So I have a bunch of machinist designs that I am looking to get feedback on. This one is is a favorite. Please be critical and let me know what is technically flawed.
“The Mist” [5]
Monster; robotic insect swarm; attacks all owner-designated enemies relentlessly; in lieu of orders, will attack all units that display outward hostility to their assigned owner; the swarm obscures light and vision through it; the swarm normally occupies a 25' x 75' area (the area is 10’x30’ for 4 HD organic swarms), but may be expand or shrink as conditions merit; through collective efforts, the swarm is able to grab and move objects up to its carrying capacity.
Insect Swarm (p 197 ,Core Rulebook): double damage is dealt to characters wearing no armor (or monsters with an AC of 3 or worse). If a character wards the insects off (as above) or runs out of the swarm, the damage is halved. Unlike swarms of large creatures, insect swarms take no damage from weapons. Swarms do not need to roll to attack. Instead, any character within the swarm is automatically hit by the creatures, suffering damage or other effects depending on the type of swarm. Unlike organic insect swarms, The Mist cannot be warded with torches, weapons or similar items; the swarm also is not affected by fire- or cold-based damage, or the sleep spell. To mitigate damage, a character can only flee. If a character flees from a swarm, it will take 3 rounds for him to swat off any remaining creatures, during which time he may continue to suffer from its effects. The swarm can only be directly attacked using AOE effects and spells...although, since bombs have no effect since the concussive waves do little more than displace the swarm and fire damage is ignored, spell are the only effective choice. Or simply fleeing into water...but will The Mist lose interest before you drown?
HD: 10 (up to twice machinist level)
AC: 5 (½ HD)
Weight: 1, 000 (HD^2 * 10)
Carrying Capacity: 500 (½ Weight)
Attack: 30 dmg (HD x 3), dealt by a bites
Bite = 30 dmg → Bite (3d10)
THAC0: Autohit (Look at Swarm mechanics, page 197 of Core Rulebook)
Exploration Movement Rate: 60’
Combat Movement Rate: 20 (⅓ EMR)’
Special Abilities: 5 (one allowed per machinist level)
Fly and Hover (+2)
Immune to poison, gas, charm, hold, sleep; standard automaton immunities (+1)
Immune to fire (+1)
Immune to cold (+1)
Direct Design Cost: 45,000 gp ((2,000gp x HD) + (5,000gp x # of abilities))
Min. Research Library Value: 45,000 gp (+1 to proficiency throw for every 10,000 gp over that min.)
Design Time: 52 days (1 week + 1 day for each 1,000 of cost)
Design Penalty: +9 to target throw (+1 for every 5,000 gp of total cost)
Build Cost: 45,000 gp ((2,000gp x HD) + (5,000gp x # of abilities))
Min. Workshop Value: 45,000 gp (+1 to proficiency throw for every 10,000 gp over that min.)
*Material Quality Bonus: +1 to proficiency throw for every 10,000 gp worth of mats invested (cannot exceed base cost)
Build Time: 52 days (1 week + 1 day for each 1,000 of cost)
Build Penalty: +9 to target throw (+1 for every 5,000 gp of total cost)