[Magic] The weakest golems - The worst of ideas

Jose · 07-16-2016, 02:03 PM

I got a bad but hilarious idea.

Golems are a construct made by mages to do their bidding. Fighting included!

Now there is a template for a golem which is good and there is mentioning that you can make them stronger.
So what about weaker golems.

More specifically how would I make a truck load of ST 1 golems for essentially magically powered wargaming?

I know this is a bad idea but it would be hilarious.

Culture20 · 07-16-2016, 02:19 PM

If these are small golems, they could be an exceptionally good idea if used creatively.

Jose · 07-16-2016, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Culture20

If these are small golems, they could be an exceptionally good idea if used creatively.

Yes. Yes they are.

Racer · 07-16-2016, 04:45 PM

I remember in Dragon Magazine article on funniest deaths , someone died after an attack by a Garlic Bread Golem ! Think it was Number 1 , just beating out a Mage who died after slaying the Toad that showed up after he cast Find Familar for the first time . Didn't like the Toad , stabbed it , failed his System Shock roll & died ! Shows it does pay to read all the rules ...

Hundreds of old style sulphur tipped Matchstick Golems could make almost unstoppable tiny , stealthy incendiary kamikazes .

Gingerbread Golems could plant Potions , poisons or hallucinogenic drugs in food & be extremely hard to detect . Those different coloured jelly buttons it has down it's front could each do something different - the white 'suger' powder on them could even be a neurotoxin . Golem itself could be poisonous ? IF discovered , it could self destruct be jumping into water , a fire or a hungry guard dogs mouth !

A clockwork Watch Golem could appear non magical ... until the chime is struck & it sprouts legs & tries to burrow into it's wearers heart ! Like the Scarabs in the Mummy films , a nasty surprise & a tricky little assassin almost impossible to detect .

With intelligence , cunning & a weird/odd/sick sense of humour the possiblities are endless ...

For those who have seen that episode of the British sitcom ' Only Fools and Horses' , imagine the fun to be had with an 'Inflatable Doll Golem' !!! 8-/ Or TEN ... Lol ;-)

simply Nathan · 07-16-2016, 04:58 PM

I second Gingerbread Golems as ST 1. They should have high Speed and/or Move

JHDude · 07-16-2016, 05:06 PM

Origami golems? Silent, able to move quickly (if the breeze is right) and subjects their enemies to a literal "death of a thousand (paper)cuts"

robkelk · 07-16-2016, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jose

...
More specifically how would I make a truck load of ST 1 golems for essentially magically powered wargaming?
...

The phrase "a truck load of ST 1 golems" puts me in mind of those mass-produced Army men given mobility. And that makes me wonder whether there's a spell for that sort of thing in GURPS Technomancer - which I don't have ready access to at the moment.

Flyndaran · 07-16-2016, 05:51 PM

3rd edition Magic Items 3 had all sorts of rules for Golems made of different materials. Some quite weaker than classic clay versions.
I don't have 4th, but knowing that it's mostly copy past 3rd...
I'll assume Clay golems cost 300 energy plus Shape Earth spell.
Cheapest version here are Scarecrows costing a mere 75 and Shape Plant.
Also there's a rule for adjusting energy cost based on size going no lower than 50% base price.
There's also a very weird unique one; Mandrake Golem that needs to be read in full to get.
There are also a whole suite of other optional rules and things for Golems in the chapter labeled Golem and Mechagolems.

Celti · 07-16-2016, 06:27 PM

From GURPS Magic for 4th Edition:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magic, p. 59

Optionally, the GM may allow less powerful golems; golems worth less than 0 points cost 2 less energy for every character point below zero, to a minimum of 130 energy.

Thus, your cheapest golem still costs 130 energy and has a character template worth [-60].

simply Nathan · 07-16-2016, 07:24 PM

Personally I think particularly weak, stupid, and stealable golems should be possible at a much steeper discount - comparable to Zombies and Skeletons.

I had one custom golem that was just a cardboard box painted yellow with a crude, rectangular smiley face drawn on one side. It had 6 in all Attributes, did 1d cr by means of a jumping all-out attack, Move 6, Dodge 6, and cost 6 energy + $6 in raw materials to animate. Adapted from my test monster for RPG making software, which always starts with 6 in every value.

