Construct Companion Skills

The following skills are class skills for a construct companion: Craft (Int), Disable Device (Dex), Knowledge (engineering) (Int), and Perception (Wis). A construct companion's base form grants four additional skills, as listed in the form's entry. In addition, any construct companion that gains a fly speed receives Fly (Dex) as a class skill, regardless of what level it obtains its fly speed.

Companion Traits (Ex)

A construct companion is not built nor animated as a typical construct. It is powered by the vanguard’s innate power and intuition rather than careful design, and as such has different abilities from a normal construct. A construct companion has all traits and immunities a normal construct has, except as noted here. Construct companions are not immune to mind-affecting effects, including charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects. A construct companion has an Intelligence score and gains feats and skill points as appropriate for its level, as shown in Table: Construct Companions, and has class skills. A construct companion does not gain bonus hit points based on its size, as a normal construct does. A construct companion has the same weapon proficiencies as the vanguard and can use shields (except tower shields).

Integrated Equipment (Ex)

A construct companion can have its weapons or shield integrated into its body, rather than having to hold and stow them as a normal piece of equipment. Any manufactured weapon or shield that is of appropriate size for the construct companion can be integrated. Integrating equipment takes 1 hour of work by the vanguard. After doing so, the item is built directly into the construct’s form. It can bring forth the weapon or shield and store it back in its body as if drawing it normally, including reductions in time from feats such as Quick Draw. When stored, the equipment is inside the companion’s body and cannot be seen, and its magic aura (if any) cannot be found with spells such as detect magic unless the spell can penetrate through the construct’s metallic body. When it draws an integrated weapon or shield, it replaces the hand(s) necessary to wield the item, at which point it can be used as if wielded normally. An integrated weapon or shield cannot be disarmed or stolen, as it’s attached directly to the construct’s body, though it can be sundered or attacked as normal.

A construct companion can have up to three pieces of integrated equipment at once. If the companion has an integrated ranged weapon, the vanguard can integrate ammunition along with it. Up to 100 pieces of ammunition can be integrated with each ranged weapon. Reloading an integrated weapon is no faster than reloading the weapon as normal, and can be reduced by feats and abilities such as Rapid Reload possessed by the companion. Integrating more ammunition takes 10 minutes of work by the vanguard.

Once a piece of equipment is integrated, it cannot be removed intact. Removing integrated equipment involves either destroying the equipment (though sunder checks and the like) or spending 1 hour removing the item, the process of which gives it the broken condition but leaves it intact enough to be repaired via make whole or similar magic. Removing a ranged weapon requires removing its integrated ammunition, if any.

Link (Ex)

A construct companion is not made nor controlled as a normal construct; it is instead tied to the vanguard’s own magical essence, and as such the vanguard shares a special link with his companion. The vanguard can communicate empathically with the companion, but cannot see through its eyes. Because of the link’s limited nature, only general emotions can be shared. The vanguard has the same connection to an item or place that the companion does.

However, such a link has its drawbacks. As the companion is powered by the vanguard’s magic essence, the construct cannot move more than 100 feet away from the vanguard at any time. If it does, the construct companion immediately shuts down, rendering it helpless and unable to act. The vanguard must be able to exercise mental control to keep the companion functioning. If the vanguard is ever unconscious, asleep, killed, stunned, or confused, the companion cannot act and is considered helpless.

In addition, magic items interfere with the vanguard’s link to his companion. As a result, the vanguard and his companion share magic item slots. For example, if the vanguard is wearing a ring, the companion can wear no more than one ring. If there is a conflict, the item worn by the vanguard remains active while the item worn by the construct become dormant. Magic weapons do not interfere with the vanguard’s link with his companion.

Despite being animated by magic, the construct does not shut down in an antimagic field, though some of its other abilities may be negated.

Share Spells (Ex)

The vanguard may cast a spell with a target of “you” on his construct companion (as a spell with a range of touch) instead of on himself. A vanguard may cast spells on his companion even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of the companion’s type (construct). Spells cast in this way must come from the vanguard spell list.

This ability does not allow the companion to share abilities that are not spells, even if they function like spells.

Ability Score Increase (Ex)

The construct companion adds +1 to one of its ability scores.

Devotion (Ex)

A construct companion gains a +4 morale bonus on Will saves against enchantment spells and effects.

Greater Link (Ex)

The construct’s link with the vanguard improves. The companion can now move up to 200 feet away without any penalty. If it moves further than 200 feet away, but less than 500 feet away, the companion is staggered. If it moves more than 500 feet away, the companion shuts down and is considered helpless. In addition, the construct companion can still act normally whenever the vanguard is stunned or confused, though it still cannot act if the vanguard is unconscious, asleep, or killed.

Combat Form

Starting Statistics

Skills

Climb (Str), Intimidate (Cha), Sense Motive (Wis), and Swim (Str).

Eldritch Form

Starting Statistics

Speed 20 ft.; AC No bonus; Base Ability Scores Str 8, Dex 12, Con –, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 16; Primary Ability Scores Intelligence, Charisma; Secondary Ability Score Dexterity

Skills

Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (planes) (Int), Spellcraft (Int), and Use Magic Device (Cha).

Scouting Form

Starting Statistics

Size Medium; Speed 40 ft.; AC +2 armor bonus; Base Ability Scores Str 10, Dex 16, Con –, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 12; Primary Ability Scores Dexterity, Intelligence; Secondary Ability Score Charisma;

Skills

Acrobatics (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis).