Pedant patrol would like to inform you that it’s not technically a bite. The venom is delivered like a sting via modified legs called forcipules that are near but not part of the mouth parts. You are, however, right about the nasty part, as I can personally and repeatedly attest.
I actually caught once years ago an itty-bitty little scorpion that had its venom injectors in its needle-like pincers. Did not know that till tried to identify it.
Good-bye bite causes a session-long side quest to find the right ointment for infected Giant Centipede bite, complete with multiple medical professionals saying "You tried to use *what* as a belt?! Are you *STUPID*?"
I was about to add that. A centipede bite hurts a lot. It might leave a temporary affect on the barbarian, like light sensitivity until they do a short rest.
Also, the centipede might excrete stinky goop if exposed to daylight. It's a dark dwelling creature, after all. This goop attracts insects, and maybe some birds trying to eat the insects. That might be annoying but funny.
"Trousers fall down" is, by a very wide margin, the best possible outcome. A giant centipede can do a maximum of 6 piercing damage plus 18 poison damage in a turn. That almost certainly knocks a level 2 character unconscious.
For a decision that dumb and ridiculous, a bite seems pretty reasonable.
Side effects may include nausea, dizziness, rash or swelling near the injection site, dry eyes, hot flashes, or flu-like symptoms.
If you experience an erection lasting more than four hours, contact a clerical professional immediately.
“Alright, you’re finally meeting the king of the lands and the centipede scuttles away! Barbarian, roll a sleight of hand check. 9? You fail to catch your pants before they fall, exposing your loin cloth to his highest majesty.”
Perfect moment.
It’s the BBEG. They’ve dropped their monologue and the barbarian takes to the frontlines. He charges in, battleaxe at the ready, veins pulsing with unparalleled energy, his eyes go bloodshot, his body is so hot it’s almost like steam is radiating off his absolutely shredded physique.
Each pounding step in the charge shakes the very foundation of the ground the party stands on, small earthquakes as the sheer power of his stride crushes the earth beneath his feet.
Distance is closed, axe is lifted, the air is a beautiful mix of chaotic energy and a profound feeling of achieving destiny.
Four steps before reaching BBEG the centipede just goes “boop”, pants fall down, Barbarian trips hard, axe goes flying out of hands straight in the air, barbarian face plants with enough force to create a small crater in the ground right before the axe falls gracefully from the heavens into their ass.
Or worse, have it be some exotic centipede with a strong toxin. It will give him poisoned effect that no healer around can cure, and for the next day he will lose 1 hp permanently every 3 hours. Also give him a nice healthy dark green skin color to boot. Sometimes players gotta learn stuff the hard way.
Or worse, have it be some exotic centipede with a strong toxin. It will give him poisoned effect that no healer around can cure, and for the next day he will lose 1 hp permanently every 3 hours. Also give him a nice healthy dark green skin color to boot. Sometimes players gotta learn stuff the hard way.
"Or should I just let it slide and watch him constantly fail his animal
handling checks and slowly dying to his own stubbornness and stupidity?"
Yeah. He tries, it bites him, simple as.
This. It's a creature. It's not going to just sit in place as a belt. Honestly, I question the player to even think about using a living creature as a belt like it would somehow work. I mean, it's a fantasy game but it still makes no damn sense.
Tbf, if they put the thought into it, they could lobotomise the centipede and then use it as a belt, or turn it into some kind of familiar for the barbarian, one of those moments where I'd probably let them know that just taking it as is won't work and depending on party make up and if they've discussed this with the party, then hint at possible solutions and let them work it out. Because I mean, a living giant centipede belt, despite being creepy is still pretty damn cool.
They know it’s a dumb idea so telling them or trying to convince them won’t matter because they are already aware…so like so many players in the past the lesson must be learned the hard way 😂
Kind of reminds me on an old AD&D game I once ran, the cleric wanted to go off on his own and use animal friendship spell to tame a Velociraptor (Jurassic Park was super hot at the time) so he used survival to track one, off on his own, found it, kept trying...
...and getting hit by it, losing his spell...
...and getting hit, losing his spell ..
...until at about 10 hit points left, he was in a 1-on-1 fight for his life, killing the thing with him having 1hp remaining, stalked back quietly to the nearby fort where the party was holed up, showing up looking like hamburger and not telling anyone ANYTHING...
... And the rest of the table died laughing, it was one of our favorite stories for YEARS...
Similar story: I had an AD&D Wizard player who liked to go invisible then leave the party to go scouting, splitting up my time as DM. Which is OK to a point, and after that annoying, and the player knew he was crossing this line sometimes and did it anyway.
One time that player wasn't there, party explored new wilderness area, found tribe of goblins who kept wolves as pets - fairly standard fantasy trope right out of The Hobbit.
Next time all players are there. Wizard player announces he'll go invisible and scout the goblin lair. Gets surrounded by wolves who can smell him. Barely gets out alive. Grumbles "I guess there weren't wolves last time, funny how the DM made them up when I was here."
Another player says, "No we met the wolves before, we just didn't mention them to you."
Yep. If the barb is insistent they want a living belt, run with it and let them learn the hard way why using a long, crawly, potentially poisonous insect to hold up your leggings is a bad idea.
What is the tone of your game? Has it been explicitly stated that it's a serious game? If so, then let him make bad choices, play it straight, and let him suffer the consequences.
However, if the tone is often more fun and hijinx, I actually think you should mostly let him do it. It sounds like he's not looking for a mechanical benefit, just flavor. Let role play how he does, make him roll a couple fake checks, then give him this! These sorts of stupid, funny ideas are a huge part of what makes characters unique, and I guarantee this will become a running joke that your party will talk about for years.
Even better, lean in. Over time, make it his pet. Make it love him. Let him teach it to roll over. Someday give him the option to use a feat or waist slot or something and make it his familiar.
From personal experience, I can guarantee you and your table will have more fun and some beloved memories if you look to enable these moments when possible (again, if that fits the tone of your game).
If the centipede’s head is functioning as a belt buckle then the centipede’s jaws are right next to something that the barbarian probably values quite highly. If you point this out he’ll probably reconsider.
Then every morning roll initiative to fight the belt to get it on. Daily combat encounter where you risk killing your belt, might make them reconsider too.
Player decides PC Actions.
DM adjudicates consequences. Simple as.
A sternly raised eyebrow or a "are you sure you want to do that" is all the warning a player should need. If they want to carry on, that's their call.
Something like this - don't kill him for it. Remember the centipede probably just wants to get away. Give him a couple of bites and then scarper - but maybe let him find a shed centipede skin later that he can use instead?
Ultimately it's all about fun and he's trying something pretty cool, if completely stupid. Rule of cool says find a way to make it work. Rule of stupid says this won't work. Up to you to find a middle way here, but don't totally punish the player for it.
Have it work suspiciously easily. Have multiple NPCs comment how weird it is that it worked. Have the party wake up one night to see it sneaking away. It's actually a spy for the big bad and he knows everything they have been up to
I would, quite anticlimactically, handle this like so. The barbarian has to use one hand to maintain grapple on the centipede at all times. The centipede will constantly try to escape the grapple using standard rules.
Sometimes the centipede gets tired and stops (when you're bored of it) but there is no guarantee it won't start again. He has to be constantly vigilant. And during this time, it will simply refuse to eat, having more severe concerns, and eventually starve to death.
Idk, sounds cool to me. It’s esthetic, unique, and frankly a little funny. I always play by the tule of cool. Now, with it being a living creature there would be some limitations and issues, sure, but other than his “belt” getting scared and running off because of some fear effect and not letting it have a turn in the initiative since it is a piece of clothing for all intents and purposes.
A centipede, wrapped around his waist?
Like 3” from his junk?
*Roll for initiative, with disadvantage, and you’re surprised, and make a CON save at disadvantage, subtracting your CHA-modifier, falling prone and stunned if you fail with DC 20.*
Let your players try ANYTHING they ask, never ever ever ever tell them a flat out "No you can't do that" unless other players themselves are uncomfortable with it (problematic stuff).
But ALWAYS throw in a concerned "Are you sure you want to try that?" to warn them. D&D is the epitome of "fuck around and find out." Always let your players find out 😂
Simple, the centipede try to kill him or run for it. If the barbarian die because of that, tel the player it is not your fault, it is the barbarian fault for picking a centipede and try to use it as belt. Nothing stop him to buy one build to look like one.
>Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or take 10 (3d6) poison damage.
Seems like it's gonna take care of itself, 3d6 poison damage seems pretty convincing to me, especially at level 2.
As with most questions like this: "your player is being an idiot - don't let them".
Consider a real world example. "A big snake? Awesome, I'm going to use it as a living belt!". Well, either: the snake is killed in the attempt, the snake fucks off during the attempt (with or without biting the person in question)...and that's really your options.
It is a \*wild animal\*. Some asshole is trying to wrap it around his waist and keep it there. This is not a thing that happens. Why are you even considering it as a possibility?
And even if there was 'Speak with Animals' you have to imagine that the response would be "He wants what? Fuck that. Role for initiative."
The fact you didn't say this is a super serious campaign (Which you would if it was, because that's extremely relevant to how this story should be taken) means it probably isn't.
Dunno why everyone has to shit on the Barbarian trying to have a little laugh and suggesting he be punished for trying, it's like you never got to have fun in your own games and want to punish other people for having fun
Let the man scare this centipede into pretending it's a belt, let the man have his own little "Chuck Norris has a bear rug in his room, the bears not dead it's just afraid to move" moment
That would be kind of funny too! I’ll never understand why dms are so against a player doing something harmlessly stupid. Like unless the centipede the barbarian picked up is the BBEG or THAT plot relevant that having it as a belt would derail the plot, I don’t see why he can’t roll for the hell of it. If he fails, have it run off, I think some people are going overboard with it. I think it’d be such a turn off to try and do something like this and have my characters balls fall off or become impregnated with the egg of a centipede all for attempting to make a fashion statement.
I don’t think even if they had ‘Speak with Animals’ or ‘Animal Friendship’ they should be able to convince a giant centipede to be a belt since that doesn’t exactly sound like a friendship like thing to do.
Why not give him a chance? Make it a high dc and if he somehow makes it great he was clever and hot a really cool new item. If he fails it bites him and maybe he tries again later, and he can still get a cool item.
I’m mostly echoing what others have said here, but as a perm-GM, I like to hear myself talk. This isn’t a problem at all. Your player has given you a precious, precious gift. I spend sleepless nights *praying* that my players do this kind of shit.
Please use it to its full comedic effect. I beg you.
That sounds like a great idea! I wish my players would use centipedes as belts. So much fun to mess with them using it. So far they have only befriended the secret illusory murder spiders. The only question is when to reveal that thier beloved spiders are fake... Muahahah
“Your character would understand that this is a sentient creature that doesn’t think of you as an ally. Do you still want to proceed?”
“Yes”
Alright it attacks you.
The concept sounds kind off cool to me, and unique. I'd file it in the bank of something to go back to at higher levels, perhaps with a twist. First, though. I'd just be strait forward with the player and say: "Cool idea! But currently at the moment you have no real way to accomplish it. Then sight the lack of a way to accomplish it as your stated. However down the line I think we could work something like that in later." Then later down the line he could use level up for something like a animal familiar, or perhaps you can reward it as loot or a magical armor craftsmen could craft it for him a be-spelled belt that is like the centipede. If they work with you and have patients to wait give them a reward for that, make the belt some cool sort magical item.
It's just how I would handle it. I think it's best to reward players for thinking out of the box, it's what gives games the best flavors. Just my 2 cents....
Make him Intimidate it to stay and eventually it just gets Stockholm syndrome and stays for good. Allow some fun, silly stuff for your players so long as it doesn't break too many rules or the game
What's the harm in just letting him try? Success let him have it then see if he remembers to feed it. Have it start nibbling his trousers or arm if he doesn't feed it. Fail it hisses than crawls away and if he is persistence in trying have it bite him.
