This may be a really dumb question, but how do you handle attacks on worms of Kyuss, rules-wise? When a worm has been transferred to a target's body, it "is a Fine vermin with AC 10 and 1 hit point. During this time, the worm can be killed by normal damage or the touch of silver." But how do you deal that damage? A magic missile is fine, but you're surely not going to whack your friend's neck with your greataxe in order to kill a worm that's crawling on him? Do you grapple the worm?! In either case, what difference does it make that the worm's on your friend (or on you), rather than just crawling along on the ground?

I'd like to hear how other people have handled this, and whether or not it worked.

I'd like to hear how other people have handled this, and whether or not it worked.

I let the player describe to me what he / she is doing and then think logically if it will work. Smacking it with an open hand will kill it with 1 hpt, and if you want you can have them roll for an unarmed attack to make sure that in their panicked flailing the've acutally managed to hit it (and there should be panicked flailing... lots of it) I don't know why that wouldn't work.

I don't see that the danger in the worms (as far as game mechanics go) is supposed to be the threat of turning, as there's too many second, third, and fourth chances built in to kill the thing before it turns you. After all, if it was TOO quick the PC groups would quickly join the writhing hordes, which isn't very much fun. What I play on is the fear of what WILL happen if the character doesn't stop and deal with the threat of the worm. Do I use my action this round to fight back against the bad guy wholloping on my head or do I give him my back to smack off this worm that just dropped on my shoulder?

So, I spend more time describing the set up and forcing them to make a quick decision about where they are putting their attention that round and describing to me what they are doing to deal with the worm, and that works for us.

I've been using DC 20 Heal checks to "surgically" remove them before they get to the brain of the afflicted.

After that, it's Remove Course, Cure Disease, and the like, or else it's lights out.

Thanks for the feedback! I have some follow-up questions....

Smacking it with an open hand will kill it with 1 hp, and if you want you can have them roll for an unarmed attack to make sure that in their panicked flailing they've actually managed to hit it

Okay, but if you miss the worm, do you hit yourself (or your friend)? If so, how much damage do you do to yourself (or your friend)? Is the worm's AC different because it's crawling on you (or your friend)?

I don't see that the danger in the worms (as far as game mechanics go) is supposed to be the threat of turning, as there's too many second, third, and fourth chances built in to kill the thing before it turns you.

After the first round, only remove curse, remove disease, or a DC 20 Heal check can kill the worm, right? It seems to me that these methods may be in short supply, given that every attack by a spawn of Kyuss (or similar) can put a worm on a PC.

Okay, but if you miss the worm, do you hit yourself (or your friend)? If so, how much damage do you do to yourself (or your friend)? Is the worm's AC different because it's crawling on you (or your friend)?

I would say who you hit depends on who the worm is on. If you're trying to get it off yourself, I would say it's just a miss. Picture looking down at your arm and seeing a giant tarantula (unless you're type that likes them as pets of course... can substitute whatever). You freak out, you flail, you jump, and you try in a panicked way to brush it aside. Do you do damage to yourself if you miss it in your akward flailing? Likely not.

But if it's on your friend, and you yell "Hold still!" and then pick up a telephone book to smack the wasp on their back, you may leave a bruise or a red mark from a smack. If the attack roll is particualrly high, you may roll 1d4 for damage to the friend (as the hit was particularly exuberant.)

And if you REALLY wanted, I guess you could make the worm harder to hit if it's crawling on your friend with the assumption that your friend is jumping about screaming "Get it OFF me!". Though if your friend is standing calmly, then no, I wouldn't raise the AC.

Again, a lot of the answers depend on the situation you're setting up and the way your players tell you their characters are responding (or the way the dice decide through reaction rolls... panicked or calm).

And if your pal is fleeing at top speed, due to the Spawn's fear effect, you have to keep pace with him, you only get one attack, and I'd add his Dex and Dodge bonuses to the worm's AC...<cackle>