Clay golem damage - healed only by 17th level cleric?

[Halaster-Blackcloak]

I've wondered about this forever. In 2E (MM, MC, etc) it says that:

"Damage done by the clay golem can only be cured by a heal spell from a priest of 17th level or greater."

Some have argued that the sentence was a typo and that it was supposed to read "damage done to a clay golem", i.e. only a 17th level or greater cleric can heal damage that the clay golem takes in combat. I don't see that. Golems are not living beings - necromantic healing spells won't do anything to or for them. For example, flesh golems (the closest golem to an actual "living" being), is healed by electrical attacks. Mud to rock heals a stone golem. And so on. So heal spells won't do squat to a clay golem no matter who is casting it. And then comes what I consider the final word on the matter, i.e. the clay golem entry in the 1E MM, which clearly states:

"Damage inflicted upon living matter by a clay golem is only repairable by means of a healing spell from a cleric of 17th or greater level."

Emphasis mine. Clearly it was originally the victim of the clay golem's attack that needed a heal spell from a 17th level or higher cleric. I can see someone thinking the 2E entry was a typo, but not the 1E entry as it is crystal clear and impossible to misinterpret.

Now here's the big question - can damage done to living beings by a clay golem heal naturally over time? The MM entry seems to imply that the damage is permanent unless a heal spell is cast by a 17th level cleric. Seems pretty harsh, but in a way I like it. Thoughts?

[garhkal]

I know over on DF, one of the guys does go by that "magical healing won't work unless coming from a 17th level cleric, however Natural healing will restore lost HP.. Just a lot slower!

[Halaster-Blackcloak]

I remember that thread over there. I think I may have started it!

I'm torn between agreeing with him - i.e. natural healing works, just slowly (as per normal rules) but magical healing fails unless it's a heal spell cast by a 17th level cleric. On the other hand, it does say "repairable only by a heal spell cast by a 17th level cleric", which can be interpreted as meaning it cannot be healed naturally at all. The only way to heal it is with a heal spell from a 17th level cleric. Not sure if that's too harsh or actually appropriate, considering the monster's xp.

Over the years I've gone with the latter simply because it makes clay golems so fearful, and challenging. But I'm starting to think that may be too debilitating and/or deadly.

[garhkal]

IIRC it was a newer thread.. BUT i do remember the one you started..

[Halaster-Blackcloak]

Ah, ok. I'm sure it's been posted a few times over the years. It's one of those questions that never seems to get a final answer. I wonder if Rob Kuntz would know the original intent of the monster?

[garhkal]

I actually looked it up and there were 2 threads on it i could find, and in one (6 pages long), someone DID mention it was pushed by rob and frank, and that IS what the original intent was, that damaged a clay golem causes to other people could only get healed by a 17th level cleric.. NOT as many think, damaged caused TO a clay golem..

[Halaster-Blackcloak]

That does make the most sense. Did anyone mention what Rob or Frank thought about natural healing of damage inflicted by a clay golem?

[garhkal]

I would have to re-look those two threads up to see if either of them chimed in..

[Halaster-Blackcloak]

Garhkal, did you ever come across anything on this? I haven't had a chance to search, but I don't off-hand recall Rob or Gary or Frank ever mentioning anything about this.

[garhkal]

I read through 5 long threads (3+ pages) and not once did i even SEE Frank (under his ExTSR moniker) make a post, let alone answer anything on it..

[Halaster-Blackcloak]

It always seemed pretty clear to me:

"Damage inflicted upon living matter by a clay golem is only repairable by means of a healing spell from a cleric of 17th level or above."

MM, pg. 47

I always wondered, though, why it needed a heal spell and why only from a 17th level cleric or higher? Because that make these things pretty damned deadly!

I also always struggled with the often-debated issue of: does this mean natural healing does not work, i.e. the victim cannot heal naturally with bed rest? Or does that restriction only apply to magical healing, i.e. the victim heals naturally (albeit very slowly), but if magical healing is attempted, only a heal spell by a 17th+ level cleric is effective.

The wording strongly implies the former. Damage is repairable "only by". Otherwise, I would expect it to read:

"Damage inflicted upon living matter by a clay golem is only repairable magically by means of a healing spell from a cleric of 17th level or above or naturally by rest."

Of course, allowing damage to be healed naturally might make the difference between continuing to use the character or retiring him (at least for awhile) as a 17th level cleric of proper alignment is not that easy to find.

And then the issue is - why would the PCs be fighting a clay golem in the first place (assuming a good aligned party)? Clay golems are the tools of LG clerics. Unless you have an evil party, the PCs simply won't have occasion to fight one. Unless of course the damned thing goes berserk, in which case it's infected with an evil spirit. Still...

[garhkal]

Maybe they are wanting to loot that LG cleric's tomb, and don't care he's LG.. They just see lots of Phat loot!