeal creature with a land speed instead of a fly speed - not sure how that part works.

These both fit into "Actually too awesome to use full-out, as you quickly enter the NI realm" territory.

[Venger]

Of Thurbane's list the Greater Stone Golem seems most interesting. It costs [105,000 gp + 7,640 XP] and is technically CR 16, buildable at Level 14. Granted, you dump half a level of XP into it and the CR is a little fake, but it's not a bad beatstick. That Free action DC 31 Slow 1/2 rounds is no joke either. Shame about the speed and range though. Immunity to magic can be awkward, but if you use Stone to Flesh first (presumably outside combat) you can actually give it a buff.

Having no ranged attacks and being unable to fly alongside being mindless kind of sucks, and will present significant hardships if you expect him to fight stuff you're worried about at level 14. You could always give him items, bearing his magic immunity in mind to mitigate the first two, and awaken construct is probably not worth it due to the xp cost, which means anyone who can hit a 21 hide/ms can just walk right by him.

[unseenmage]

Runic Guardian from MM2 can have customized SLAs in it.
Putting Shield Guardian on any Golem.makes it 100% better because it gets a SLA.
The Spellsong Nightingale from the WotC archives actually casts its SLAs.

As mentioned Effigy creatures can be good. But its basically the Construct equivalent of the Skeleton template as they lose almost all their superpowers.
Look at it's eldritch cousin the Elder Eidolon.
Also apply either to creatures from the Monsters of Faerun splatbook and/or That Damn Crab as they all.have CRs that are notoriously low for their physical stats and attacks.

The Create Crawling Claw spell is nice. Esp as it never specifies that the severed hands had to come from a creature. Sculpt a hand tree and sever those instead.
Some weirdness with Lost Empires of Faerun now makes the spell create swarms per CL. Milage may vary.

Minor Servitor os great, but it makes friends, not minions. Similarly Awaken Sand is amazing when combined with odd materials. See the Dust Is Lazy thread linked in my extended sig for details.

Intelligent Magic Items are explicitly Constructs. That they can use any superpowers they have is great when using the MIC combjning magic items rules.

All Constructs can benefit from creative templating using the Greater Humanoid Essence spell to turn them into humanoids. Vampire, Lycanthrope, Mineralize Warrior. Stack all the templates.

Simulacrum is the best brute force method to creating discount Constructs though. Not that you'll ever be allowed to play with it.

The Sacred Guadian template from Bestiary of Krynn is THE BEST intelligence granting effect for Constructs. Good luck getting it okay-ed.

Animated Objects, and by extension Minor Servitors, are best when combined with already awesome materials. Riverine is usually a no-go but Thinaun Steel traps the soul of the first creature it kills. Shapesand can be reshaped into just about anything. Quintessence could envelope a foe, theoretically. Put Hardening, psionic hardening, that hardness increasing spell from The Stronghold Builder's Guide all on a lump of Obdurium and Animate it.

Plants count as objects for the purposes of spells. Slimes and molds count as plants for spells too. Animated Object Green Slime. Nuff said.

I'll post more if I remember some.

Immediate Edit.
I remembered more.

In 3.x a Construct like a Brass Golem or Cayatid that is built with a melee weapon as part of its body can be a neat hack. That melee weapon can be enhanced and enchanted as you're building the Construct. Adding enhancement bonuses is neat but why not make it an Intelligent Magic Item or an Item Familiar or add a Figurine of Wondrous Power to it via Item Combining rules?
Protip, the Dedicated Wright has a built in hammer. Enhance that to the utmost and watch the little guy be a badass.

The 3.0 version of the Flying weapon enhancement let's the weapon turn into a flying Animated Object. Put that on your Brass Golem's ax. Then hit it with Greater Humanoid Essence because why not.

One last bit. Constructs are technically magic items. Golems and Intelligent Magic Items explicitly so. But all Constructs are by virtue of Craft Construct being an Item Creation Feat. Ask your GM if this interpretation works. Then start adding Magic Item superpowers to your Constructs via the Magic Item Combining rules. Expect books to be thrown when pushing this to its limits. PS, it doesnt really have any limits.

Enjoy.

EDIT again
IIRC there's nothing stopping Animate Dead from affecting a destroyed Construct. Especially if that Construct was made from a corpse.
Have a corpse.Cast Aninate Objects. Kill the Animate object corpse. Cast Animate Dead. viola.
Not sure if useful. But definitely amusing.
Maybe Minor Servitor+ some Animate Dead like shenanigan so the mind of your Servitor friend can be in an undead? I dunno.