>Or should I just let it slide and watch him constantly fail his animal handling checks and slowly dying to his own stubbornness and stupidity?
That. Definitely that.
Let them have it, name it, love it.
Then next time they need to roll a save against an area of effect spell (or similar) they have to roll 2. Centipedes have about 4 hit points.
Now they have to mourn it and you can bathe in their tears!
Let him succeed... the centipede wondrously coils around his waist... and during the first short rest it bites him and he can't get it off easily.... 1d4 damage after each rest for 3 days or till he gets it off.
Or just let him roll for it and if he succeeds let him have it? Idk why you’re so against it, your friend finds it to be a fun idea, if the rolls allow, let it slide. It is a group game after all
Uhm, this is a super cool idea, it will add fun for him. Why would you want to convince him otherwise? The rule is, if it’s cool, it’s cool
Let it bite him, take him to the brink of death, or let it be a funny event with centipede in his pants — then let him wear a dead centipede.
Barbarian the conqueror of centipedes
you dont!
We barbarian players LIVE FOR THESE STUPID BUT FUN KINDS OF DECISIONS!! we wanna do dumb stuff just to see if it can work out or not, but we have the hp to regret it later if it doesnt work out!
make it a challange, let him most certainly try, and if it doesnt work he had the fun of pushing the limits of what you can do with a centipede!
Why is it a bad idea? Once you know, then let him see that.... 🤷 if they made a character that is too foolish to survive in the world, the dice will fall as they are supposed to.
whats the real issue here? let him roll intimidation. let him succeed and then forever he will tell people about this cool moment he had with a cool character with this cool dm. it literally wont cost you anything to just let the player have this laugh
It's just a bit of set dressing. Where the harm in letting him do it?
It has no special abilities, or rules, or anything, it's just a belt that adds to the characters roll play.
Just let him roll and try, every time he fails the DM goes up though and eventually the creature gets annoyed and bites him in his nuts as he tried to force it to hold his trousers up lol.
Give the centipede big bug eyes and every time he looks at it out looks at him like pus in boots, being to be released. Then have it whine all of the time, giving him -10 on stealth and charisma checks. I know centipedes don't normally whine, but this one can.
Sure, he gets it wrapped around him.
But jeez, why is it so tight? And getting tighter?! Madness!
Oh, hey, I didn't know they had the burrow ability! Guess who gets a new phobia if they survive!
Why wouldn't you just have the centipede attack him as soon as he picks it up and tries to wear it? Is it that hard to imagine that would be the most obvious outcome?
Just have it bite him.. what is going on here. If you think it would bite him, just do it. Do you need to have a side conversation, no. Do you need to explain it, no. Is it something a normal person would do, no.
You don’t have to convince him of anything. Just let him try to grapple it, then another check to tie it up, and when he’s finally wearing it, just make it attack him all the time
I had a weird fighter cleric that used a bug carapace as a helmet. Bug was dead of course. I’d let him do it and make him constantly roll for animal handling and make the bug role to stay alive.
You have two options:
1. Roll initutive and run this as a combat encounter as soon as they try to pick up the creature.
2. Have them roll an animal handling check with a failure turning this into combat.
??? It just attacks him, what's the issue? Why do you need to convince him of anything?
>I grab the biggest centipede and make a belt from it.
"It dashes forward and tries to bite you, roll initiative."
I'd give make it possible like 3 successful animal handling checks in a row (one per day at dawn) and it becomes docile enough to work every failure he gets bitten and takes the poisoned condition for the rest of the day. (A poisoned creature has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.)
Why would you want to stop it? Best case it works, and he now has an animal companion named “belt”. Worst case he gets bitten by his ‘belt’ in the ‘below the belt’ area.
So I'm gonna guess the head would be where a belt loop would go. Now centipede poison is known to cause:
Pain
Swelling
Itching
Mild bleeding
And in rare cases, a hardening of the skin and necrosis
Each of these symptoms may persist for several days, and I imagine that near the belt loop area is a very sensitive and possibly high traffic (I don't know your group lol) area in which these symptoms would prove very disruptive to everyday life. Id be telling the barbarian to roll a Con save with disadvantage.
Personally, I would not let a literal demon (centipede, real or not) anywhere near such sensitive areas that a belt frequents.
Can the Barbarian try? Sure. Will the Barbarian receive several very nasty bites (rolled with advantage, possibly even auto-crit, because it is *right there*) in said sensitive areas? Also yes.
if he wants to do something like that, then a great deal of magical tinkering will need to happen during downtime to both research and craft it into a magic item. the barb wpuld likely need access to an arcane lab with good creature containment.
when it's done, it becomes a magic belt. as an action, the barb can take off the belt and throw it to the ground. then it becomes a giant centipede under the barb's command for x amount of time, before reverting back into a belt. it cannot be used this way again until the following dawn.
Give the centipede pincers mouth, and to make animal friendship or speak with animal rolls, if he fails, the centipede continuously bites him for piercing damage
If it were me, i'd have him roll an animal handling check. Make it a high DC, but doable - 15, maybe. On failure, roll for initiative. On success, he succeeds. Then, every time he takes a long rest, he has to roll a flat d20, and on a 10 or below his pants walk away and he has to chase them down or find them again.
I would keep it simple. Let him put the centipede around his waste and tell him the centipede falls off. He can keep trying but the success role to convince a creature to stay is very high, so he will keep failing.
Two ways to go. He gets it to work and it rebels and leaves. Many funny scenarios possible there.
Or you can roll play his attempt to tame and teach it to be a belt. He isn't a druid or ranger so he doesn't have animal friendship skills. How does he capture it without killing? How does he befriend (or terrify it) so that it won't run as soon as it hits the ground unbound. How does he train it to be a belt? Many points on that line which would likely result in failure.
No matter how you deal with it, it is best done in game w/ roll play to achieve what ever may happen.
What’s the harm in using a giant centipede’s hide to make a bel… oh, they think they can loosely attach a living giant centipede… as a belt? Alive? You could have them make an intelligence check, and honestly anything over >=5 I’d say their character recognizes living creatures don’t make good or cooperative belts. If they still try anyway the centipede will do what centipedes do when threatened - bite. It will do its best to bite and then run away to safety. Now, they could piecework bits of the centipede’s hide into a belt or belt decorations, but this would not feasibly work on a living one without the aid of magic at minimum and even with that favorable DM fiat.
I agree that letting them think it could work for a funny gag just for the centipede to act as anticipated could work, but I would still have them roll insight/intelligence/nature, really anything. If they still proceed, have fun with it!
Let him have it. Centipede was a plant by the BBEG and listens in on the party. Every now and then just have the thing creepily attention lock on folks why they are planning.
I would think a near life encounter would fix this problem. Simply have the thing immediately attack, nearly kill them and have it killed to remove the current problem. If they don't learn from the encounter, let 'em die.
He wants to fuck around, let him find out! A wild creature forced into a situation like that is going to bite, scratch, relieve itself as a defense mechanism, and if stuck there too long possibly even lay eggs. Even if the thrashing doesn't dissuade him, waking up in the middle of a centipede swarm every so often might...
I see 3 potential options here:
1. Say no, this is kinda how I would lean. A centipede doesn’t want to be a belt and isn’t really intelligent enough to understand that you want it to be a belt. It would try to bite, get away, or kill the barbarian.
2. Maybe kill it and take it to a magical smith, have then kinda animate it and make it a “living” belt. The legs move and everything and it functions as a belt but isn’t a living thing.
3. Like others have suggested, it *seems* to cooperate. It sits still (possibly out of shock) and at (a moment where it would be preferably comical) moment of your choosing it skidded off, causing the barbs pants to fall.
Ask them if they are ready to get bit? If they want to continue, have them roll an animal handling check with a very hard DC. When they fail, they get bit and take full damage with no way to mitigate this as they were willingly messing with a wild animal that didn't want to interact with the. So it would be 6 points of piercing damage and then have to do the constitution save against the poison damage. After the bite the centipede scurries off and can't be found. It should hopefully teach them a lesson about playing with wild animals.
Nonono. Let him think he suceeded. Then. At a crucial point. BAM centinpeed runs off and his trousers fall down for comedic effect
Add a "good-bye bite" to the mix and lesson learned.
Centipedes have **nasty** bites, very painful I heard
Pedant patrol would like to inform you that it’s not technically a bite. The venom is delivered like a sting via modified legs called forcipules that are near but not part of the mouth parts. You are, however, right about the nasty part, as I can personally and repeatedly attest.
I would like to subscribe to your centipede facts.
Check this guy out! https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQAxoiMhTUC_aZnL33RlAFMThbk6YVc2TJOsA&usqp=CAU
That's awesome looking!
It’s hard for me to believe it’s real.
This is the kind of comment that makes Reddit awesome. Thank you.
Why ... repeatedly?
There are a lot where I grew up.
Where is that, exactly? Just so I can mark it off my list of places to ever visit.
Hawai’i
Brah, saw one HUGE centipede at Hilo zoo one time! Fakka was 13 or 14 inches at least.
….fuck. Ok, risking some centipedes is worth it.
A lot of people with a centipede fetish?
Yo that's pretty cool, thanks for sharing with the class
Sounds like someone tried to use a giant centipede as a belt...
I actually caught once years ago an itty-bitty little scorpion that had its venom injectors in its needle-like pincers. Did not know that till tried to identify it.
Mynd you, centipede bites Kan be pretti nasti
A centipede once bit my sister… no realli!
Yeh shi wuz karvink her inishuls in itZ karapis wif a sharpined toothbrish
Good-bye bite causes a session-long side quest to find the right ointment for infected Giant Centipede bite, complete with multiple medical professionals saying "You tried to use *what* as a belt?! Are you *STUPID*?"
“What is the lore behind wearing a centipede belt? Why would you do this? Are you stupid!?”
A "good-bite", if you will
I was about to add that. A centipede bite hurts a lot. It might leave a temporary affect on the barbarian, like light sensitivity until they do a short rest. Also, the centipede might excrete stinky goop if exposed to daylight. It's a dark dwelling creature, after all. This goop attracts insects, and maybe some birds trying to eat the insects. That might be annoying but funny.
"Trousers fall down" is, by a very wide margin, the best possible outcome. A giant centipede can do a maximum of 6 piercing damage plus 18 poison damage in a turn. That almost certainly knocks a level 2 character unconscious. For a decision that dumb and ridiculous, a bite seems pretty reasonable.
Side effects may include nausea, dizziness, rash or swelling near the injection site, dry eyes, hot flashes, or flu-like symptoms. If you experience an erection lasting more than four hours, contact a clerical professional immediately.
Did I say two fingers? I meant three…
Stay away from the Frenzied Flame tarnished…
May chaos take the world.
MAY CHAOS! TAKE! THE WORLD!
Funnily enough, a hammer *would* potentially be the realistic solution to the last part. Heard that it's a common action, when dealing with such.
This haha
This thread is pretty good example of the 2 types of D&D Group/DM. Monty python vs game of thrones.
You're not wrong.
“Alright, you’re finally meeting the king of the lands and the centipede scuttles away! Barbarian, roll a sleight of hand check. 9? You fail to catch your pants before they fall, exposing your loin cloth to his highest majesty.”
"Uh... I wasn't... wearing one... "
Perfect moment. It’s the BBEG. They’ve dropped their monologue and the barbarian takes to the frontlines. He charges in, battleaxe at the ready, veins pulsing with unparalleled energy, his eyes go bloodshot, his body is so hot it’s almost like steam is radiating off his absolutely shredded physique. Each pounding step in the charge shakes the very foundation of the ground the party stands on, small earthquakes as the sheer power of his stride crushes the earth beneath his feet. Distance is closed, axe is lifted, the air is a beautiful mix of chaotic energy and a profound feeling of achieving destiny. Four steps before reaching BBEG the centipede just goes “boop”, pants fall down, Barbarian trips hard, axe goes flying out of hands straight in the air, barbarian face plants with enough force to create a small crater in the ground right before the axe falls gracefully from the heavens into their ass.
You just described an anime scene. I love it.
Pants drop, Centipede bites dick. Fin.
I was going to say, just let him try and have it attack him, and commence with a combat round or two, but I really like your idea. Love the comedy.
This. Or right up the butt for a reverse goa'uld surprise!
Or He wakes up to find it ate his pants, and is now eating his toes
*his ****
And for less comedic effect it bites him first. D6 damage and roll a con save against being poisoned.
Fails the dex save, starts the round prone and dong a-swinging. But in true Barb fashion finishes the fight raging and pantsless.
Make its many legs keep tickling him so he rolls with disadvantage
The very next time he rolls a 1 on an attack roll, pants fall down, bug runs off.
Or worse, have it be some exotic centipede with a strong toxin. It will give him poisoned effect that no healer around can cure, and for the next day he will lose 1 hp permanently every 3 hours. Also give him a nice healthy dark green skin color to boot. Sometimes players gotta learn stuff the hard way.
Sounds like a garbage idea. Great way to make the rest of the campaign completely non enjoyable. I would not want you as my DM.
Or worse, have it be some exotic centipede with a strong toxin. It will give him poisoned effect that no healer around can cure, and for the next day he will lose 1 hp permanently every 3 hours. Also give him a nice healthy dark green skin color to boot. Sometimes players gotta learn stuff the hard way.
"Or should I just let it slide and watch him constantly fail his animal handling checks and slowly dying to his own stubbornness and stupidity?" Yeah. He tries, it bites him, simple as.
This. It's a creature. It's not going to just sit in place as a belt. Honestly, I question the player to even think about using a living creature as a belt like it would somehow work. I mean, it's a fantasy game but it still makes no damn sense.
Tbf, if they put the thought into it, they could lobotomise the centipede and then use it as a belt, or turn it into some kind of familiar for the barbarian, one of those moments where I'd probably let them know that just taking it as is won't work and depending on party make up and if they've discussed this with the party, then hint at possible solutions and let them work it out. Because I mean, a living giant centipede belt, despite being creepy is still pretty damn cool.
"I want to use this giant centipede as a belt." "OK, roll initiative."
If if for some reason it is temporarily docile, ~~kill them later~~ roll for initiative later.
Actually, the centipede should get a surprise round, no?
Probably, but a surprise round is still supposed to start after initiative is rolled, then in the first round surprised creatures skip their turn
Surprise rounds aren't a thing in 5e. Surprised is a condition with it's own effects and initiative still starts before anything happens.
No
A what now?
PHB pg 189, the first page of the combat section But it wouldn't be appropriate for this scenario
My first thought
They know it’s a dumb idea so telling them or trying to convince them won’t matter because they are already aware…so like so many players in the past the lesson must be learned the hard way 😂
Kind of reminds me on an old AD&D game I once ran, the cleric wanted to go off on his own and use animal friendship spell to tame a Velociraptor (Jurassic Park was super hot at the time) so he used survival to track one, off on his own, found it, kept trying... ...and getting hit by it, losing his spell... ...and getting hit, losing his spell .. ...until at about 10 hit points left, he was in a 1-on-1 fight for his life, killing the thing with him having 1hp remaining, stalked back quietly to the nearby fort where the party was holed up, showing up looking like hamburger and not telling anyone ANYTHING... ... And the rest of the table died laughing, it was one of our favorite stories for YEARS...
Similar story: I had an AD&D Wizard player who liked to go invisible then leave the party to go scouting, splitting up my time as DM. Which is OK to a point, and after that annoying, and the player knew he was crossing this line sometimes and did it anyway. One time that player wasn't there, party explored new wilderness area, found tribe of goblins who kept wolves as pets - fairly standard fantasy trope right out of The Hobbit. Next time all players are there. Wizard player announces he'll go invisible and scout the goblin lair. Gets surrounded by wolves who can smell him. Barely gets out alive. Grumbles "I guess there weren't wolves last time, funny how the DM made them up when I was here." Another player says, "No we met the wolves before, we just didn't mention them to you."
I mean…. My party broke the world and created an alternate reality so… can confirm.
Let’s be honest we’ve all been there.
Yep. If the barb is insistent they want a living belt, run with it and let them learn the hard way why using a long, crawly, potentially poisonous insect to hold up your leggings is a bad idea.
I mean, would it not just attack him if he tried?
What is the tone of your game? Has it been explicitly stated that it's a serious game? If so, then let him make bad choices, play it straight, and let him suffer the consequences. However, if the tone is often more fun and hijinx, I actually think you should mostly let him do it. It sounds like he's not looking for a mechanical benefit, just flavor. Let role play how he does, make him roll a couple fake checks, then give him this! These sorts of stupid, funny ideas are a huge part of what makes characters unique, and I guarantee this will become a running joke that your party will talk about for years. Even better, lean in. Over time, make it his pet. Make it love him. Let him teach it to roll over. Someday give him the option to use a feat or waist slot or something and make it his familiar. From personal experience, I can guarantee you and your table will have more fun and some beloved memories if you look to enable these moments when possible (again, if that fits the tone of your game).
Make him love it, make it love him, and then when the time is right. Kill it.
Two kinds of DMs
Be sure he names it! 😈
If the centipede’s head is functioning as a belt buckle then the centipede’s jaws are right next to something that the barbarian probably values quite highly. If you point this out he’ll probably reconsider.
1d4+2 damage and a con save?
Some players confuse the rule of cool and playing a chaotic stupid character.
Have it bite his pp
I mean... just let him try? And then have him face the consequences of his actions.
