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Druids and Golems (and other things)

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:19 pm
by SkipiusEsq
A friend and I were having a discussion on whether a druid would treat a golem similar to the undead, i.e., an abomination to nature. As with so many things I think the simple answer is, "it depends." We have a diverse group on Arelith, some who are heavy loreites and some who have never read a single D&D book or handbook. I would very much love to get various viewpoints on this subject.

Also, I added "other things" because while my primary interest is golems, there are other things that could fall into the category of "unnatural."

Finally, I hope this can be an open discussion, so please don't let this thread turn into a battle of "no, you are wrong!"

Re: Druids and Golems (and other things)

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:24 pm
by Drowboy
Image

Gonna hazard a 'no, they don't like them,' on this one.

Re: Druids and Golems (and other things)

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:27 pm
by SkipiusEsq
Drowboy wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:24 pm
Image

Gonna hazard a 'no, they don't like them,' on this one.
I've read that and it's actually what prompted the thread. But just because something is "unwilling" is it "unnatural"? Slavery happens all the time. Druids pull elementals from the various planes to fight by their side and those elementals often suffer great harm in the process. Animals are tamed and taken from their instinctual environment to serve a purpose. Could the same be said of golems? Slavery might be evil, but if it yields a good, then do you have a balance?

Re: Druids and Golems (and other things)

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:28 pm
by Azensor
You -could- argue that the elemental is working as a partner to the druid, i.e willingly being bound to the artificial body

Re: Druids and Golems (and other things)

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:32 pm
by Gouge Away
Undead are a no-no but this seems like it's meant to be vague so characters will argue over it IG. Doubt you'll get a DM to say it's expressly not allowed or anything and it's up to characters opinions and beliefs.

The one thing I'd say is just because druids oppose undead doesn't mean they are inherently "good." A NE druid might believe in survival of the fittest and dominating whoever you can is a law of nature, a LN druid might not care about the concept of free will and think everything has a place in the hierarchy of balance or some other gamespeak gobbelygook.

Re: Druids and Golems (and other things)

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:35 pm
by Rigela
Removing something's free will being "against nature" isn't necessarily true either, given the number of species of creatures that use others as hosts or serve as a parasite to take over the creature for its own ends.

Re: Druids and Golems (and other things)

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 1:28 am
by Drogo Gyslain
Azensor wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:28 pm
You -could- argue that the elemental is working as a partner to the druid, i.e willingly being bound to the artificial body
We've actually done IG rp on this very concept, and there are some FOIG things related to this very topic. Perhaps you could ask in game and consult the Heartwood Grove concerning their take and interest on golems and the difference between an Elemental Summon and a Golem Binding.

Re: Druids and Golems (and other things)

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 2:24 am
by Xerah
I don’t agree that there is. There is nothing IG when you create a golem that has anything, what so ever, to do with an elemental.

Re: Druids and Golems (and other things)

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 8:56 am
by Petrifictus
Also its odd that characters think use of golems is same as slavery, yet summoning creatures to force them to do your will is not.

”Nah, my summon love to come out and fight my battles without asking. You use golem bouncers? That’s evil!”

Re: Druids and Golems (and other things)

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 9:44 am
by Jagel
There is the good/evil discussions and then there are balance/nature discussions.

Some druids will treat any animation as an affront to the natural order of things (tm), some might be more pragmatic