A living construct was a type of construct that combined elements of animated constructs and living creatures.[1][2] They possessed free will and sentience given to them by the complex and potent magic employed in their creation.[1]
Traits[]
As sentient beings, living constructs could train and develop their skills and abilities in any way open to them.[1]
While they had a lot of traits in common with standard constructs, they had some differences too.[1][2]
Unlike constructs, they had a vitality and fortitude that didn't depend on their mass and size. This meant they could be affected by spells that targeted living creatures as well as those that targeted constructs. They could suffer from blows that wearied them or hit critical parts, effects that deteriorated their physical or mental abilities, effects that required fortitude to resist, and be affected by death magic and other necromancy,[1][2] but some were resistant.[2] Some remained immune, or to disease, nausea, and poison; to fatigue and sleep magic; to paralysis; and to their energy being drained. They could also be affected by mind-affecting magic.[1]
However, they could not heal damage naturally. Rather, they needed to be repaired physically. They could be healed by spells of the cure wounds family and other healing spells, but these had only half their normal effect, while repair damage spells had their full effect. If they seriously damaged, they fell inert and did not lay dying. In particular, if fully destroyed, they could be resurrected with raise dead or resurrection.[1]
They lacked darkvision or low-light vision by virtue of being a construct. They could move freely and were capable of running.[1]
While they did not require organic sustenance (whether food, drink, or air), they could make use of magical consumables like potions and heroes' feast. They had no need of sleep, but did require a form of rest for a night prior to preparing any spells,[1][2] and only needed four hours of such rest to be ready for anything else.[2]
Uniquely, living constructs are capable of growth and evolution over time. For example, a warforged juggernaut literally grows heavier armor plating.[3]
History[]
One of the earliest breakthroughs in the development of living constructs was the Steel Gardens of Eston, Cyre. Much like modern warforged, these comprise "trees" of leather-like fibers clad in steel bark and sprouting silver leaves.[3][4] Starrin d'Cannith, patriarch of House Cannith, still had big plans for the Steel Gardens, dreaming the trees might one day be used to extract and refine metals, even adamantine.[3]
Types of Living Constructs[]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Andrew Finch, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Chris Perkins (August 2004). Monster Manual III. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 215. ISBN 0-7869-3430-1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt (2008). Monster Manual (4th edition). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 282. ISBN 0-7869-4852-3.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Keith Baker (May 2012). “Eye on Eberron: Eston” (PDF). In Ray Vallese ed. Dragon #411 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 2.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 110, 221. ISBN 0786966890.
- ↑ Andrew Finch, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Chris Perkins (August 2004). Monster Manual III. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 190–191. ISBN 0-7869-3430-1.
- ↑ Andrew Finch, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Chris Perkins (August 2004). Monster Manual III. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 191–193. ISBN 0-7869-3430-1.
- ↑ Andrew Finch, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Chris Perkins (August 2004). Monster Manual III. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 193. ISBN 0-7869-3430-1.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 302–303. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
External Links[]
- Living construct article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.