Golem Builder (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

Not all summoners actually summon their eidolons - some build their servants out of clay. Called galem to distinguish them form the classical golem, this construct shares many of the golem's characteristics.

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.

Galem

A golem builder begins play with a powerful construct called a galem and has the ability to build new galems. The golem builder forms a link with his galem, and can only maintain such a link to one galem at a time. If a golem builder builds a new galem, any link to a previous galem is lost and that galem is destroyed. A galem 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 galem share with eidolons overrides these immunities, making many buffs that would not affect constructs possible for the creator to use on his galem.

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 galem 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 galem 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 galem in a ritual that takes a full day to perform. Such a new galem is identical in all ways to the previous galem. Only when advancing in level can a golem builder create a new galem that differs from the old one, reconstructing it from the ground up using the normal rules. A galem 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 galem’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 galem receives a pool of evolution points, based on the golem builder’s class level, that can be used to give the galem 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 galem’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 galem also bears a glowing rune that is identical to a rune that appears on the golem builder’s forehead as long as the galem 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 galem, it works just like an eidolon. All abilities of a normal summoner that are tied to an eidolon are tied to the galem 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 keep one summon power at a time running this way. If a new creature is summoned by this ability, any previous ones are immediately dismissed.

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

Galem Possession (Su)

Starting at 2nd level, as an at-will standard action, a golem builder can share the senses of his galem, hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, and touching everything the galem does. He can also make the galem use his own skill ranks and class skill bonuses, modified by the galem’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 limitation to this effect, but the galem 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)
• Insect swarms – 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 snow or ice) - Craft (sculptor)
• Wood - Craft (carpentry)