Just make it venomous, make it a high but possible check to pass, and if he *does* pass it, then it will die of starvation pretty quick.
Don't tell him what's going on. Just make him make saves every morning after he starts wearing it.
Then every morning roll initiative to fight the belt to get it on. Daily combat encounter where you risk killing your belt, might make them reconsider too.
Have it crawl down his trousers, he’ll soon feel less attached to it.
Or more…
But a centipede belt is cool
Player decides PC Actions. DM adjudicates consequences. Simple as. A sternly raised eyebrow or a "are you sure you want to do that" is all the warning a player should need. If they want to carry on, that's their call. Something like this - don't kill him for it. Remember the centipede probably just wants to get away. Give him a couple of bites and then scarper - but maybe let him find a shed centipede skin later that he can use instead? Ultimately it's all about fun and he's trying something pretty cool, if completely stupid. Rule of cool says find a way to make it work. Rule of stupid says this won't work. Up to you to find a middle way here, but don't totally punish the player for it.
Have it work suspiciously easily. Have multiple NPCs comment how weird it is that it worked. Have the party wake up one night to see it sneaking away. It's actually a spy for the big bad and he knows everything they have been up to
>Largest Centipede he can find Be careful with what you wish for.
Why do you need to "convince" him? This sounds like it'll fail all on its own. Why not let it?
Have the centipede latch on and then leave after a few days after it’s laid it’s eggs in his stomach. That will teach him.
Important question to ask: where will the head and poisonous bits be positioned. No reason. Nothing to worry about...
I would, quite anticlimactically, handle this like so. The barbarian has to use one hand to maintain grapple on the centipede at all times. The centipede will constantly try to escape the grapple using standard rules. Sometimes the centipede gets tired and stops (when you're bored of it) but there is no guarantee it won't start again. He has to be constantly vigilant. And during this time, it will simply refuse to eat, having more severe concerns, and eventually starve to death.
Idk, sounds cool to me. It’s esthetic, unique, and frankly a little funny. I always play by the tule of cool. Now, with it being a living creature there would be some limitations and issues, sure, but other than his “belt” getting scared and running off because of some fear effect and not letting it have a turn in the initiative since it is a piece of clothing for all intents and purposes.
A centipede, wrapped around his waist? Like 3” from his junk? *Roll for initiative, with disadvantage, and you’re surprised, and make a CON save at disadvantage, subtracting your CHA-modifier, falling prone and stunned if you fail with DC 20.*
Let your players try ANYTHING they ask, never ever ever ever tell them a flat out "No you can't do that" unless other players themselves are uncomfortable with it (problematic stuff). But ALWAYS throw in a concerned "Are you sure you want to try that?" to warn them. D&D is the epitome of "fuck around and find out." Always let your players find out 😂
Simple, the centipede try to kill him or run for it. If the barbarian die because of that, tel the player it is not your fault, it is the barbarian fault for picking a centipede and try to use it as belt. Nothing stop him to buy one build to look like one.
>Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or take 10 (3d6) poison damage. Seems like it's gonna take care of itself, 3d6 poison damage seems pretty convincing to me, especially at level 2.
As with most questions like this: "your player is being an idiot - don't let them". Consider a real world example. "A big snake? Awesome, I'm going to use it as a living belt!". Well, either: the snake is killed in the attempt, the snake fucks off during the attempt (with or without biting the person in question)...and that's really your options. It is a \*wild animal\*. Some asshole is trying to wrap it around his waist and keep it there. This is not a thing that happens. Why are you even considering it as a possibility? And even if there was 'Speak with Animals' you have to imagine that the response would be "He wants what? Fuck that. Role for initiative."
The fact you didn't say this is a super serious campaign (Which you would if it was, because that's extremely relevant to how this story should be taken) means it probably isn't. Dunno why everyone has to shit on the Barbarian trying to have a little laugh and suggesting he be punished for trying, it's like you never got to have fun in your own games and want to punish other people for having fun Let the man scare this centipede into pretending it's a belt, let the man have his own little "Chuck Norris has a bear rug in his room, the bears not dead it's just afraid to move" moment
That would be kind of funny too! I’ll never understand why dms are so against a player doing something harmlessly stupid. Like unless the centipede the barbarian picked up is the BBEG or THAT plot relevant that having it as a belt would derail the plot, I don’t see why he can’t roll for the hell of it. If he fails, have it run off, I think some people are going overboard with it. I think it’d be such a turn off to try and do something like this and have my characters balls fall off or become impregnated with the egg of a centipede all for attempting to make a fashion statement.
I don’t think even if they had ‘Speak with Animals’ or ‘Animal Friendship’ they should be able to convince a giant centipede to be a belt since that doesn’t exactly sound like a friendship like thing to do.
It bites him, he is poisoned, he realizes he's dumb?
Insert the Invincible "That's the neat part; you don't" meme here
Yeah... The centipede ain't just gonna let it happen. It's gonna attack and shit
Random constitution checks
Why not give him a chance? Make it a high dc and if he somehow makes it great he was clever and hot a really cool new item. If he fails it bites him and maybe he tries again later, and he can still get a cool item.
You don't convince him of anything, let the dice speak.
I’m mostly echoing what others have said here, but as a perm-GM, I like to hear myself talk. This isn’t a problem at all. Your player has given you a precious, precious gift. I spend sleepless nights *praying* that my players do this kind of shit. Please use it to its full comedic effect. I beg you.
That sounds like a great idea! I wish my players would use centipedes as belts. So much fun to mess with them using it. So far they have only befriended the secret illusory murder spiders. The only question is when to reveal that thier beloved spiders are fake... Muahahah
“Your character would understand that this is a sentient creature that doesn’t think of you as an ally. Do you still want to proceed?” “Yes” Alright it attacks you.
