Golem Builder (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

Not all summoners 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 Information

This is a summoner archetype.

Hit Die: d8.

Class Features

The following are the class features of the galem builder.

Class Skills

The galem 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

Instead of summoning an eidolon, a galem builder begins play with a powerful construct called a galem and has the ability to build new galems. The galem builder forms a link with his galem, and can only maintain such a link to one galem at a time. If a galem 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 galem 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. The share spells ability overrides these immunities, making many heal and buff spells that would not affect constructs possible for the creator to use on his galem.

Unlike most constructs, a galem is not mindless and has no special resistance to mind-affecting effects. 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.

Also unlike a normal construct, a galem does have a Constitution score reflecting how well it is built and designed. It does not gain bonus hit points based on it size category. 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 galem's body is recovered.

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

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

The galem’s physical appearance is up to the galem 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 galem 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 galem builder.

This is a modification to the eidolon ability.

Summon Monster

The galem builder can use the summon monster ability simultaneously with controlling his galem, 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 galem 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 galem builder must be on the same plane.

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

No Summon Eidolon

Remove the summon eidolon spell from the galem builder’s spell list.

Table: Galem Builder

Class Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Spells per Day
						1	2	3	4	5	6
1st	+0	+0	+0	+2	Cantrips, galen, life link, summon monster I	1	—	—	—	—	—
2nd	+1	+0	+0	+3	Galem possession	2	—	—	—	—	—
3rd	+2	+1	+1	+3	Summon monster II	3	—	—	—	—	—
4th	+3	+1	+1	+4	Shield ally	3	1	—	—	—	—
5th	+3	+1	+1	+4	Summon monster III	4	2	—	—	—	—
6th	+4	+2	+2	+5	Maker’s call	4	3	—	—	—	—
7th	+5	+2	+2	+5	Summon monster IV	4	3	1	—	—	—
8th	+6/+1	+2	+2	+6	Transposition	4	4	2	—	—	—
9th	+6/+1	+3	+3	+6	Summon monster V	5	4	3	—	—	—
10th	+7/+2	+3	+3	+7	Aspect	5	4	3	1	—	—
11th	+8/+3	+3	+3	+7	Summon monster VI	5	4	4	2	—	—
12th	+9/+4	+4	+4	+8	Greater shield ally	5	5	4	3	—	—
13th	+9/+4	+4	+4	+8	Summon monster VII	5	5	4	3	1	—
14th	+10/+5	+4	+4	+9	Life bond	5	5	4	4	2	—
15th	+11/+6/+1	+5	+5	+9	Summon monster VIII	5	5	5	4	3	—
16th	+12/+7/+2	+5	+5	+10	Merge forms	5	5	5	4	3	1
17th	+12/+7/+2	+5	+5	+10	Summon monster IX	5	5	5	4	4	2
18th	+13/+8/+3	+6	+6	+11	Greater aspect	5	5	5	5	4	3
19th	+14/+9/+4	+6	+6	+11	Gate	5	5	5	5	5	4
20th	+15/+10/+5	+6	+6	+12	Twin eidolon	5	5	5	5	5	5

Appendix I: Galem Evolutions

A galem has access to the following additional evolutions.

Galem Curse (Su)

4 point evolution

The galem gains the clay golem's berserk and cursed wounds abilities:

Berserk (Ex) When a clay golem enters combat, there is a cumulative 1% chance each round that its elemental spirit breaks free and the golem goes berserk. This chance resets to 0% after one minute of inactivity. A berserk golem attacks the nearest living creature or smashes some object smaller than itself if no creature is within reach. Once it goes berserk, no known method can reestablish control.

Cursed Wound (Ex) The damage a clay golem deals doesn't heal naturally and resists magical healing. A character attempting to use magical healing on a creature damaged by a clay golem must succeed on a DC 26 caster level check, or the healing has no effect on the injured creature.

Galem Damage Reduction

An galem’s body becomes resistant to harm, granting it damage reduction.

Benefit: The galem gains DR 5/Admantite or bludgeoning. The galem maker must be at least 9th level before selecting this evolution. At 12th level, this protection can be increased to DR 10 by spending 2 additional evolution points.

Galem Magic (Ex)

4 point evolution

The galem gains the clay golem's haste ability:

Haste (Su) After it has engaged in at least 1 round of combat, a clay golem can haste itself once per day as a free action. The effect lasts 3 rounds and is otherwise the same as the spell.

If the galem spends 8 points on this ability, the power can be used at will, but only once per minute.

Galem Magic Immunity (Ex)

6 point evolution

The galem gains the clay golem's immunity to magic ability:

Immunity to Magic (Ex) A clay golem is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance. In addition, certain spells and effects function differently against the creature, as noted below. A move earth spell drives the golem back 120 feet and deals 3d12 points of damage to it (no save). A disintegrate spell slows the golem (as the slow spell) for 1d6 rounds and deals 1d12 points of damage (no save). An earthquake spell cast directly at a clay golem stops it from moving on its next turn and deals 5d10 points of damage (no save). Any magical attack against a clay golem that deals acid damage heals 1 point of damage for every 3 points of damage it would otherwise deal. If the amount of healing would cause the golem to exceed its full normal hit points, it gains any excess as temporary hit points. A clay golem gets no saving throw against magical attacks that deal acid damage.

