I made some notes about magic items for controlling golems. I had plans of introducing them in my AD&D campaign, but they have yet to appear. This is an idea that others may find useful in their own games.

The AD&D Monster Manual [Affiliate Link] lists four kinds of golems on pages 47-49:

• Flesh golems inspired by Frankenstein‘s monster (perhaps more by the Universal Movies). 1% chance per round of continuous combat of becoming out of control. Creator has 10% chance per round of ragaining control. Created by magic-users.
• Clay golems inspired by the 16th century golem of Prague. 1% chance per round of continuous combat of becoming out of control. No chance to regain control. Created by clerics.
• Stone golems – Creator always maintains control. Created by magic-users.
• Iron golems – Creator always maintains control. Created by magic-users. Iron golems are subject to attack by Rust Monsters.

The Circlets

The circlets are needed because the creations can become out of control of their creators. Thus the need for something to improve control and the chance of regaining lost control.

Flesh Golem Control – Band of leather made from the skin of a slain flesh golem. The usual story of creation of this device is that a magic user has had to slay their first creation in the interests of self-preservation. Creation of this magic item from the remains of a golem is one way to use what one has learned and expand upon it.

Clay Golem Control – Precious metal circlet of either silver with gold weave, gold, or platinum with a clay “stone” from a slain clay golem inset in the center that rests over the forehead.

Stone Golem Control – Precious metals similar to that used for a clay golem, but the stone insert is of the same form of stone from a slain stone golem.

Iron Golem Control – Iron band from a slain iron golem forged into a circlet.

Circlet of Controlling All Golems – The leather from a flesh golem wrapped around the iron circlet from an iron golem with stones from a clay and stone golem.

NOTE: Those who create golems who are forward thinking, can use a portion of the material from their first creation to make a circlet of control. Such a circlet will improve the control over the related golem.

Abilities of Control Circlets

• Circlets improve the chance of maintaining and regaining control of golems of the appropriate type.
• The wearer is invisible to out of control golems.
• The wearer receives a special protection to enemy controlled golems and is at -4 to hit.
• The wearer has a chance to wrest control of enemy controlled golems. There is a 50% chance that a failed attempt to gain such control causes the golem to go berserk.
• The wearer can focus on a single golem for one round to attune to a single golem and then access all the senses of the target golem. Such attunement is interrupted by dispel magic. A spell of dispel magic will prevent regaining control of the affected golem(s) for 1d6 turns. Similar effects occur by other spells such as anti-magic spheres, rays, etc. Rooms or areas with an anti-magic or dispel magic effect block and prevent control for the duration of time the golem is in such an area. If the wearer is in such an area, if the effect is not permanent, control can be regained in 1d6 turns after leaving such an area.
• Range: 60′ per point of intelligence of the bearer. Alternate range: Line of site. Spells and items that increase the range of vision will boost this.

Similar Items

Potions and Scrolls of golem control also exist.

Potions, scrolls, rings, or other items can render the bearer invisible to golems, and provide the same benefit as control circlets for out of control and enemy controlled golems.