Manual of Golems

• Category: Wondrous Item
• Rarity: Very Rare

This tome contains information and incantations necessary to make a particular type of golem. The GM chooses the type or determines it randomly by rolling on the accompanying table. To decipher and use the manual, you must be a spellcaster with at least two level 5 spell slots. A creature that can't use a Manual of Golems and attempts to read it takes 6d6 Psychic damage.

To create a golem, you must spend the time shown on the table, working without interruption with the manual at hand and resting no more than 8 hours per day. You must also pay the specified cost to purchase supplies.

Once you finish creating the golem, the book is consumed in eldritch flames. The golem becomes animate when the ashes of the manual are sprinkled on it. See "Monsters" for the golem's stat block. The golem is under your control, and it understands and obeys your commands.

1d20	Golem	Time	Cost
I-5	Clay Golem	30 days	65,000 GP
6-17	Flesh Golem	60 days	50,000 GP
18	Iron Golem	120 days	100,000 GP
19-20	Stone Golem	90 days	80,000 GP

Tactical Applications

Combat Strategy: Contains instructions for creating specific types of golems, providing permanent construct allies and workshop capabilities. Exceptional for characters wanting powerful minions and construct support.

Class Synergies:

• Artificers: Perfect for construct specialists and magical engineering builds
• Wizards: Essential for spellcasters wanting permanent magical servants and allies
• Any Class: Universal utility for gaining powerful construct allies and workshop capabilities
• Summoning Specialists: Excellent for characters focused on ally creation and minion management

Build Considerations: Requires significant resources and time to create golems but provides permanent powerful allies. Most valuable for characters wanting long-term construct support.

Acquisition Methods

Crafting Requirements: Cannot be crafted - represents ancient knowledge preserved in extremely rare texts. Acquisition cost varies by golem type (100,000+ gp equivalent).

Common Sources:

• Ancient libraries and repositories of construct knowledge
• Treasure hoards of legendary artificers and golem masters
• Ruins of ancient construct workshops and magical engineering facilities
• Found in the collections of construct researchers and magical engineers
• Rewards from grateful organizations for completing epic construct-related quests

Alternative Acquisition: Sometimes discovered in construct sanctuaries or obtained through engineering trials.

Value & Trade

Estimated Value: 150,000-500,000 gp depending on golem type, considered priceless by construct specialists.

Trade Considerations: Artifact-level rarity means most acquisitions involve epic quests or legendary achievements in magical engineering.

Character Integration

Roleplay Elements: Suggests mastery of construct magic, engineering expertise, or completion of epic trials requiring golem creation knowledge.

Character Concepts:

• Master artificer with legendary construct creation capabilities
• Magical engineer specializing in golem construction and automation
• Character with ancient knowledge of construct magic and creation
• Workshop master capable of creating permanent magical servants

Adventure Hooks

The Golem Workshop: Establishing permanent bases with construct guardians and automated defenses.

The Ancient Knowledge: Quests to discover lost construct creation techniques and golem mastery.

The Construct Army: Military campaigns enhanced by powerful golem allies and automated support.

The Engineering Marvel: Projects requiring golem labor and construct capabilities for completion.

Variants & Customization

Greater Manual of Golems (Artifact): Instructions for creating multiple golem types and advanced construct variants.

Master Constructor's Manual (Legendary): Includes advanced golem modifications and construct enhancement techniques.

Specialized Golem Manual (Very Rare): Focused on specific golem types with enhanced creation capabilities.

Golem Types Available:

• Clay Golem: Versatile construct with healing and berserk capabilities
• Flesh Golem: Resilient construct with lightning immunity and berserk potential
• Iron Golem: Powerful construct with poison immunity and devastating attacks
• Stone Golem: Durable construct with slow effects and magical resistance

Lore & History

Origins: Written by ancient master artificers during the golden age of magical engineering and construct creation.

Historical Significance: These manuals enabled the creation of legendary golems that shaped the course of magical history.

Cultural Impact: Represent the pinnacle of construct magic and the mastery of artificial life creation.

Magical Craft: Demonstrates ultimate understanding of construct magic and the complex processes required for golem creation.

Balancing Notes

Introduction Timing: Appropriate for levels 12-20 when permanent allies become accessible and construct creation is meaningful.

Campaign Impact: Provides major ally capabilities that should be central to campaign storylines and character development.

Resource Requirements: Golem creation requires significant time, materials, and magical components beyond the manual itself.

Encounter Design

Recommended Challenges:

• Epic quests where golem allies provide crucial support and capabilities
• Construction projects requiring automated labor and construct assistance
• Military campaigns enhanced by powerful construct allies
• Workshop scenarios where golem creation enables new character capabilities

Tactical Adjustments: Encounters must account for powerful permanent construct allies and their capabilities.

Related Items

Construct Items: Other items that enhance construct creation, control, and interaction capabilities.

Artificer Equipment:

• Items that improve magical engineering and construct creation
• Equipment for workshop establishment and golem construction
• Tools for advanced construct magic and artificial life creation

Complementary Equipment: Items that enhance construct control or provide materials for golem creation.

Roleplay Opportunities

Master Artificer: Characters achieve legendary status in construct creation and magical engineering.

Construct Mastery: Golem creation capabilities create opportunities for engineering consulting and construct expertise.

Workshop Establishment: Permanent golem allies enable establishment of magical workshops and automated facilities.