Large (Ex)

2 point evolution

The large evolution is only a two-point evolution for a galem, and the huge evolution an additional 3 points instead of 6 points. The benefits of being Large or Huge remain the same, and galems with this evolution still pay twice the normal cost for evolutions to Strength and Constitution.

By paying the full normal cost of the Large or Huge evolutions, the galem gains the ability to grow selectively, and can return to Small or Medium size or grow to its full possible size as a standard action.

Shrink (Su)

4 point evolution

The galem can shrink to Tiny size or resume its normal size as a standard action. A Tiny galem might be mistaken for a familiar.

While Tiny, the galem gains a +4 bonus to its Dexterity score. It also takes a –8 penalty to its Strength and a –4 penalty to its Constitution. It gains a +2 size bonus to its AC and attack rolls, a –2 penalty to its CMB and CMD scores, a +4 bonus on its Fly skill checks, and a +8 bonus on its Stealth skill checks. If it is normally Small, Large, or Huge, it loses the effects of these size modifications. Any natural armor the galem has is halved. It also loses its natural reach and all natural and weapon attacks do two steps less damage.

Appendix II: Variant Galems

Galems can be made of materials other than clay, tough this is usually more expensive. The following materials are used for galems. While galems made of these materials may resemble and have some of the abilities of golems, they remain galems and keep all galem abilities. Clay galems are the default, but listed for completeness.

The cost is per hit point of the created galem, and also a cost to repair each hp of damage. Supernatural means of repair does not have this cost. In some cases, it might be possible to use a large amount of the right sort of scrap as materials, instead of paying this cost. In the case of carrion and flesh galems, the cost is largely because of the questionable legality of using the material for galem construction, it might be cheaper or free in a situation where legality is not an issue.

The skill is used to heal damage to the galem.

The golem type is what type of golem the galem resembles; the galem curse, galem magic, and galem magic immunity evolutions are based on the abilities of that type of golem. The galem curse evolution and galem magic evolutions give the galem the abilities listed in the table from the relevant type of golem. No other abilities can be gained. Abilities that allow a saving throw always have a save DC is equal to 10 + 1/2 the galem’s HD + the galem's Constitution bonus. An ability that does damage does 1d6 per hit dice the galem has. Galem magic abilities can be used once per day (even if the golem can use them more than that), at will but only once per minute if the galem spends 8 evolution points on the ability. The galem magic immunity evolution gives the galem the same immunities listed under immunity to magic for the type of golem. The galem damage reduction evolution gives the listed damage reduction, which can be increased to 10 at level 12 as noted in the evolution. Not all types of variant galems have the option to take all the noted evolutions, an empty entry means the evolution is not available.

Table: Variant Galems

Material	Cost	Skill	Golem Type	Curse (4 pts)	Magic (4/8 pts)	Damage Reduction
Bone	1 sp	Craft (Carving)	Golem, Bone	Bone Prison		DR 5/ Admantine or bludgeoning
Brass	1 gp	Craft (Foundry)	Golem, Brass	Brass Falchion, Death Throes	Breath Weapon	DR 5/ Admantine or piercing
Carrion	1 gp	Heal	Golem, Carrion	Plague Carrier	Foul Stench	DR 5/Bludgeoning or slashing
Clay	Free	Craft (Sculptor)	Golem, Clay	Berserk, Cursed Wounds	Haste	DR 5/Admantine or bludgeoning
Clockwork	3 gp	Craft (Mechanic)	Golem, Clockwork	Death Burst, Wall of Gears		DR 5/Admantine or piercing
Flesh	1 gp	Heal	Golem, Flesh			DR 5/Admantine or slashing
Fossil	1 gp	Knowledge (Dungeoneering)	Golem, Fossil		Petrification	DR 5/Admantine or bludgeoning
Glass	1 gp	Craft (Glassmaker)	Golem, Glass	Dazzling Brightness	Reflect Spells	DR 5/Bludgeoning or piercing
Ice	1 sp	Survival	Golem, Ice	Cold, Icy Destruction		DR 5/Admantine or piercing
Iron	1 gp	Craft (Blacksmith)	Golem, Iron	Powerful Blows	Breath Weapon	DR 5/Admantine or piercing
Junk	Free	Knowledge (Local)	Golem, Junk	Discorporate , Disease, Junk Repair		DR 5/Admantine or slashing
Stone	3 sp	Craft (Mason)	Golem, Stone		Slow	DR 5/Admantine or bludgeoning
Wood	1 sp	Craft (Carpenter)	Golem, Wood		Splintering	DR 5/Admantine or slashing

Summary of Changed Class Abilities

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

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