The concept sounds kind off cool to me, and unique. I'd file it in the bank of something to go back to at higher levels, perhaps with a twist. First, though. I'd just be strait forward with the player and say: "Cool idea! But currently at the moment you have no real way to accomplish it. Then sight the lack of a way to accomplish it as your stated. However down the line I think we could work something like that in later." Then later down the line he could use level up for something like a animal familiar, or perhaps you can reward it as loot or a magical armor craftsmen could craft it for him a be-spelled belt that is like the centipede. If they work with you and have patients to wait give them a reward for that, make the belt some cool sort magical item. It's just how I would handle it. I think it's best to reward players for thinking out of the box, it's what gives games the best flavors. Just my 2 cents....
Yes do that, let the consequences of his actions be his doom!
Make him Intimidate it to stay and eventually it just gets Stockholm syndrome and stays for good. Allow some fun, silly stuff for your players so long as it doesn't break too many rules or the game
Man that sounds fun, let him do it and learn
What's the harm in just letting him try? Success let him have it then see if he remembers to feed it. Have it start nibbling his trousers or arm if he doesn't feed it. Fail it hisses than crawls away and if he is persistence in trying have it bite him.
A Goliath Barbarian? You can't. Nothing is a bad idea. He'll live. Probably
Let him use the centipede as a belt. Then have it bite and poison him because obviously.
Let me do it. Have them roll animal handling often. If they succeed it'll bite enemies a number of times, if they fail it becomes hostile to them.
>Or should I just let it slide and watch him constantly fail his animal handling checks and slowly dying to his own stubbornness and stupidity? That. Definitely that.
that’s the neat part you don’t
Let them have it, name it, love it. Then next time they need to roll a save against an area of effect spell (or similar) they have to roll 2. Centipedes have about 4 hit points. Now they have to mourn it and you can bathe in their tears!
Don't convince him. Let it happen. It is what it is
Let it happen, everyday he has to roll to see if pants remain on!
Simple: let them. They will soon find out.
Sounds like natural selection to me.
Easiest question ever. Answer: let him try, and when he fails you give him consequences.
Its such a small little thing, just let the player have his innocent fun
Let him succeed... the centipede wondrously coils around his waist... and during the first short rest it bites him and he can't get it off easily.... 1d4 damage after each rest for 3 days or till he gets it off.
Have it keep biting the dumbass until either he kills it or he dies. Don't coddle stupidity.
This is absolutely something you allow
Allow him to make two rolls, One animal handling and if he fails that, let him make an intimidation roll
Tell him no.
Or just let him roll for it and if he succeeds let him have it? Idk why you’re so against it, your friend finds it to be a fun idea, if the rolls allow, let it slide. It is a group game after all
Uhm, this is a super cool idea, it will add fun for him. Why would you want to convince him otherwise? The rule is, if it’s cool, it’s cool Let it bite him, take him to the brink of death, or let it be a funny event with centipede in his pants — then let him wear a dead centipede. Barbarian the conqueror of centipedes
Why is this even being asked? I can’t believe some of the questions this sub gets.
Why is it a bad idea? I see hilarious potential.
you dont! We barbarian players LIVE FOR THESE STUPID BUT FUN KINDS OF DECISIONS!! we wanna do dumb stuff just to see if it can work out or not, but we have the hp to regret it later if it doesnt work out! make it a challange, let him most certainly try, and if it doesnt work he had the fun of pushing the limits of what you can do with a centipede!
Why is it a bad idea? Once you know, then let him see that.... 🤷 if they made a character that is too foolish to survive in the world, the dice will fall as they are supposed to.
I’d let him have it.
A druid could pull this off
You can have a lot of fun with this. I say let him do it
whats the real issue here? let him roll intimidation. let him succeed and then forever he will tell people about this cool moment he had with a cool character with this cool dm. it literally wont cost you anything to just let the player have this laugh
It's just a bit of set dressing. Where the harm in letting him do it? It has no special abilities, or rules, or anything, it's just a belt that adds to the characters roll play.
Let us happen. Then let it’s dead smelling corpse become the issue. Also. This is a weird thing to want to do in any case. Yellow flag at least.
Just let him roll and try, every time he fails the DM goes up though and eventually the creature gets annoyed and bites him in his nuts as he tried to force it to hold his trousers up lol.
Let them wear it, then let it bites him, poisoning him, until he eventually decides it isnt worth it
You don't. Let him learn the hard way.
Let him try and play the centipede how it should react. Mainly by trying to bite him and leave
Give the centipede big bug eyes and every time he looks at it out looks at him like pus in boots, being to be released. Then have it whine all of the time, giving him -10 on stealth and charisma checks. I know centipedes don't normally whine, but this one can.
[Show him one](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scolopendra_gigantea)
Sure, he gets it wrapped around him. But jeez, why is it so tight? And getting tighter?! Madness! Oh, hey, I didn't know they had the burrow ability! Guess who gets a new phobia if they survive!
You can introduce him to the word toxicognath and offer a demonstration of it's function at the same time.
Why wouldn't you just have the centipede attack him as soon as he picks it up and tries to wear it? Is it that hard to imagine that would be the most obvious outcome?
Poison damage. Job done
You let them fuck around and find out. It is quite simply that easy.
Let it bite him, a LOT. Centipede venom is weak, but eventually, he'll fail a save.
Just have it bite him.. what is going on here. If you think it would bite him, just do it. Do you need to have a side conversation, no. Do you need to explain it, no. Is it something a normal person would do, no.
Let him succeed, then at a boss fight, if hes gonna die but almost killed the boss, say : you got bitten by your centipede belt, you die
You don’t have to convince him of anything. Just let him try to grapple it, then another check to tie it up, and when he’s finally wearing it, just make it attack him all the time
I had a weird fighter cleric that used a bug carapace as a helmet. Bug was dead of course. I’d let him do it and make him constantly roll for animal handling and make the bug role to stay alive.
Honestly I'd let it just run away at the first chance you have.
You have two options: 1. Roll initutive and run this as a combat encounter as soon as they try to pick up the creature. 2. Have them roll an animal handling check with a failure turning this into combat.
Let him get bit a few times?
