The Ichor Ran Out Like Molten Lead: The Bronze Golem

The classic light blue Dungeons and Dragons Expert Set, edited by David Cook and Steve Marsh, built upon Tom Moldvay’s red Basic Set, taking characters from level 4–14.

The Expert Set introduced several neat new monsters, many of which were brought into AD&D with the Mystara Monstrous Copmpendium, but few were ever been given the full 3e treatment.

The bronze golem is one of my favorite monsters from that Expert set, and is probably one of the best variant golems, period. It shows the influence of Greek myth, recalling Talos, a giant man made of bronze who was met by Jason and the Argonauts. This encounter was memorably depicted in the 1963 movie Jason and the Argonauts, with animation by the great Ray Harryhausen.

The following text is Open Game Content.

Golem, Bronze

The towering figure appears like a 16-foot tall fire giant made all of bronze. The air around its metal form shimmers as if heated by an incredible fire.

A Burning Goliath. A bronze golem can be fashioned in any manner, but is often formed like a broad-chested, bearded giant with half-plate armor and a horned helmet. A bronze golem cannot speak or make any vocal noise.

Fire for Blood. This golem has a hollow body made from bronze filled with liquid fire.

The Very Earth Trembles. The body of a bronze golem shimmers with the great heat inside it. The golem moves with a surprisingly swift gait for such a large and ponderous creation.

A bronze golem is 16 feet tall and weighs about 13,000 pounds.

0e

Bronze Golem CL 16 (3,200 XP)

Bronze golems are huge hollow statues of bronze, filled with fiery ichor. Weapons of +2 or less do not affect bronze golems. Anyone scoring damage on a bronze golem with a piercing or slashing melee weapon must make a saving throw or take 2d6 points of damage from the fiery "blood" spurting out of the wound. These hulking statues are slowed by cold spells, but fire-based spells actually restore hit points to them. No other type of spell affects them.

HD 13 (65 hp); AC 4 [15]; Atk 1 fist (2d10 plus 1d6 fire); Move 9; Save 3; AL N; Special: Immune to all weapons +2 or less, fiery bloody, slowed by fire, healed by fire, immune to most magic

3.5e

Bronze Golem CR 12

Always N Huge construct (fire)

Init -1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Listen +0, Spot +0

Defense

AC 21, touch 7, flat-footed 21
(-1 Dex, +14 natural, -2 size)

hp 150 (20d10+40 HD); DR 10/adamantine

Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +6

Immune fire, magic; construct traits

Weakness vulnerability to cold

Offense

Spd 30 ft.

Melee 2 slams +23 (3d10+10 and 1d10 heat)

Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.

Special Atks heat

Tactics

In Combat A bronze golem attacks mindlessly, relying on its immense strength and burning form.

Morale A bronze golem fights until destroyed.

Statistics

Str 30, Dex 8, Con —, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 1

Base Atk +15; Grp +33

SQ fiery blood

Ecology

Environment Any

Organization Solitary

Treasure None

Advancement 21―40 HD (Huge), 41―60 (Gargantuan)

Special Abilities

Fiery Blood (Su) Anyone scoring damage on a bronze golem with a piercing or slashing melee weapon must make a DC 20 Reflex save or take 2d6 points of damage from the fiery "blood" spurting out of the wound. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Heat (Su) Those hit by a bronze golem's slam attack take 1d10 points of heat damage. Creatures hitting a bronze golem with natural weapons or unarmed attacks take heat damage as though hit by the golem’s slam attack.

Immunity to Magic (Ex) A bronze golem is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance. In addition, certain spells and effects function differently against the creature, as noted below. A cold effect that deals more than 30 points of damage slows it (as the slow spell) for 1d6 rounds, with no saving throw. A magical attack that deals fire damage breaks any slow effect on the golem and heals 1 point of damage for each 3 points of damage the attack would otherwise deal. If the amount of healing would cause the golem to exceed its full normal hit points, it gains any excess as temporary hit points. A bronze golem gets no saving throw against fire effects.

Construction

A bronze golem's body is cast from 13,000 pounds of pure bronze, smelted with rare tinctures and admixtures costing at least 30,000 gp. Assembling the body requires a DC 20 Craft (sculpting) check or a DC 20 Craft (bronzeworking) check. Additionally, a DC 20 Craft (alchemy) check is needed in order to create the liquid fire that fills the golem's interior.

CL 16th; Craft Construct, fire shield, geas/quest, limited wish, wall of fire, caster must be at least 16th level; Price 120,000 gp; Cost 90,000 gp + 3,600 XP.

5e

Bronze Golem

Huge construct, unaligned
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 138 (13d12 + 65)
Speed 30 ft.
Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
18 (+4)	9 (-1)	20 (+5)	3 (-4)	10 (+0)	1 (-5)
Damage Immunities. fire, poison, psychic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren’t adamantine.
Condition Immunities. charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned.
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages understands the languages of its creator but can’t speak
Challenge 11 (7,200 XP)
Fire Absorption. Whenever the golem is subjected to fire damage, it takes no damage and instead regains a number of hit points equal to the fire damage dealt.
Fire Aura. At the start of each of the golem’s turns, each creature within 5 feet of it takes 10 (3d6) fire damage, and flammable objects in the aura that aren’t being worn or carried ignite. A creature that touches the golem or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it takes 10 (3d6) fire damage.
Immutable Form. The golem is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form.
Magic Resistance. The golem has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. The golem’s weapon attacks are magical.
Actions
Multiattack. The golem makes two slam attacks.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 26 (4d10 + 4) bludgeoning damage plus 10 (3d6) fire damage.
Reactions
Fiery Blood. When a golem is subjected to piercing or slashing damage, the attacker must make a DC 14 Dexterity save or take 3d6 points of fire damage.

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