Engine of Pain

Mech-suits with construction tools. A construct with an unconscious humanoid inside.

A steaming, rusty mech-suit. Trapped inside are the vegetative remains of a punished humanoid. All it understands now are the orders of its master, and pain.

Numbed by pain, focused on the task, stilted movements.


 
HD: 3 Armor: as plate
Hit it: easy Dodge it: normal
Move: slow  

It is immune to fatigue, fear, poison and diseases (because it’s an object).

Targeting the body inside the engine is made at disadvantage but inflicts 1D8 extra damage.

Attacks (1/round) Each engine of pain is outfitted with a tool on each of its arms, roll 1D4 twice: 1, claw; 2, hammer; 3, drill; 4, sonic blaster.

Claw. The engine makes one melee attack (1D6) and grapples on a hit.

Hammer. The engine makes one melee attack (1D6) and a target with less than 5 Fortitude is pushed nearby and falls prone. The damage is doubled against objects.

Drill. The engine makes one melee attack (2D4). Doubled against objects.

Sonic Blasters. Each adjacent creature and object immediately in front of the engine take (1D4). They take half damage on a successful save. The damage is doubled against objects.

Weapon of Pain. Each of the engine of pain’s weapons can be used by anybody but arming them inflicts 1D6 Willpower damage.



Random Encounter
  1. Monster: 1D4 engines of pain & 1D6 dvergrs dwarves.
  2. Lair: A construction site.
      OR
    Omen: Sound of drilling and metal stomping.
  3. Spoor: A new hole in a wall.
  4. Tracks: Big, heavy metal tracks.
  5. Trace: “Danger, Under Construction” sign.
  6. Trace: Torn construction plan.
Crafting Instructions

Creating an engine of pain takes 3 Spell Dice and the equivalent of 3 treasures in stone. You must also find a humanoid whose psyche will be destroyed in the process. Roll 1D6 to know the result. Add 1 to your roll for each additional Spell Die spent.

  1. The humanoid dies.
  2. The humanoid dies.
  3. The engine is hostile and mad.
  4. The engine is hostile and mad.
  5. The engine will work for 1D100 days.
  6. The engine will work for 1D100 days.
  7. Perfect condition.


DM Notes

Engines of Pain are a new monster from DnD 5e found in Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foe. They are actually my favourite and I love them as is. However, I don’t think they need to be purely a duergar thing. — SaltyGoo

Written on November 14, 2020