D&D 5E (2024) Tremorsense and Incorporeal Creatures

[beaumontsebos]

Using common sense... tremorsense would likely not be able to detect an incorporeal creature.

But, is there any actual written rules that preclude this?

Thanks!

 

[Charlaquin]

Using common sense... tremorsense would likely not be able to detect an incorporeal creature.

But, is there any actual written rules that preclude this?

Thanks!

Yes, the rules for Tremorsense. They say, “A creature with Tremorsense can pinpoint the location of creatures and moving objects within a specific range, provided that the creature with Tremorsense and anything it is detecting are both in contact with the same surface (such as the ground, a wall, or a ceiling) or the same liquid.”

An incorporeal creature isn’t in contact with any surface or liquid. You need to be corporal to make contact with other corporal objects and substances.

 

[beaumontsebos]

Yes, the rules for Tremorsense. They say, “A creature with Tremorsense can pinpoint the location of creatures and moving objects within a specific range, provided that the creature with Tremorsense and anything it is detecting are both in contact with the same surface (such as the ground, a wall, or a ceiling) or the same liquid.”

An incorporeal creature isn’t in contact with any surface or liquid. You need to be corporal to make contact with other corporal objects and substances.

Common sense tells you that an incorporeal creature isn't in contact with the surface. But I can't find any rule specifically stating that for an incorporeal creature.

Here's what I've found: Incorporeal Movement. The specter (or whatever creature) can move through other creatures and objects as if they were Difficult Terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) Force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.

If moving through objects is difficult terrain, and they take damage if they end a turn in an object... it kinda means that they are somehow interacting with surfaces in some way.

 

[Stormonu]

Most incorporeal creatures have Flight, so I imagine most of the time they aren't in contact with any surface. However, if the incorporeal creature were to actually be in contact with a surface, I could see it working.

For example, a Xorn touching a wall and realizing it contains a ghost hiding within its bounds, or if a ghost decided to "land" it would be detectable.

 

[beaumontsebos]

Most incorporeal creatures have Flight, so I imagine most of the time they aren't in contact with any surface. However, if the incorporeal creature were to actually be in contact with a surface, I could see it working.

For example, a Xorn touching a wall and realizing it contains a ghost hiding within its bounds, or if a ghost decided to "land" it would be detectable.

That's what I'm thinking. This came up in a game and since there's really not too many times a dwarf can use tremorsense, I allowed it. Just rationalizing my ruling and being sure there isn't an official rule I'm breaking (I'm running a public learning game, so if I use rules different from the official rules, I try to let them know).