I don't see any mention of it in the Ghost entry in the MM, but that being said, what a great idea. If you look around a little, other monsters like the Vampiredo integrate traditional folklore mechanically, such as the Vampire's aversion to running water and inability to enter a home without being invited and heart staking interaction, or Werewolves' interaction with the full moon. If you wanted to treat Ghosts as perhaps losing their resistances or Incorporeal Movement if struck by thrown salt or a salt-dipped weapon, or being unable to cross unbroken lines of salt? That would be cool, and well within a DM's purview to homebrew.
Note, zombies are also supposed to have issues with salt. I would rule the same about them. Certain types of non-european vampires have an aversion to salt as well.
Probably because it was a valuable item similar to silver back in the day.
Closest thing I found was in the tomb of annihilation
????? Tomb
The air here reeks of sulfur and brimstone. On the floor of this chamber, a pentagram traced in salt surrounds an ornate sarcophagus, its lid covered with figurines of prancing frog-like humanoids.
An invisible gray slaad paces inside the salt pentagram. Magical wards prevent the slaad from disturbing the salt or leaving the circle's confines. If another creature attacks the slaad, enters the area of the boundary circle, or breaks any part of the circle or pentagram by sweeping or brushing away the salt, the slaad is freed. Hungry for carnage, the creature vents its rage on the characters before leaving the room in search of its control gem, not knowing that it is kept in area 28.
Salt is used in a lot of bindings. They used the trope of creating a circle of salt to ward of evil because the salt is considered cleansing and pure. The Supernatural show used salt to destroy a Ghost. Very easy to integrate with a lot of the real historical folklore.
I do remember things for a voodoo-style zombie. The zombie was to be feed the salt with food as sometimes they do not know they are actually dead. If they eat the food with the salt, the spell is broken and they go back to death. If they refuse it, it means they know they are dead and you then just have to throw the salt on them. I figure asking them to eat is just a way of being polite to them. Otherwise you could have just thrown the salt at them.
salt and iron powder were traditionally used to fend off evil. Salt is also used in summoning circles, with different salts summoning more powerful entities I think. Mechanically, no, but it is awesome, so I would homebrew it in 100%.
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“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
Perhaps we are all thinking of the Protection from Evil spell at 1st lvl whose material components are either Holy water, or powdered silver and iron.
Followed by the currently names Magic Circle spell.
Previously this was known as Circle of Protection from Evil. Which requires more of the same as casting components.
Thematically speaking ut has always been that circles of salt are barriers against evil, and i wouldnt argue with salt being thrown on undead having mechabically adverse affects on them.
But speaking as a Dm. I would much more likely rule that salt is an alternative material component for these 2 spells. Perhaps even with additional effects such as increasing the spell duration of Magic circle because a 7 hour max for a 9th lvl spell is ridiculous. No wizard could keep anything contained for more than a few days and only under constant supervision
Ideas like this would be great for common citizens to use. More than likely their first attempt to keep the monster away before they call in the professional adventurers to take care of things.
Sure spells are better and nothing beats silver and cold steal but if your the towns baker this could be the best you can do.
This is a "talk to your DM before trying" situation. Your DM might reward you for your creative thinking, or cause it to be a completely wasted effort because salt doesn't technically stop ghosts in D&D according to written rules.
If you're trying to get rid of a ghost, talk to your DM directly to ask if salt can stop ghosts. If you don't, you might end up with a bit of an awkward situation where you aren't both on the same page.
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Panda-wat (I hate my username) is somehow convinced that he is objectively right about everything D&D related even though he obviously is not. Considering that, he'd probably make a great D&D youtuber.
"If I die, I can live with that." ~Luke Hart, the DM lair
In dungeons and dragons is there any written examples of using salt to stop ghosts?
I don't see any mention of it in the Ghost entry in the MM, but that being said, what a great idea. If you look around a little, other monsters like the Vampire do integrate traditional folklore mechanically, such as the Vampire's aversion to running water and inability to enter a home without being invited and heart staking interaction, or Werewolves' interaction with the full moon. If you wanted to treat Ghosts as perhaps losing their resistances or Incorporeal Movement if struck by thrown salt or a salt-dipped weapon, or being unable to cross unbroken lines of salt? That would be cool, and well within a DM's purview to homebrew.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Chicken said it well.
Note, zombies are also supposed to have issues with salt. I would rule the same about them. Certain types of non-european vampires have an aversion to salt as well.
Probably because it was a valuable item similar to silver back in the day.
Only if they eat it, it breaks their master’s hold over them and they go wild.
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Perhaps you are thinking of slugs?
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Wasn't that the vodoo way to get rid of a zombie?
A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
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Closest thing I found was in the tomb of annihilation
????? Tomb
An invisible gray slaad paces inside the salt pentagram. Magical wards prevent the slaad from disturbing the salt or leaving the circle's confines. If another creature attacks the slaad, enters the area of the boundary circle, or breaks any part of the circle or pentagram by sweeping or brushing away the salt, the slaad is freed. Hungry for carnage, the creature vents its rage on the characters before leaving the room in search of its control gem, not knowing that it is kept in area 28.
Salt is used in a lot of bindings. They used the trope of creating a circle of salt to ward of evil because the salt is considered cleansing and pure. The Supernatural show used salt to destroy a Ghost. Very easy to integrate with a lot of the real historical folklore.
I do remember things for a voodoo-style zombie. The zombie was to be feed the salt with food as sometimes they do not know they are actually dead. If they eat the food with the salt, the spell is broken and they go back to death. If they refuse it, it means they know they are dead and you then just have to throw the salt on them. I figure asking them to eat is just a way of being polite to them. Otherwise you could have just thrown the salt at them.
Yes, that's what this thread is about. Undead slugs.
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salt and iron powder were traditionally used to fend off evil. Salt is also used in summoning circles, with different salts summoning more powerful entities I think. Mechanically, no, but it is awesome, so I would homebrew it in 100%.
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
Perhaps we are all thinking of the Protection from Evil spell at 1st lvl whose material components are either Holy water, or powdered silver and iron.
Followed by the currently names Magic Circle spell.
Previously this was known as Circle of Protection from Evil. Which requires more of the same as casting components.
Thematically speaking ut has always been that circles of salt are barriers against evil, and i wouldnt argue with salt being thrown on undead having mechabically adverse affects on them.
But speaking as a Dm. I would much more likely rule that salt is an alternative material component for these 2 spells. Perhaps even with additional effects such as increasing the spell duration of Magic circle because a 7 hour max for a 9th lvl spell is ridiculous. No wizard could keep anything contained for more than a few days and only under constant supervision
Ideas like this would be great for common citizens to use. More than likely their first attempt to keep the monster away before they call in the professional adventurers to take care of things.
Sure spells are better and nothing beats silver and cold steal but if your the towns baker this could be the best you can do.
This is a "talk to your DM before trying" situation. Your DM might reward you for your creative thinking, or cause it to be a completely wasted effort because salt doesn't technically stop ghosts in D&D according to written rules.
If you're trying to get rid of a ghost, talk to your DM directly to ask if salt can stop ghosts. If you don't, you might end up with a bit of an awkward situation where you aren't both on the same page.
Panda-wat (I hate my username) is somehow convinced that he is objectively right about everything D&D related even though he obviously is not. Considering that, he'd probably make a great D&D youtuber.
"If I die, I can live with that." ~Luke Hart, the DM lair
I heard killing a ghost stops it.
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There should be a list of common enough repellents for some of the monsters.
Nothing that would actually stop a determined monster but something to just keep the curious ones away.
Another way for an herbalist or alchemist or 'snake oil' salesman to make a few gold off of the locals.