What happens if a Paladin tries to use Smite Evil on a Worm that Walks?

[Frosty]

Is a Worm That Walks even a legal target for Smite evil? Does the WtW count as one creature or many creatures for the purposes of Smite evil? On a related note, can a paladin smite a fiendish swarm of Fine size?

[Eldaran]

Luckily Smite Evil just says one target, you can even smite an evil chair if you want to. Worm That Walks is still one target, same with swarms.

[Florian]

Is a Worm That Walks even a legal target for Smite evil? Does the WtW count as one creature or many creatures for the purposes of Smite evil? On a related note, can a paladin smite a fiendish swarm of Fine size?

Smite affects the Paladin, not the target. Keep in mind that you can activate smite on a non-legal target, too, which simply wastes one smite/day. In this case, a worm that walks is primarily one single target creature, so go smiting.

[Eldaran]

Smite affects the Paladin, not the target. Keep in mind that you can activate smite on a non-legal target, too, which simply wastes one smite/day. In this case, a worm that walks is primarily one single target creature, so go smiting.

Are you thinking of 3.5? Because that's not how it works in Pathfinder, and you still ignore DR on non-evil targets.

[Florian]

Are you thinking of 3.5? Because that's not how it works in Pathfinder, and you still ignore DR on non-evil targets.

Smite is a self-buff that needs a target to activate and gives further boni depending on target type.
Now technically, a WtW is immune to single target spells, but that defensive quality doesn´t come into it due to how smite works.

[Frosty]

But is the WTW a legal target for the benefits of smite? I've seen some argue that the paladin would only be suiting one individual Worm out of the thousands that make up the body of the WTW.

[Psyren]

The trouble here is the clause "physical effect." If you define Smite Evil as a physical effect then it doesn't work. Personally I don't think it is, because it is an intangible buff on the paladin rather than something that exists in the world.

If you define Smite Evil as a physical effect, then just about anything else is too, and the WtW is immune to any damage that isn't AoE (which I don't think was the intent.)

[Frosty]

Has physical effect ever been defined anywhere?

[Psyren]

Has physical effect ever been defined anywhere?

People have been bickering about the definition of "effect" since 3.0, good luck :smalltongue:

(This is basically one of those vague areas in the rules where a GM needs to weigh in and make a decision.)

[Sayt]

Physical effects arent defined specifically in the CRB, so we fall back on semantics, for effects... that are physical. Does physical really /need/ to be defined?

Anyway, a paladin's smite calls out that you choose 'a target'. Not 'one creature', but 'a target'. Fiendish rat swarm? One target. Worm that walks? One target. Troop of hobgoblins? One Targer: Set Phasers to Smite.

Also, there is a FAQ stating that smite is an effect on the paladin (http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1fm#v5748eaic9qv0), not the target, or a wielded weapon, so the WTW doesnt have anything to be immune too, all the effects smite has are on the paladin, not the WYW

So the paladin spends his swift action to print the worm a ticket on the pain train, clips it, and then squashes a writhing heap of invertebrates.

[Psyren]

That FAQ cite definitely leans me (further) towards "worm isn't immune."

[Frosty]

That's good points. Calling out one target instead of one creature probably wins the argument.

[Florian]

But is the WTW a legal target for the benefits of smite? I've seen some argue that the paladin would only be suiting one individual Worm out of the thousands that make up the body of the WTW.

A WtW is still only one target. It´s defensive swarm traits are simply a subset of rules of that one target that come into play under certain conditions. Else you couldn't´t target it with mind-affecting spells, are detection and divination spells, and so on. Now our pally could also use alchemists fire or a dragon fire pistol to do the smiting, like against all swarm types.

[souridealist]

I feel like it's more within the spirit of the rules for a Worm that Walks to be a valid target? I mean, it's a nauseatingly vile undead nightmare. That's exactly the sort of thing a Smite Evil is meant to kill.

[Frosty]

Actually, a Worm that walks is NOT undead. It is vermin but not undead. Healing spells heal them.

[souridealist]

My mistake! That's what I get for skimming, I guess.

That said, it's a nauseatingly vile inherently evil nightmare, so I stand by my general point. It seems like a textbook example of the sort of thing one ought to be able to smite.