<< Kismet's Custom Construct Creation Rules, Page 1 >>
"Fireforger's Puzzleknot" by Zezhou (resized) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
Introduction
Contained herein is a method for creating custom-made constructs. Dungeon Masters and players alike can benefit from this process, as it outlines how constructs of all sorts may be created and, in the case of player characters, bought and sold. At all times, however, the DM is the arbiter of what kinds of constructs can be made in their games, especially when it comes to constructs the players want to own. The Custom Construct Record Sheet can help keep track of the important details and should be acquired before creation begins.
The Basics
All constructs share particular traits, and the constructs created through this method are no exception.
Construct Traits
Constructs have no Constitution score. Constructs do have low-light vision, darkvision up to 60 feet, immunity to all mind-affecting effects, immunity to poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, disease, death effects and necromancy effects and immunity to any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless it works on objects or is harmless). They cannot heal on their own (unless they have fast healing) but can be repaired. They are not subject to critical hits, nonlethal damage, ability damage, ability drain, fatigue, exhaustion, or energy drain and they are not at risk from massive damage. They are immediately destroyed when reduced to 0 hit points or less, and cannot be raised or resurrected. They are proficient with natural weapons only, unless generally humanoid in form, in which case they are proficient with any weapon they are made with. They are proficient with no armor. Constructs do not sleep, eat, or breathe.
This process is designed for constructs ranging in size from Diminutive to Large and no greater; most constructs fall within these sizes.
Step 1: Choose Size
The first step in making a construct through this method is choosing what size it is going to be. Tables 1-3 below outline the bonuses and weaknesses of each size category. The bonuses and weaknesses that are due to size occur automatically; they do not have to be paid for, but they also cannot be avoided. For example: a Diminutive construct will get a +4 attack modifier for free, but it will also suffer a –12 on grapple checks.
Size will dictate several other important things. The size of a construct determines its minimum and maximum hit dice, any bonus hit points it is due, and its base statistics.
Table 1 – Bonuses, Negatives, and Dimension |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Size Category |
AC/Atk Mod |
Grapple Mod |
Hide Mod |
Min HD |
Max HD |
Bonus HP |
Dimension* |
Diminutive |
+4 |
-12 |
+12 |
-- |
4 |
-- |
6 in - 1 ft |
Tiny |
+2 |
-8 |
+8 |
-- |
6 |
-- |
1 ft - 2 ft |
Small |
+1 |
-4 |
+4 |
1/2 |
-- |
10 |
2 ft - 4 ft |
Medium |
+0 |
+0 |
+0 |
1 |
-- |
20 |
4 ft - 8 ft |
Large |
-1 |
+4 |
-4 |
2 |
-- |
30 |
8 ft - 16 ft |
* Biped's height, quadruped's body length
Table 2 – Weight, Space, & Reach |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Size Category |
Weight** |
Carrying Capacity |
Space |
Reach (tall) |
Reach (long) |
Diminutive |
1/8 lb - 1 lb |
1/4 Med |
1 ft |
0 ft |
-- |
Tiny |
1 - 8 lb |
1/2 Med |
2 1/2 ft |
0 ft |
-- |
Small |
8 - 60 |
3/4 Med |
5 ft |
5 ft |
-- |
Medium |
60 - 500 lb |
-- |
5 ft |
5 ft |
5 ft |
Large |
500 - 4,000 lb |
2x Med |
10 ft |
10 ft |
5 ft |
** Assumes the creature is as dense as a regular animal. May weigh considerably more or less.
Table 3 - Base Statistics |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Size Category |
Str |
Dex |
Con |
Int |
Wis |
Cha |
Diminutive |
1 |
18 |
-- |
-- |
10 |
6 |
Tiny |
3 |
16 |
-- |
-- |
10 |
6 |
Small |
7 |
14 |
-- |
-- |
10 |
6 |
Medium |
11 |
12 |
-- |
-- |
10 |
6 |
Large |
21 |
10 |
-- |
-- |
10 |
6 |
Step 2: Choose Material
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: Hardness, Cost, and Weight Modifiers |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Material |
Hardness |
Cost |
Weight Modifier* |
Adamantine |
20 |
500 gp / 1 lb |
x 3 |
Bone (animal) |
3 |
1 sp / 1 lb |
x 0.7 |
Bone (humanoid) |
3 |
6 gp / 1 lb |
x 0.7 |
Brass |
4 |
1.5 gp / 1 lb |
x 2 |
Bronze |
4 |
3 gp / 1 lb |
x 2 |
Chitine |
4 |
10 gp / 1 lb |
x 0.7 |
Clay (enchanted) |
-- |
1.5 gp / 1 lb |
-- |
Copper |
4 |
5 sp / 1 lb |
x 2 |
Crystal |
12 |
3,000 / 1 lb |
x 4 |
Darkwood |
5 |
10 gp / 1 lb |
x 0.5 |
Flesh (animal) |
-- |
6 sp / 1 lb |
-- |
Flesh (humanoid) |
-- |
6 gp / 1 lb |
-- |
Glass |
1 |
2 gp / 1 lb |
-- |
Gold |
4 |
50 gp / 1 lb |
x 2 |
Iron |
10 |
1 sp / 1 lb |
x 5 |
Lead |
4 |
2 cp / 1 lb |
x 4 |
Marble |
8 |
20 gp / 1 lb |
x 4 |
Mithral |
15 |
250 gp / 1 lb |
x 2 |
Mud (enchanted) |
-- |
1 gp / 1 lb |
-- |
Obsidian |
9 |
50 gp / 1 lb |
-- |
Onyx |
8 |
5 gp / 1 lb |
-- |
Pewter |
6 |
1 gp / 1 lb |
x 2 |
Platinum |
4 |
500 gp / 1 lb |
x 2 |
Silver |
4 |
5 gp / 1 lb |
x 2 |
Steel |
12 |
1 gp / 1 lb |
x 3 |
Stone |
8 |
2 gp / 1 lb |
x 4 |
Wood |
5 |
1 cp / 1 lb |
-- |
* 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 2 Revisited – Weight Ranges for Each Size Category |
|
|---|---|
|
Size Category |
Weight** |
Diminutive |
1/8 lb - 1 lb |
Tiny |
1 - 8 lb |
Small |
8 - 60 lbs |
Medium |
60 - 500 lbs |
Large |
500 - 4,000 lbs |
** Assumes the creature is as dense as a regular animal. Constructs of denser materials will weigh more.
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