This is an article in the continuing series, “Fun with Magic”, where I examine spells from the D20 System Reference Document, which corresponds to spells from the Player’s Handbook v. 3.5. These spells are in almost every campaign and form the foundation of spells used in Yön. Each article demonstrates strengths and weaknesses of a particular spell and some unique applications for each, to the limit of the author’s imagination, such as it is.
Animate Objects
Transmutation
Level: Brd 6, Chaos 6, Clr 6
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Targets: One Small object per caster level; see text
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You imbue inanimate objects with mobility and a semblance of life. Each such animated object then immediately attacks whomever or whatever you initially designate.
An animated object can be of any nonmagical material. You may animate one Small or smaller object or an equivalent number of larger objects per caster level. A Medium object counts as two Small or smaller objects, a Large object as four, a Huge object as eight, a Gargantuan object as sixteen, and a Colossal object as thirty-two. You can change the designated target or targets as a move action, as if directing an active spell.
This spell cannot animate objects carried or worn by a creature.
Animate objects can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Want to make that dreaded gazebo attack? Here’s just the spell to do it. Before you use it, though, choose carefully what you want to animate, since the shape of the object controls its mobility and its attack abilities:
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Choose one larger object over several smaller ones. Large objects hit more often and do more damage.
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If possible, choose an object with wheels, then with four legs or more, then with at least two legs. These move faster.
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If the animated object needs to float, select a wooden object. If it needs to climb, choose a rope, chain or cable. If it has to fly, choose a sheet-like object, but don’t expect it to fight very well.
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Choose objects with better hardness: iron, then stone, then wood. If you can make it a large enough iron object, it can perform trample attacks. Some halfling clan priests have enchanted iron warwains for just such a purpose (and to ignore the need for animals to draw such a heavy wagon, if they can afford to cast permanency on it).
Watch out for temples that have big statues of their gods, they might not just be statues…