Clockwork companion

     A character with Craft Construct and Close Companion may fashion a clockwork animal as a cohort. This is a standard animal with the Clockwork template added.

HD, Cohort level

     The effective cohort level of a clockwork companion is equal to HD +1 per size greater than Medium, HD-1 for Small animals, and HD-2 for Tiny or smaller. Any other adjustments to CR (such as Advanced) also increases effective level.

     Once created, a clockwork animal improves with NPC class levels (almost always Warrior, Expert being a distant second possibility).

     If a character could have a higher level cohort than the clockwork animal is, make up the difference with NPC class levels.

     A clockwork animal with effective level of at least 5 has Int 3.

     A clockwork animal with Int – has a Neutral alignment. A clockwork animal with intelligence may have whatever alignment its creator wishes (usually that of the creator himself).

Crafting a companion

     Applying Craft Construct to a clockwork in any way requires Craft (artifice) with a total skill bonus equal to or exceeding the clockwork’s effective level.

     Crafting a clockwork animal requires 200 gp per effective level in materials and components, taking 1 day per 1000 gp value and requiring someone with Craft Construct and Craft (artifice) with a total skill bonus equal to or exceeding the clockwork's effective level.

     Whenever the clockwork companion gains a level it requires an additional 200 gp of materials, Craft Construct, and a day of work in a lab. If the companion hits 5 HD (racial + levels) or 11 HD the companion gains benefits as per the base template.

     The clockwork companion may also be upgraded in size. Each size adjustment applies one Monster Advancement 'giant' template, and increases effective level, so also 200 gp and a day of work.

     More than two size increases or size increases above Large must be ok'd by staff.

Repairing a companion

     Damage to the companion can be repaired with Craft Construct. Each hit point costs 5 gp. A crafter can repair 10 hit points (50 gp) every 20 minutes, but it takes 45 minutes to deactivate and open up the clockwork animal for repairs, and 15 minutes to close it up and reactivate it.

     The spell make whole can repair a companion more quickly, though a wand of make whole is about twice as expensive as repairing directly.

Example:

     Doug is a 7th level character with a brand-spanking new Close Companion feat. He has Craft Construct and a Craft (artifice) skill of +13.

     He wants to fashion a clockwork brown bear to accompany his explorations.

     Brown bears are Large and have 5 HD. The effective cohort level is 6, which is too high for Doug; at 7th level, the highest effective level of a cohort is 5.

     Doug pouts, and decides to start with a black bear and upgrade it later.

     A clockwork companion with an effective level of 5 costs 1000 gp and takes a day to assemble.

     As a 5 HD clockwork black bear, the clockwork companion has 47 hp (5d10+20), Cold/Elec resist 10, and DR 5/adamantine, along with a natural armor of +6, and an Int of 3.

     Doug decides his black bear is NG, like he is.