KISMET'S CUSTOM CONSTRUCT CREATION RULES

Construct Creation Rules: 1 - >> 2 << - 3 - 4 - 5

STEP 2: CHOOSE MATERIAL

"Now see the wide variety of fine things that can be brought to life! Your new friend could be made of marble or even solid gold!"

      The second step involves choosing which material the construct will be made out of. Some materials have an innate hardness rating that will benefit the construct. At the same time, some materials are very compact, so that a small construct made of iron will weigh five times as much as a small construct made out of flesh – and this extra weight affects the total price.

SINGLE-MATERIAL CONSTRUCTION

      It is possible to make a construct entirely out of one material. First, decide which size the construct should be. Then look up how much a construct of that size normally weighs in Table 5. This will be given as a weight range; Tiny constructs normally weigh 1 – 8 lbs., for instance. Next, look at Table 4 and choose a material to make the construct out of. If the material has a weight modifier, then constructs made from that material naturally weigh more (or less) than normal. Multiply the weight modifier into the weight range that was found in Table 5. This will give a new weight range for the construct. In order to make a construct of the desired size enough material has to be purchased so that it falls within the new weight range.

      Example: Tiny constructs normally weigh 1-8 pounds when they are made out of common materials like clay or wood. When made out of stone, Tiny constructs weigh four times more than normal (stone has a weight modifier of x4). A Tiny stone construct will weigh anywhere from 4 to 32 pounds. At least 4 pounds of stone has to be purchased to make a Tiny stone construct at all, but it can weigh as much as 32 pounds. 4 pounds of stone for construction will cost 8 gold pieces, while 32 pounds of stone will cost 64 gold pieces.

      Making a construct out of wood would be much cheaper, since wood has no weight modifier and is priced at a lower rate. A Tiny wooden construct would cost 1 cp – 8 cp to make. Wood only has a hardness of 5, however, and is fairly vulnerable to fire, whereas stone has a hardness of 8 and resists fire more effectively.

Table 4 – Materials with Hardness, Cost, and Weight Modifiers

* The modifier in this column should be multiplied into the standard weight for a construct of the chosen size. This is how many pounds will have to be purchased to create a construct of that size.

Table 5 – Weight Ranges for Each Size Category

** Assumes creature is as dense as a regular animal. Constructs of denser materials will weigh more.

MULTIPLE-MATERIAL CONSTRUCTION OR "LAYERING"

      A construct can be made with a core of one material, but an outer layer of another. While this will not be apparent under normal circumstances, if the construct is significantly damaged the inner layer will show through. Layering is done thusly:

One-half distribution: A construct can be made using two different materials in equal proportions.

* Weight modifier: Add the weight modifiers of both materials and divide by half (rounding up), then apply this number to find the correct weight range.
* Price: Divide the weight of the construct in half. Half of the price will cost the rate of the first material, and the other half of the price will cost the rate for the second material.
* Hardness: Hardness ratings are also added together and divided by half (this time rounding down) to determine the total hardness.

Example: A Small construct made of marble and silver has a total weight modifier of 4+2=6, divided by 2=3. Thus, a minimum of 24 pounds will be needed to make a Small construct with these materials. 12 pounds will be marble and will cost 240 gold pieces. 12 pounds will be silver and will cost 60 gold pieces; the materials will cost 300 gold pieces total.

Three-fourths distribution: A construct can also be made so that most of it is made of one material, while only one layer is made of another substance. This is often done so that the construct is pleasing to the eyes, with a brilliant surface layer over a cheaper, coarser core of material.

* Weight modifier: Choose which material is going to make up the bulk of the construct. The weight modifier for the bulk material is multiplied by 3/4. The weight modifier for the fine layer of material is multiplied by 1/4. Both results should be rounded up and then added together for the total weight modifier.
* Price: Apply the adjusted weight modifier to determine how much material must be purchased to make a construct of the desired size. The bulk material will make up 3/4 of the weight, rounded up, and the price should be decided accordingly. The fine layer material will make up 1/4 of the weight, also rounded up. Add the two prices together for the total price.
* Hardness: The hardness rating of the bulk material is multiplied by 3/4, rounded down. The hardness of the fine layer material is multiplied by 1/4, also rounded down. Add the results together for the total hardness rating.

Example: A Small construct with a bulk layer of mud and a fine layer of marble has a total weight modifier of 0+1=1 (mud has no weight modifier, and marble’s x4 is multiplied by 1/4). The marble layer is not thick enough to make the construct noticeably heavier. For an 8 pound construct layered in this way, 6 pounds will be mud and 2 pounds will be marble, costing 6 gold pieces and 40 gold pieces, respectively. The total price is 46 gold pieces. Mud has no hardness rating, and the marble layer is too thin to warrant its full hardness rating of 8. This is multiplied by 1/4, for a total hardness rating of 2.

HOLLOW CONSTRUCTION

      Any sort of construct can be created with a hollow section, regardless of size or layering. A hollow space is necessary in order to purchase the swallow whole ability found in Step 10. Only a “stomach” area in the torso of a construct can be hollowed out; limbs are not left hollow because of concerns about effectiveness and stability. A hollow tube can be created so that the construct can swallow targets into the belly area, or a “door” leading into the hollowed space can be created, but it will need to have a lock affixed to the outside to keep it shut. It is important to note that there is no naturally occurring acid in a construct’s “belly.” Acid can be placed inside a construct but it will eat through the construct’s materials unless the material of the “stomach” is strong enough to resist the effects. The material of the “stomach” must have a hardness rating that is greater than the acid’s direct damage.

      A hollow stomach reduces the total material cost and weight by 10%. It also reduces the construct’s overall hardness rating by 10% (round up, minimum of 1).

      Each hollow construct can hold a number of creatures in its “belly,” depending on the construct’s size. See Table 6 below.

Table 6 – Number of Creatures That Will Fit Inside a Hollow Construct

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