Karasu wrote:Hi there,
I have some new member questions
Can a Mech use an Ioun Stone?
I think it would depend on the nature of the mech. The DMG description of the ioun stone implies that it can only be used by a sentient owner. Most mechs are vehicles, not intelligent creatures. So, can a wagon use an ioun stone? Probably not, so an unintelligent mech could not, either.
An intelligent mech, on the other hand, probably could. I'd say that animated and undead mechs could use ioun stones, since they're more like magical constructs than vehicles. It seems reasonable that a golem could have an ioun stone, so it seems reasonable that these construct-mechs could, too. But steam-powered, clockwork, and man-powered mechs could not. Their
pilots, however, could use ioun stones (assuming the stones had room to orbit in the cockpit).
BTW, the DMG says an ioun stone must remain within 3 feet of the controller's head, so that's also somethin to be aware of (which you adress below).
Karasu wrote:Could a mage enchant an Ioun Boulder for use by larger mechs?
Hahaha... cool idea. Yes, I think so. I'd recommend using the Combine Spell feat (DragonMech page 43) as a way to balance it; require that the costs increase as the size of the affected target increases. Basically, you'd have to have that feat and cast the relevant spells multiple times to affect a particularly large target. The details would up to the DM in your campaign, but that should be enough to start from.
Karasu wrote:Could an assimilated use ae Ioun Stone?
Yes, I'd say so. A 5th level assimilated is fully combined with his mech, so the stone could orbit the mech's head. Below 4th level, the assimilated's humanoid body would have to be the focal point for the stone's orbit.
Karasu wrote:If a Mech can use a magic weapon, which magic items can a Mech use, and which not use?
That's a pretty broad question. Can you narrow it down to whichever magic items you're particularly curious about?
In general, I think the question to ask is, "Can this magic item be used by a construct? How about by a vehicle?" Then relate the answer to mechs.