1. The golem is completely recessed into
the wall, completely unnoticeable because
the golem's flat front matches the texture
of the wall.

2. The golem is recessed into the wall as
part of a bas-relief. It may complete a
scene (e.g., ?You see a wall which depicts a
battle scene among men and devils. One
particularly large man killing devils seems
to dominate the picture.").

3. The golem is seated in a large stone
chair (like a statue) and wears a valuable
amulet, holds a staff, etc. If anyone touches
the golem?s possession, the golem is
activated. The held item may also work to
the golem?s advantage in some way.

4. The golem is kneeling down with its
hands placed in such a way that one could
climb its hands like stairs. The golem?s
eyes are gems. Activation of the golem
occurs when the gems are touched ? or
else when some other set of circumstances
occurs that the PCs do not expect.

5. The golem is recessed in the floor and
activates when someone steps on it. The
entire front portion of the golem?s body is
flat and smooth like the floor.

6. The golem is concealed under thousands
of loose coins. Its activation occurs
when the coins are disturbed. After slaying
the intruders, the golem covers itself
back up.

7. The golem is created without a head
and is laid on the ground. A phony golem
head lies beside it. Adventurers who are
not aware that decapitation cannot slay a
golem (DMG, page 166) may think that the
golem has been destroyed. Of course, a
real decapitated iron golem whose head
still breathes poison gas is an interesting
idea; the body and head could work
together to destroy intruders from two
directions.

8. The golem is placed lying down,
recessed in a cave floor with its frontal
body covered with stalagmite- or rockshaped
formations.

9. The golem is covered with a thin
sheet of gold or silver to give it the appearance
of a valuable statue.

10. A golem resembling a large cherub
stands in a dancing pose in the center of a
fountain.

11. Two golems stand on either side of a
doorway, resembling huge caryatid
columns (but much more dangerous).

12. The golem is placed among many
normal statues, all of which have Nystul?s
magic aura cast upon them.

13. The golem resembles a wise old sage
studying a book (but the book might be an
integral part of the golem?s arm). Dressing
up flesh golems can be amusing.

14. A flesh golem could be made to
resemble a humanoid being of a similar
size, such as a powerful gnoll, bugbear,
small ogre, and so forth. Aside from using
its fists (perhaps a large ogrillon is a good
disguise), the golem could also wear armor
and use simple protective devices.

15. A golem could have a special perch
over a room?s entrance, from which it
jumps onto any characters passing underneath.
Damage varies but would be
extreme (10-60 hp for a stone golem, or
10-100 hp for an iron golem). The distance
fallen should not be too great to avoid
smashing the golem or having it bury its
feet in the ground.

16. The golem is hidden behind a secret
door. When characters pass through the
door, they step on a pressure plate; one
round later, the golem pursues them from
behind. This golem could have its feet
wrapped in a soft material that would
absorb the sound of its footsteps, or else
be enchanted to move silently.

17. The golem resembles an embarrassed
naked giant trying to cover itself
with its hands. If encountered in a silly
dungeon, this disguise might prove very
effective. Other silly but deadly appearances
could include huge pink apes,
clowns, etc.

18. Imagine a huge room full of golems,
or else just one golem and a bunch of
statues, shaped as chess pieces. They
would attack when the adventurers
moved onto a certain position.

19. The golem is hidden underwater in a
river channel or a deep pool which fills up
the entire room. When a character passes
over it, the golem pulls him underwater
with one arm (only a roll to hit being
required) and attack with the other arm.
After that character is dead, the golem
moves on to another, not attacking anyone
but a character it grabs. Drowning rules
would apply. The water might also be
poisoned or contaminated in some manner.
Flesh golems would decay and iron
golems would rust, so clay and stone
golems would work best.

20. Given the golem-in-the-pool
described above, the golem?s head might
appear to be a flat stone pedestal which
characters could use as a stepping stone,
perhaps in the middle of the body of
water.

21. The golem?s back is rectangular, flat,
and smooth. When the golem sits with its
back facing an oncoming party, it looks
like a large stone block ? perhaps a door.

22. The golem waits underneath a secret
trapdoor in the floor. If the trapdoor
opens, the victim drops in with the golem.
Combined with one of these other ideas,
this could be a deadly combination attack.

23. The golem has permanent darkness
15' radius spell cast around it. The golem
might not suffer penalties to hit victims if
enchanted to detect prey in some manner
other than by sight.

24. The golem's body is pockmarked
with holes which contain soil in which
seeds were planted. The golem should
appear to be one large decorative plant
holder, green from head to toe with vines.
If carnivorous plants are used, watch out!

25. The golem might hold two huge
torches as if he were an elaborate sconce.
The torches might themselves be useable
as weapons.

26. The golem?s midsection is hollow,
with many pockets and perches for birds
to roost. The golem should resemble something
cute, like a demented mage?s idea of
a birdhouse.

27. The golem has a permanent invisibility
spell cast on it, so that it can attack
without being seen.

28. The golem has an animal-shaped
head and corresponding animal-like hands.
Clawed hands could do extra or unusual
sorts of damage, and an advanced golem
design might even bite.

29. Consider variations on the given
types of golems, like a stone golem that
can throw flesh to stone spells, or a dehydrated
flesh golem, such as the one in area
17 of "The Ruins of Andril," from
DRAGON® issue #81. What about a
halfling-size flesh golem with reduced
powers?

30. Cover the golem with an illusion that
makes it seem to be something else.
 

These examples should work well on
most everyone. If you?re playing with
people who have read this article or who
were not tricked by these disguises, try to
think up new ways to fool them. No one
can be so careful as to check every square
foot of ground in front of him. If you
know anyone who is, put the golem on the
ceiling!
 

NOVEMBER 1988