ToME: the Tales of Maj'Eyal

I entered Sandworm Lair, and died by sufocation, as if i was under water. I find difficult the progression in this levels, because the way is constantly changing, and i got trapped by sand a few times, and died to this sand trap. The best strategy i got to clear the levels was following the sandworms closely.
Is there any different strategy to clear the Sandworm Lair level?

Not really. Just be patient and you'll run into all sorts of stuff along with eventually the exit. A very handy thing to have is any kind of teleportation at all (psychoportation torque, phase door, haste of the doomed, etc). These will get you out of the sand if you get stuck so you don't die. Also Movement Infusions or similar if you have one at that point will almost always get you out of a jam if your tunnel is closing from behind. Same with Grace of the Eternals.

Oh, one more thing: The Sandworm Queen tends to meet you in front of a sandworm-made cooridor and her summons can wall you off, so make sure you're in an area that won't collapse when fighting if possible. It's not so much of a problem if the queen gets stuck in sand, just you.

There are two alternative ways I've found to clear the sandworm layer, although they really are not needed. First is to be a Wyrmic and use the tunneling ability with lightning speed to dig a path yourself. The second is to use clairvoyance (or whatever lets you see terrain) and control teleport yourself around. Both strats honestly aren't much different from following sandworms around.

Other alternatives: Wraithform, I believe - you'll suffocate but be free to move, which with a movement infusion will get you to the next safe space relatively quickly.

Possessors who have learned Vermin form can possess Sandworm bodies and dig their own way through.

Aren't Sandworms unkillable and thus unpossessable? If they are possessable, thats pretty cool. I wonder if they can dig terrain on other maps.

I think the Possessor part is referring to normal sandworm enemies, not the tunnelers. Those are invincible, yes.

There's a few things you can do to make sandworm lair safer.

First you can try and find an item which grants undeath (usually belt), not needing to breathe means you won't get suffocated, you can just hang out for a sandworm to come along. Try looking in shops the belts are fairly common.
Failing that, you can bring a psychoport torque, or get a rune of teleport or phase door. This isn't perfect but should drop you somewhere better than being trapped in sand.
If you get really lucky, you can find a mindstar "of sand" in a shop, these let you tunnel.
Also if you get Tooth of the Mouth you can dig your own way around the map.


Other than that you just have to be careful when moving, and use mobility skills to keep ahead of the sand.