Could a spell caster turn someone who isnt a spell caster into a worm that walks?

[ElMogwai]

i know a fighter or monk, etc... wouldnt make a great worm that walks since they have no spells but i was just wondering if they could in fact do it.

 

[Empirate]

Baleful Polymorph
Polymorph Any Object

 

[ElMogwai]

i meant an actual worm that walks. like permanently turn them into one using the full ceremony and everything

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Can you cite the book the ritual comes from?

 

[Ahnehnois]

Work that Walks (ELH revised entry).

According to the rules, the answer is clearly no:

“Worm that walks” is a template that can be added to any evil wizard or sorcerer.

Even the PF version has similar language.

If you want to make up some rules for doing it because you want such a creature in your game, don't let that stop you.

By making eldritch preparations on a burial plot, a powerful spellcaster can improve the likelihood of a worm that walks emerging from the ground. The body is buried in an elaborate ritual that, the spellcaster hopes, will attract a critical mass of worms or maggots. The spellcaster performing the ritual must spend 10,000 gp in rare reagents for the ceremony. Furthermore, the ritual drains 2,000 XP from the spell-caster and requires the following spells: limited wish, polymorph any object, summon swarm (heightened to 7th level), and sympathy. Even if the ritual is performed correctly, there is only a chance that the deceased spellcaster will arise as a worm that walks. For each prepared but uncast arcane spell the deceased had at the moment of death (or unused spell slots if a spontaneous caster), there’s a 1% chance that a worm that walks will slither from the grave soil in 1d4 days. Some worms that walk arise spontaneously from ordinary burial plots, but such an event is exceedingly rare. And an epic spell can create worms that walk every time without fail.

You could simply say (for some reason that you decide) that your nonmagical character simply is one of the ones that rises spontaneously. Or you could say that an epic spell lets you do it.

 

[Jacob]

It is true the template specifically notes it's meant for spellcasters, especially given the nature of how one spontaneously turns into one. However there is a loophole through the use of an epic spell found on the same page where the rules are laid out...

GATHERING OF MAGGOTS
Conjuration (Healing)
Spellcraft DC: 49
Components: V, S, D F
Casting Time: 7 days
Target: Dead creature touched
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
To Develop: 441,000 gp; 9 days; 17,640 XP. Seeds: life (DC 27), transform (DC 21). Factors: change creature type to aberration (+5 DC); add worm that walks’ spell-like, extraordinary, and supernatural abilities (+40 DC). Mitigating factors: increase casting time by 10 minutes (-20 DC); increase casting time by 7 days (-14 DC).

When this spell is cast, worms or maggots slither and crawl their way inexorably toward the corpse touched. Over the course of the next week, they consume the flesh of the corpse, and when the last bit of the corpse is devoured, the creature is returned to a semblance of life as a worm that walks

The spell doesn't say the target needs to be a spellcaster, and this spell turns the target into a Worm That Walks without failure. So as long as you can find an Epic Spellcaster to work a week upon your dead Fighter/Monk, you're going to be alright.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

If you're the DM or otherwise have the freedom to create the character, would a single level dip into Wizard or Sorcerer for your Fighter or Monk character be enough to meet the prereqs?

 

[Jacob]

If you're the DM or otherwise have the freedom to create the character, would a single level dip into Wizard or Sorcerer for your Fighter or Monk character be enough to meet the prereqs?

I believe it would, if one wanted to be very strict about it. However, we are talking about a 8% or 4% chance of success (Sorceror/Wizard respectfully). Gathering of Maggots is 100% but with the issue of having at minimum a 21st Lvl caster, and expenses larger than the original ritual. Said ritual requires a caster at least capable of casting 9th Lvl magic, and willing to shell out 10000 GP and 2000 XP. In comparison to Gathering of Maggots (441000 GP, 17640 XP, rarity of the caster), it's a large gulf...though the caster IS capable of casting this spell over and over again at no extra cost to the caster (save the 7 day casting, though the Epic Spell can be modified).

 

[the Jester]

Gathering of Maggots seems like the way to go if you want to be by the book.

I will note that 4e has a ton of variants of the worm that walks (listed under "larva mage" or something). There are worm-that-walks assassins, warriors, etc.