My players are going to be coming up against a fairly dangerous antagonist soon, a wizard-turned-worm-that-walks. Overall, I'm quite pleased with the template, since it greatly shores up the character's defensive capabilities.
But.
While I love the concept of Squirming Embrace, where the PCs' meleers reach the wizard, only to find themselves be-wormed, I can't figure out a way to make it mechanically effective (that is, the wizard would worm the PCs rather than blast them with Disintegrate). Any suggestions? It's a niche thing, but I'd like to make it good enough to at least surprise the PCs.
You're looking at this ability in the wrong way.
This template is assigned to any evil spellcasting creature. You're immediately going "alright, Wizard gets lots of defensive abilities!"
The problem is that wizards, by and large, aren't going to be using a slam attack, and that's fine because they're not built that way.
But don't think that this is just a template for wizards.
Rangers can be evil spellcasters.
Antipaladins can be evil spellcasters.
Clerics can be evil spellcasters.
Bards can be evil spellcasters.
Magus can be evil spellcasters.
Warpriests can be evil spellcasters.
Many spellcasting classes would love the boosts this template provides, and probably get a whole lot more out of it than a Wizard.
I am well aware of this. :-p But this specific character is a wizard, and it's a bit late in the campaign to respec them as an anti-paladin. This I asked about wizards.
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A wizard just isn't going to have the BAB to pull this off. As they would have to succeed at the grapple.
What you could do is alter the ability so that he spawns 5ft swarms without having to grapple. Make it a ranged touch attack as he fires a stream of worms. Also, have him use Black Tentacles but with a wormy appearance.
Edit: I finally noticed the Tenacious ability which grants +4 on grapple checks, for a total +8 on a grab check. But you still need to make the initial hit to start the grab.
Your wizard could use the spell transformation to temporarily become full BAB. They could also use true strike to get one guaranteed grapple.
If your wizard has decent dexterity, the Agile Maneuvers feat, combined with template's dexterity boost, could help out in the grappling department.
You might also consider only using Squirming Embrace against caster PCs. They're likely to have lower CMD, and be far more hindered by the distraction ability than any martial.
Telekinesis is also technically grappling, perhaps when your Worm-that-walks casts it, it's accompanied by a few floating worms so that the Squirming Embrace ability functions?
Then go full melee mode on your wizard. Displacement, Mage Armor, Shield, Mirror Image, Haste, (Tenser's) Transformation etc. Worm away to your heart's content. Wizards can self buff to get some impressive melee combat abilities. They just usually don't bother since their standard actions are better spent on other stuff.
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Then go full melee mode on your wizard. Displacement, Mage Armor, Shield, Mirror Image, Haste, (Tenser's) Transformation etc. Worm away to your heart's content. Wizards can self buff to get some impressive melee combat abilities. They just usually don't bother since their standard actions are better spent on other stuff.
That's sort of his point though. Why would the wormy wizard use his melee stuff when he could cast a spell and be much more effective?
He wouldn't, and that's my point. Just because the template adds a feature, doesn't mean you necessarily have to use that feature in combat. Lots of monsters have abilities that you don't end up using simply because there's not enough actions in one combat.
This template's ability plays well to melee spellcaster strengths, but not a Wizard's style. That's fine. Enjoy the defensive buffs and just ignore the weak special attack unless you plan to spend your combat actions in melee.
It wouldn't. It isn't ability to focus on. Being a mass of wriggling worms that cast spells are the primary focus of this template.
Having an ability to infest grappled enemies with worms is to be used only in very specific situations... Like ambushing low Fortitude caster...
Strangling hair - depending on level possibly quickened strangling hair - might work. Tho' on a Worm that walks it might be strangling worms I suppose.
Strangling hair - depending on level possibly quickened strangling hair - might work. Tho' on a Worm that walks it might be strangling worms I suppose.
Strangling hairy worms...
A Wizard wtw won't go melee unless it is a last resort.
He will fight like a wizard.
Ignore the ability unless your out of spell. Just burn through every high level spell you have.