Ok I'm dying, I thought he wanted to like, y'know, *kill* the centipede then wear it as a belt.
??? It just attacks him, what's the issue? Why do you need to convince him of anything? >I grab the biggest centipede and make a belt from it. "It dashes forward and tries to bite you, roll initiative."
Just remind him he is putting the bitey bits of a hostile animal next to his junk.. then let it happen
I'd give make it possible like 3 successful animal handling checks in a row (one per day at dawn) and it becomes docile enough to work every failure he gets bitten and takes the poisoned condition for the rest of the day. (A poisoned creature has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.)
Through trial and error.
Centipede probably have to 💩... Have it soil the players pants every hour or so.
Just let nature take its course.
Why would you want to stop it? Best case it works, and he now has an animal companion named “belt”. Worst case he gets bitten by his ‘belt’ in the ‘below the belt’ area.
So I'm gonna guess the head would be where a belt loop would go. Now centipede poison is known to cause: Pain Swelling Itching Mild bleeding And in rare cases, a hardening of the skin and necrosis Each of these symptoms may persist for several days, and I imagine that near the belt loop area is a very sensitive and possibly high traffic (I don't know your group lol) area in which these symptoms would prove very disruptive to everyday life. Id be telling the barbarian to roll a Con save with disadvantage.
Personally, I would not let a literal demon (centipede, real or not) anywhere near such sensitive areas that a belt frequents. Can the Barbarian try? Sure. Will the Barbarian receive several very nasty bites (rolled with advantage, possibly even auto-crit, because it is *right there*) in said sensitive areas? Also yes.
if he wants to do something like that, then a great deal of magical tinkering will need to happen during downtime to both research and craft it into a magic item. the barb wpuld likely need access to an arcane lab with good creature containment. when it's done, it becomes a magic belt. as an action, the barb can take off the belt and throw it to the ground. then it becomes a giant centipede under the barb's command for x amount of time, before reverting back into a belt. it cannot be used this way again until the following dawn.
Give the centipede pincers mouth, and to make animal friendship or speak with animal rolls, if he fails, the centipede continuously bites him for piercing damage
If it were me, i'd have him roll an animal handling check. Make it a high DC, but doable - 15, maybe. On failure, roll for initiative. On success, he succeeds. Then, every time he takes a long rest, he has to roll a flat d20, and on a 10 or below his pants walk away and he has to chase them down or find them again.
I would keep it simple. Let him put the centipede around his waste and tell him the centipede falls off. He can keep trying but the success role to convince a creature to stay is very high, so he will keep failing.
Have it bite his peepee
Can you even use Animal Handling on an insect? Is it even intelligent enough to hold a conversation with.
Two ways to go. He gets it to work and it rebels and leaves. Many funny scenarios possible there. Or you can roll play his attempt to tame and teach it to be a belt. He isn't a druid or ranger so he doesn't have animal friendship skills. How does he capture it without killing? How does he befriend (or terrify it) so that it won't run as soon as it hits the ground unbound. How does he train it to be a belt? Many points on that line which would likely result in failure. No matter how you deal with it, it is best done in game w/ roll play to achieve what ever may happen.
Centipedes are aggressive predators with very lethal poison. Just saying.
Or, centipede starts its version of spikey python hug
Con save, con save, con save
Let him do it, then at random make him roll a check to see if he takes damage until he realizes its the centipede causing the damage
What’s the harm in using a giant centipede’s hide to make a bel… oh, they think they can loosely attach a living giant centipede… as a belt? Alive? You could have them make an intelligence check, and honestly anything over >=5 I’d say their character recognizes living creatures don’t make good or cooperative belts. If they still try anyway the centipede will do what centipedes do when threatened - bite. It will do its best to bite and then run away to safety. Now, they could piecework bits of the centipede’s hide into a belt or belt decorations, but this would not feasibly work on a living one without the aid of magic at minimum and even with that favorable DM fiat. I agree that letting them think it could work for a funny gag just for the centipede to act as anticipated could work, but I would still have them roll insight/intelligence/nature, really anything. If they still proceed, have fun with it!
Let him have it. Centipede was a plant by the BBEG and listens in on the party. Every now and then just have the thing creepily attention lock on folks why they are planning.
Have it bite them. Experience is the best teacher.
Break out the d6’s.
The hard way. Much biting.
You don't... you let the dice decide lol "if you roll a nat 20 right now I'll let you have a weird belt"
I would think a near life encounter would fix this problem. Simply have the thing immediately attack, nearly kill them and have it killed to remove the current problem. If they don't learn from the encounter, let 'em die.
The short answer is, let them. When they get sick of the consequences that'll be lesson learned.
Let it bite him a few times, either he'll die from the poison or learn his lesson :) Or, introduce him to the megapedes from the Spelljammer book
He wants to fuck around, let him find out! A wild creature forced into a situation like that is going to bite, scratch, relieve itself as a defense mechanism, and if stuck there too long possibly even lay eggs. Even if the thrashing doesn't dissuade him, waking up in the middle of a centipede swarm every so often might...
I see 3 potential options here: 1. Say no, this is kinda how I would lean. A centipede doesn’t want to be a belt and isn’t really intelligent enough to understand that you want it to be a belt. It would try to bite, get away, or kill the barbarian. 2. Maybe kill it and take it to a magical smith, have then kinda animate it and make it a “living” belt. The legs move and everything and it functions as a belt but isn’t a living thing. 3. Like others have suggested, it *seems* to cooperate. It sits still (possibly out of shock) and at (a moment where it would be preferably comical) moment of your choosing it skidded off, causing the barbs pants to fall.
Ask them if they are ready to get bit? If they want to continue, have them roll an animal handling check with a very hard DC. When they fail, they get bit and take full damage with no way to mitigate this as they were willingly messing with a wild animal that didn't want to interact with the. So it would be 6 points of piercing damage and then have to do the constitution save against the poison damage. After the bite the centipede scurries off and can't be found. It should hopefully teach them a lesson about playing with wild animals.