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| Pulverizer ⬇️ Medium Construct |
Hammerer ⬇️ Medium Construct |
|
|---|---|---|
| Hit Dice: | 3d10+20 (36 hp) | 5d10+20 (47 hp) |
| Initiative: | +0 | +0 |
| Speed: | 40 ft. (8 squares) | 20 ft. (4 squares) |
| Armor Class: | 21 (+11 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 21 | 21 (+11 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 21 |
| Base Attack/Grapple: | +2/+7 | +3/+10 |
| Attack: | Slam +7 melee (1d6+5) | Slam +10 melee (2d8+10) |
| Full Attack: | 2 slams +7 melee (1d6+5) | Slam +10 melee (2d8+10) |
| Space/Reach: | 5 ft./5 ft. | 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Sonic shriek | — |
| Special Qualities: | Blindsight 40 ft., construct traits, unreliable | Construct traits, darkvision 60 ft., unreliable |
| Saves: | Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +0 | Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +0 |
| Abilities: | Str 21, Dex 11, Con —, Int —, Wis 9, Cha 4 | Str 25, Dex 11, Con —, Int —, Wis 9, Cha 4 |
| Skills: | — | — |
| Feats: | — | — |
| Environment: | Any land and underground | Any land and underground |
| Organization: | Solitary, pair, or team (3–5) | Solitary, pair, or team (3–5) |
| Challenge Rating: | 4 | 4 |
| Treasure: | None | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 4–8 HD (Medium); 9 HD (Large) | 6–8 HD (Medium); 9–15 HD (Large) |
| Level Adjustment: | — | — |
An automaton is a creature built for labor or war. Although the construct is superficially similar to a golem, an automaton is actually quite different. It is built with clockwork parts and animated by means of powerful shadow magic. While the shadow consciousness of an automaton sometimes makes it difficult for the creature to interact with the physical world, it nevertheless can be a fearsome opponent.
Like golems, automatons are mindless but tenacious combatants. Since they are emotionless in combat, they are not easily provoked. Automatons don’t use weapons, even if ordered to do so. Instead, they always strike with their limbs, which are formidable weapons in themselves.
An automaton follows the orders of its creator. The creature can be commanded directly by its creator if the latter is within 60 feet and both visible and audible to the automaton. If uncommanded, an automaton follows its last instruction to the best of its ability, though it returns any attacks directed at it. Typically, the creator gives an automaton a simple set of instructions (such as “Remain in this area and attack all creatures that enter,” or “Attack all bipedal creatures you see,” or “Ring a gong and attack,” or the like) to govern its actions in his or her absence.
Unreliable (Ex): The shadow consciousness of an automaton is only quasireal, like the consciousness of a creation such as a simulacrum. The creature is thus sometimes slow to react to the changing environment around it. At the beginning of each round in which an automaton attempts to act, roll 1d20. On a result of 11 or better, it acts normally; otherwise, it takes no action.
The pulverizer automaton was originally intended as a mining machine. Its sonic shriek was designed to weaken stone, and its wedges to finish the job of breaking it up. Thanks to its blindsight ability, this construct is particularly effective underground.
A pulverizer looks something like a four-legged metal lobster with spiked wedges instead of claws. Instead of a head, it has a round opening at the top of its body from which it emits its sonic attacks.
When attacking, a lone pulverizer usually looses its sonic shriek, then moves in to use its slam attacks against any foes who are still moving. Teams of these creatures pose a formidable threat on the battlefield, since one or more can hang back and shriek every round while the others close with foes.
Sonic Shriek (Ex): Once per round as a standard action, a pulverizer can loose a cone of sonic energy 30 feet long. Everything within the cone takes 1d8 points of sonic damage. In addition, every creature within the cone that fails a Fortitude save (DC 13) is stunned for 1 round. (This value incorporates a +5 racial bonus to the save DC.)
Blindsight (Ex): A pulverizer is blind, but it maneuvers and fights as well as a sighted creature by using sonar, like that of a bat. This ability enables it to discern objects and creatures within 40 feet. The pulverizer usually does not need to make Spot or Listen checks to notice creatures within range of its blindsight. A silence spell negates this ability.
The hammerer automaton is a roughly human-shaped, bipedal war machine adapted from another automaton that was designed for construction and heavy lifting. One of the creature’s two arms ends in a massive claw or pincer, the other in an even more massive hammer.
Hammerers are not built for fancy tactical maneuvers, but they are still fearsome opponents. On the battlefield, commanders simply point teams of these constructs at the enemy and let them go.
The powerful hammer-arm that gives the hammerer its name is a nasty piece of business—heavy, solid, and deadly. The pincer-arm is used mainly for lifting things. The construct can attack with only one arm at a time, and although it can slam with either arm, it favors the hammer-arm for all its attacks.
Source: Monster Manual II, page 27.