Salt and Oozes

[trav_laney]

I'm pretty sure an old dragon article that dealt with improvised weapons dealt with irritants such as ash, lye, pepper and salt. Salt was listed as doing damage to creatures like giant slugs and green slimes.

Geez...I'm going to have to break down and get a subscription, aren't I?

 

[paradox42]

Oooo- I like that DR x/Salt idea; folklore from the middle ages and before often featured salt as a deterrent to bad spirits (hence the superstition about throwing salt over one's shoulder). Perhaps oozes could be made Vulnerable to salt, similar to vulnerability to energy types? That is, they take 1 1/2 times as much damage from salt weapons and/or spells. "Dessication" spells like Horrid Wilting often deal extra damage to oozes, so this is perfectly in flavor for that.

 

[Stalker0]

I think the rule is cool, although I think the engulf rule might be a little overboard.

Oh my god a black pudding!!

Don't worry guys, I have a bag of salt on me. Steps casualy forward and gets engulfed.

The black pudding squeals, spits out the character and runs away.

Alright Bert, you owe me a gold piece....and a healing potion.

 

[NilesB]

Salt is listed in the Players Handbook as a Trade good, It costs 5gp/lb.

use that price.

 

[Notmousse]

Salt is listed in the Players Handbook as a Trade good, It costs 5gp/lb.

use that price.

Was just about to say that. It'd be an insane money making scheme for low levelers, cornering the salt markets because some nimrod is selling it obscenely cheap.

 

[lukelightning]

Salt is also useful for preserving your dragon jerky and flavoring zombies.

 

[Notmousse]

Not to mention it's a material component for the cleric spell Cure Light Meats.

 

[Nifft]

Cool, so 1 GP becomes the surcharge for the "anti-ooze canister". Now the Salt Bomb costs a total of 6 GP.

Sold.

-- N

 

[trav_laney]

I think the rule is cool, although I think the engulf rule might be a little overboard.

Oh my god a black pudding!!

Don't worry guys, I have a bag of salt on me. Steps casualy forward and gets engulfed.

The black pudding squeals, spits out the character and runs away.

Alright Bert, you owe me a gold piece....and a healing potion.

Point taken. In such a case, the DM could (and probably should) adjust the tactics of the ooze. Sure, this particular tactic might work once...but after that, the oozes would probably resort to making only slam attacks after they taste salt on someone.

Allowing yourself to be engulfed by a corrosive ooze is still rather foolish, even if you have 100 hit points and are carrying ten pounds of pure salt. Since you are willfully and voluntarily being immersed in ooze, the DM could rule that you forefit any applicable save throws to avoid damage/destruction of your equipment. That can get hella expensive if you are carrying magical cloaks, wands, staffs, scrolls, boots, gloves, bags of holding, anything made of organic matter.

But you are right, the engulfing rule might be a little over the top. Maybe allow the ooze a Fortitude save for half damage? I sort of wrote this rule "off the cuff," and it hasn't had a lot of playtesting.

 

[trav_laney]

Not to mention it's a material component for the cleric spell Cure Light Meats.

I know this was a very simple joke, but it made me laugh out loud for five minutes. Well played.