Golem Creation

There are three main ways that a magic-user or elf can construct a golem; by researching how to construct one and investing in the materials and spells required to make one; by the use of either a Create Magical Monsters or Create Any Monster spell; or by a Fourth Circle Cryptomancer using a Rune of Magic.

It is also possible that a magic-user or elf might acquire a rare Manual of Golem Creation allowing for construction of a golem at a reduced cost in time and money, though these tend to allow only the creation of a single specific golem.

Initial Research

The initial research costs for learning how to construct the various golems is not cheap. All golem types are different, and as such, each type must be researched independently of the other types. Once a spell-caster knows how to make a particular type of golem, that knowledge is retained, though the spell-caster needs to keep a research laboratory or library in order to refresh such knowledge between creations. Each golem type takes 1 week to research and requires an outlay of 500 gp per hit die of the golem for research costs. Discovery of research material during the course of adventuring or finding another wizard's laboratory can reduce (or even eliminate) these costs, though not the research time.

Construction

In order to construct a golem, the wizard or elf needs some kind of workshop, along with the various tools and alchemical equipment required to aid construction. The workshop can be a room in the wizard's tower or one provided by a fellow wizard or rented from a mages guild, school of magic, wizard's university or suchlike. A one-off cost of 5,000 gold pieces for the tools and equipment is then required. Again, this cost can be reduced if the magic-user or elf has salvaged such materials during his adventures.

Once the spell-caster has his workshop ready, he can begin the construction process. The cost of construction is 1,500 gp per hit die, plus 500 gp per asterisk per hit die for the materials and expendable components required for construction. Example, a bronze golem (20** HD) would cost 2,500 gp x 20 = 50,000 gp. Construction time is 1 week per hit die.

Final Incantations and Animation

Once the golem is constructed, the spell-caster utters the final incantations to bring it to life. The final spell requires the creator to transfer some of his life essence to his creation. This spell is somewhat draining, costing the creator 1d4 hit points per hit die of the golem. These lost hit points cannot be healed by normal means. They must be regained at the rate of 1 hp per day of complete rest. A cureall spell, however, will allow healing by means of clerical spells, potions of healing and suchlike. Should this transition result in the death of the creator (by reducing him or her to -10 hit points), only a raise dead fully will bring him or her back to life, but with 1 hp (and still require a cureall spell to heal quickly). Furthermore, if the wizard was reduced to -11 hp or fewer, this means that the transition of life force was not complete, and there is a 1% chance per hit point below -10 per day that the golem will become berserk and go on an uncontrollable rampage. Example, a wizard creates a bronze golem. The wizard has 40 hit points, but sacrifices 56 hit points in the transference process, putting him on -16 hit points. He is resurrected by his cleric friend, but there is a 6% chance, checked daily, that the golem will go berserk.

With the completion of the final incantation and the transference of life energy, the spell-caster will have successfully created a new golem which is now ready to accept any orders given to it by the creator.