arkanis
2008-07-29, 03:33 AM
Creatures lacking Constitution scores can get annoying. The change in HD and bonus hit points really cause a flux in the balance of HP. At certain levels a Construct may be more useful than at higher levels where the standard cleric would likely have more HP than a construct of equal HD and the same goes for undead. Especially when creatures with high con and HD become undead (and actually LOSE HP despite losing the vulnerabilities of mortals).
I thought up several possible solutions and was wondering which one seems best balanced:
Bonus HP
Undead HD and HP changes to work just like Constructs with bonus HP and all.
Mind over Matter (in Matters of Magic)
Constructs use their Intelligence modifier instead of Constitution.
Undead use their Charisma modifier instead of Constitution.
Strength
Constructs and Undead gain hit points based on their Strength modifier instead of Constitution. All creatures that become undead add the Constitution modifier they had in life as a bonus to their Strength as they become empowered by necrotic energies. All Constructs gain an extra +4 bonus to Strength.
Keep the Con
Constructs and Undead can just keep their Constitution scores rather than using higher HD or bonus hit points.
They still have all their immunities and cannot heal naturally, but Constitution provides them with bonus hit points and a greater resistance to effects which also target objects.
Just as a machine can have stronger more resistant wiring, plating, or more resilience software, so can a construct have a Constitution score. It's just a robotic or magical metabolism rather than an organic one.
Undead too have a metabolism, although its almost all purely magical in nature. Anyone ever looked at the Libris Mortis?
*I think this one is the best of the ideas.
I thought up several possible solutions and was wondering which one seems best balanced:
Bonus HP
Undead HD and HP changes to work just like Constructs with bonus HP and all.
Mind over Matter (in Matters of Magic)
Constructs use their Intelligence modifier instead of Constitution.
Undead use their Charisma modifier instead of Constitution.
Strength
Constructs and Undead gain hit points based on their Strength modifier instead of Constitution. All creatures that become undead add the Constitution modifier they had in life as a bonus to their Strength as they become empowered by necrotic energies. All Constructs gain an extra +4 bonus to Strength.
Keep the Con
Constructs and Undead can just keep their Constitution scores rather than using higher HD or bonus hit points.
They still have all their immunities and cannot heal naturally, but Constitution provides them with bonus hit points and a greater resistance to effects which also target objects.
Just as a machine can have stronger more resistant wiring, plating, or more resilience software, so can a construct have a Constitution score. It's just a robotic or magical metabolism rather than an organic one.
Undead too have a metabolism, although its almost all purely magical in nature. Anyone ever looked at the Libris Mortis?
*I think this one is the best of the ideas.