Golem Builder (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

Not all summoners actually summon their eidolons - some build their servants out of clay.

Class Features

The following are the class features of the golem builder.

Class Skills

The golem builder’s class skills are Appraise (Int), Craft (Int), Disable Device (Dex), Fly (Dex), Handle Animal (Cha), Knowledge (all) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), and Use Magic Device (Cha).

Skill Ranks per Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Golem Servant

A golem builder begins play with a powerful construct called a golem servant and has the ability to build new golem servants. The golem builder forms a link with his golem servant, and can only maintain such a link to one golem servant at a time. If a golem builder builds a new golem, any link to a previous golem servant is lost and that golem servant is destroyed. A golem servant has the same alignment as the golem builder that created it and knows all languages its creator knows. Unlike an eidolon, it has no range restrictions, and can be any distance away from its creator without suffering any ill effects.

As a construct, it is immune to all ability damage, ability drain, bleed, disease, energy drain, exhaustion, fatigue, massive damage, mind-affecting, necromancy, nonlethal damage, paralysis, poison, sleep, and stun effects. It does not need to eat, breathe, or sleep. It is not a living creature and is unaffected by effects that heals or harms living creatures. Finally it has immunity to any effect that requires a Fortitude save unless the effect also works on objects, or is harmless. Note that the share spells ability servant golems share with eidolons overrides these immunities, making many buffs that would not affect constructs possible for the creator to use on his golem servant.

It has 2 skill points per level + its Intelligence modifier, which usually means it has only a single skill point per level unless its Intelligence is 10 or higher. It lacks class skills.

It does not possess any Constitution score and gains bonus hit points based on size; Small 10, Medium 20, Large 30, and Huge 40 hit points. A golem servant does not heal naturally. It can be repaired using Craft (sculptor); each hour of work repairs a number of hit points equal to the result of a skill check. This is possible even if the golem servant has been destroyed. As it does not accumulate negative hit points, such repair is always started form zero hit points as long as most of the servant golem's body is recovered.

Like a normal eidolon, it has darkvision but not low-light vision.

A golem builder can create a new golem servant in a ritual that takes a full day to perform. Such a new golem is identical in all ways to the previous golem servant. Only when advancing in level can a golem builder create a new golem that differs from the old one, reconstructing it from the ground up using the normal rules. A golem servant is made out of clay and other base materials that have no monetary cost. It takes a form shaped by the golem builder’s desires. The golem servant’s Hit Dice, saving throws, skills, feats, and abilities are tied to the golem builder’s class level and increase as the golem builder gains levels. In addition, each golem servant receives a pool of evolution points, based on the golem builder’s class level, that can be used to give the golem servant different abilities and powers. Whenever the golem builder gains a level, he must decide how these points are spent, and they are set until he gains another level of golem builder.

The golem servant’s physical appearance is up to the golem builder, but it always appears as some sort of clay statue. It can be painted to look lifelike, but disguising it as a person takes the usual penalties based on disguise as a creature type other than your own. The golem servant also bears a glowing rune that is identical to a rune that appears on the golem builder’s forehead as long as the golem servant is active. While this rune can be hidden through mundane means, it cannot be concealed through magic that changes appearance, such as alter self or polymorph (although invisibility does conceal it as long as the spell lasts).

For the abilities, evolutions, and other specifications of the golem servant, it works just like an eidolon. All abilities of a normal summoner that are tied to an eidolon are tied to the golem servant for a golem builder.

This modifies the normal summoner’s eidolon ability.

Summon Monster

The golem builder can use the summon monster ability simultaneously with controlling his golem, but can only summon one set of monsters at a time using this ability.

This modifies the summon monster I - IX abilities and the Gate ability.

Golem Servant Possession (Su)

Starting at 2nd level, as an at-will standard action, a golem builder can share the senses of his golem servant, hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, and touching everything the golem servant does. He can also make the golem servant use his own skill ranks and class skill bonuses, modified by the golem servant’s ability scores, racial, and size modifiers rather than his own. He can use this ability at will, but doing so requires a standard action each round. There is no range to this effect, but the golem servant and the golem builder must be on the same plane.

This replaces the share senses ability normally gained at level 2.

Spell List Changes

Remove these spells from the golem builder’s spell list:

Summon Eidolon

Summary of Changed Class Abilities

• Class Skills
• Eidolon
• Spell List
• Summon Monster I - IX
• Bond Senses
• Gate

Variant Golem Builders

There are golem builders that build their constructs of materials other than clay. These use other craft skills to repair their golem, and often will have a harder time finding material for their constructs. They otherwise function as standard golem builders. Here are some examples:

• Body parts - Heal
• Clockwork - Craft (mechanic)
• Insects – Handle Animal
• Iron - Craft (blacksmith)
• Living Animals – Handle Animal
• Living plants – Profession (gardener)
• Precious metals - Craft (silversmith)
• Stone - Craft (mason)
• Tin - Craft (whitesmith)
• Water (or ice) - Craft (sculptor)
• Wood - Craft (carpentry)