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[Nivim]

Yes, I expected both golems and automatons would be a given. However, I find that without at least some element of magic, automatons don't seem to fit. Even just a moving arm would require many mechanisms, control functions, and perfect adjustment. I think golems and animated things would be much better. Such as the thread about turning statues-to-flesh. Or perhaps getting a full suit of armour and having one's mage animate it. Heh. That would be a good mood for a Fey mage, for him to demand a full set of armour to animate.

[sweitx]

Yes, I expected both golems and automatons would be a given. However, I find that without at least some element of magic, automatons don't seem to fit. Even just a moving arm would require many mechanisms, control functions, and perfect adjustment. I think golems and animated things would be much better. Such as the thread about turning statues-to-flesh. Or perhaps getting a full suit of armour and having one's mage animate it. Heh. That would be a good mood for a Fey mage, for him to demand a full set of armour to animate.

I would incline to agree.  There should be a dwarven "wizard" type job, where the dwarf study to figure out how to enchant stuff.  And to create a working golem would involve many things...
1. The spell-dwarf with sufficient learning to animate stuffs.
2. A mechanics dwarf with sufficient skill to construct good mechanism.
3. A armorer dwarf with sufficient skill to construct a set of high quality armor.
4. A weaponsmith dwarf with sufficient skill to forge a high quality weapon.
So a construction of a golem can be treated like a building construction.  Where the armorer, carrying the armor chosen by the player, go to a construction site to setup the armor.  Followed by mechanics to outfit it with mechanism, followed by the weaponsmith to provide the weapon.  And finally, the spell-dwarf will come around and attempt to animate the whole thing.  The probability of success and ability of the golem will depend the quality of each individual components and the spell-dwarf's ability (bad quality components may explode when the spell-dwarf tries to animate it).
Possible failures -
Bad armor (not enough form): Whole golem explode, throwing shrapnels everywhere.
Bad weapon (not enough purpose): Golem walk around aimlessly, may randomly take a swing at dwarf and structures.
Bad mechanism (not enough control): Golem turns hostile.  Better hope you did not give it a good armor and weapon.
Bad spellswork (not enough power/finess): golem walks a few step, collapse and causes similar effect to cavein.

[DeadlyLintRoller]

I like your spin on the subject. But, I feel strongly about separating the concept of a golem and an automaton as separate and different entities. As Shadowgander points out, they both have a rich history and both are within the roleplay of a fantasy world. I imagine an automaton being more of a powerful singular purpose driven device (without a soul) and a golem as a hunk of matter (no mechanisms) magically imbued with a soul, which is capable of more advanced behavior.

Automaton: An automaton (plural: automata or automatons) is a self-operating machine. The word is sometimes used to describe a robot, more specifically an autonomous robot. For computer controlled self-operating machinery see Automation. (from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automaton )

Golem: In Jewish folklore, a golem (גולם, sometimes, as in Yiddish, pronounced goilem) is an animate being created entirely from inanimate matter. In modern Hebrew the word golem literally means "cocoon", but can also mean "fool", "silly", or even "stupid". The name appears to derive from the word gelem (גלם), which means "raw material".[citation needed] Alternatively some sources[which?] indicate it is a corruption of the Hebrew go′al 'enu (גואלנו) our redeemer or our avenger, this version is supported by the 16th century Prague ghetto stories (see below). (again, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golem)

Basically, Golems seem to be animated by magic, Automatons by technology. I would go for automatons

[varkarrus]

I really was hoping you could make golems out of anything.

You pile the stray cats together. You summon a cat golem!

I also think that golems are more powerful than automatons and can do jobs like a dwarf. But don't need food or water, and can't cast spells or stuff like that.

[DeadlyLintRoller]

I guess either would be as strong as the materials that go into it. you hear a lot about Clay golems, which probably wouldn't be very strong. But a golem or an automaton made of steel would be powerful.

[Nivim]

Hm, there are also variables on speed. A clay (unbaked) could move in far more interesting ways, possibly immune to grabs. A steel golem might be stronger, but it doesn't move as quickly. I have no clue what statistics a cat golem would have. But I would prefer a dwarven wine biscuit golem, way more entertaining to imagine.

[Divreus]

I think we should have to pay for functionality...like,for example,
Automatons need a torso,legs,arms and a head
-torso could mean the armor and performance(since the clockwork "heart" could be located there)
-legs could mean mobility,either giving them free-walking legs(which would be more resource expensive) or be bound to rails which you would have to link up to workshops(could also determine automaton guard's patrol route).
-arms could mean functionality,either letting them perform labor,or equipping them with weapons(standard or trap).
-and head could effect sight,acquisition range,or the ability to follow orders(or you could leave them out entirely)

so each part would require 2 metal bars and 2 mechanisms,and connecting them all together would require 1 mechanism per part.(different arms+legs count as different parts)So that would mean each automaton would take 8 metal bars and 12 mechanisms to produce 1 automaton.Or you could just go to the local mine, get 9 rocks,a boulder,and Urist Mcdeadlegend's soul,and make a slate golem.your choice.

[sonerohi]

Well, in addition to the bars and mechanisms, you need a set of armor and a weapon, which is metal expenditure if you want it to have full armor and stand a chance. Perhaps to fix an automaton's wounds, a mechanic would be needed to bring in a mechanism to lower a wound by one level. Any lopped off parts, a metalsmith would need to come and reforge it onto the golem.

[Jakkarra]

hows about we just make it a Proto-mech.

same as other ideas, but it contains a dwarf, or possibly a trusted slave i guess.

love, jakkarra