07-16-2016, 02:03 PM	#1
Jose Join Date: Oct 2015	[Magic] The weakest golems - The worst of ideas I got a bad but hilarious idea. Golems are a construct made by mages to do their bidding. Fighting included! Now there is a template for a golem which is good and there is mentioning that you can make them stronger. So what about weaker golems. More specifically how would I make a truck load of ST 1 golems for essentially magically powered wargaming? I know this is a bad idea but it would be hilarious.

07-16-2016, 02:19 PM	#2
Culture20 Join Date: Feb 2014	Re: [Magic] The weakest golems - The worst of ideas If these are small golems, they could be an exceptionally good idea if used creatively.

07-16-2016, 04:45 PM	#4
Racer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: London, UK	Re: [Magic] The weakest golems - The worst of ideas I remember in Dragon Magazine article on funniest deaths , someone died after an attack by a Garlic Bread Golem ! Think it was Number 1 , just beating out a Mage who died after slaying the Toad that showed up after he cast Find Familar for the first time . Didn't like the Toad , stabbed it , failed his System Shock roll & died ! Shows it does pay to read all the rules ... Hundreds of old style sulphur tipped Matchstick Golems could make almost unstoppable tiny , stealthy incendiary kamikazes . Gingerbread Golems could plant Potions , poisons or hallucinogenic drugs in food & be extremely hard to detect . Those different coloured jelly buttons it has down it's front could each do something different - the white 'suger' powder on them could even be a neurotoxin . Golem itself could be poisonous ? IF discovered , it could self destruct be jumping into water , a fire or a hungry guard dogs mouth ! A clockwork Watch Golem could appear non magical ... until the chime is struck & it sprouts legs & tries to burrow into it's wearers heart ! Like the Scarabs in the Mummy films , a nasty surprise & a tricky little assassin almost impossible to detect . With intelligence , cunning & a weird/odd/sick sense of humour the possiblities are endless ... For those who have seen that episode of the British sitcom ' Only Fools and Horses' , imagine the fun to be had with an 'Inflatable Doll Golem' !!! 8-/ Or TEN ... Lol ;-) __________________ Five Gauss Guns on a Camper !!! The Resident Brit .

07-16-2016, 04:58 PM	#5
simply Nathan formerly known as 'Kenneth Latrans' Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wyoming, Michigan	Re: [Magic] The weakest golems - The worst of ideas I second Gingerbread Golems as ST 1. They should have high Speed and/or Move __________________ Ba-weep granah wheep minibon. Wubba lubba dub dub.

07-16-2016, 05:06 PM	#6
JHDude Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: USA	Re: [Magic] The weakest golems - The worst of ideas Origami golems? Silent, able to move quickly (if the breeze is right) and subjects their enemies to a literal "death of a thousand (paper)cuts"

07-16-2016, 05:51 PM	#8
Flyndaran Untagged Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon	Re: [Magic] The weakest golems - The worst of ideas 3rd edition Magic Items 3 had all sorts of rules for Golems made of different materials. Some quite weaker than classic clay versions. I don't have 4th, but knowing that it's mostly copy past 3rd... I'll assume Clay golems cost 300 energy plus Shape Earth spell. Cheapest version here are Scarecrows costing a mere 75 and Shape Plant. Also there's a rule for adjusting energy cost based on size going no lower than 50% base price. There's also a very weird unique one; Mandrake Golem that needs to be read in full to get. There are also a whole suite of other optional rules and things for Golems in the chapter labeled Golem and Mechagolems. __________________ Beware, poor communication skills. No offense intended. If offended, it just means that I failed my writing skill check.

07-16-2016, 07:24 PM	#10
simply Nathan formerly known as 'Kenneth Latrans' Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wyoming, Michigan	Re: [Magic] The weakest golems - The worst of ideas Personally I think particularly weak, stupid, and stealable golems should be possible at a much steeper discount - comparable to Zombies and Skeletons. I had one custom golem that was just a cardboard box painted yellow with a crude, rectangular smiley face drawn on one side. It had 6 in all Attributes, did 1d cr by means of a jumping all-out attack, Move 6, Dodge 6, and cost 6 energy + $6 in raw materials to animate. Adapted from my test monster for RPG making software, which always starts with 6 in every value. __________________ Ba-weep granah wheep minibon. Wubba lubba dub dub.