Craft Construct requires CL 5 - is it useful at that level?

[unseenmage]

And yet, it's still more expensive on Animated Objects than just upping the size category, at least for improving Strength. (Admittedly, that comes at a Dex cost.) But it is solid evidence that one absolutely should not use +1 CR = +2 CP to add templates to them. A Simple Advanced Animated Object would add 2000 gp to its construction cost for +4 to all stats. Which, strangely, would give it 5s even in Wis and Cha. When normally adding +2 to a stat is 2000 gp...

We banned the Advanced Template at our table. It's just too potent. Especially combined with Young.

We also play a lot of monster characters so the Ability Score Construct Mod and Advanced Template became wholly inappropriate unless repriced appropriately using Race Points and stat books respectively.

Edit: Oh, hey, "weapon modification" only costs the price of the weapon to be added, and automatically makes the construct proficient with it. So any Animated Object weapons are automatically proficient with themselves! That is, in addition to their Slam attacks.

So animate, say, a heavy crossbow, and it can fire bolts with proficiency. Without having to pay for a "ranged attack" with CP.

Wouldn't adding a weapon to an Animated Object that the object then wields require an appropriately sized weapon?

An Animated Object longsword works out to what; a tiny to small size creature? Adding a weapon to it means it would be wielding a fine to diminutive weapon?

Even if the weapon gets to 'wield itself' you're still paying for it twice. Once as per the cost of making an animated object and again as per the cost of making a weapon modification.