Salt vs the undead

[doc]

I got asked during a game what effect salt has on the undead, in the movies etc. the (especially Zombies) are repelled or harmed by it. If I remember right DnD doesn't cover this in the MM. In the various RPGs y'all play what does salt does (in the rules) or do you house rule it ?

[Maynard G. Krebs]

Works against giant slugs and gibbering mouthers IMC.

[Freedom Canadian]

In Exalted, most ghosts cannot cross a line of salt.

I don't believe zombies have that problem.

[ColonelHardisson]

I don't believe zombies have that problem.

Do you mean in Exalted, or in general? In folklore, if a zombie tastes salt, it suddenly remembers it's dead and returns to an inanimate state.

[Freedom Canadian]

Do you mean in Exalted, or in general?

In Exalted.

[Hatter]

I remember reading general ghost lore that said that they cannot cross an unbroken line of salt. Exalted draws from that to be certain.

[The Winslow]

A lot of things block undead in folklore, depending on which folklore you refer to. Running water, garlic, hallowed ground, the boundary of a house they've not been invited in, and so on.

I think these beliefs were spawned by the same thought processes that make little children avoid stepping on two different tiles with the same foot, if you see what I mean.

[King Vyper]

Salt can be used in a number of ways. When I played in a COC campaign along time ago my character use to have a vial of Dead Sea salt. I used to block barriers and create protective circles against all types of undead.

[Freedom Canadian]

I think these beliefs were spawned by the same thought processes that make little children avoid stepping on two different tiles with the same foot, if you see what I mean.

Little children ? Pshaw ! It's a survival mechanism for me. Ask Shellbelle if you don't believe me. :D

[The Winslow]

Little children ? Pshaw ! It's a survival mechanism for me. Ask Shellbelle if you don't believe me. :D

Are you suffering from obsessive-compulsive behavior?

[Freedom Canadian]

Are you suffering from obsessive-compulsive behavior?

Not as such, no. :)

[doc]

In one Modern game I had Salt as a repellent/ harm for Zombies, Iodinezed salt was minor and sea salt had a major effect.

[ColonelHardisson]

A lot of things block undead in folklore, depending on which folklore you refer to. Running water, garlic, hallowed ground, the boundary of a house they've not been invited in, and so on.

I think these beliefs were spawned by the same thought processes that make little children avoid stepping on two different tiles with the same foot, if you see what I mean.

Maybe, but the concept of undead is kind of ridiculous in itself, so wards against them may as well be just as nonsensical.

Folklore I've read asserts that salt is proof against vampires because they have a compulsion to count every grain of it, rendering them unable to move past it until it's all counted.

[doc]

Of course if a undead was a Sea undead (drowned one etc.) it would be immune

[Freedom Canadian]

Of course if a undead was a Sea undead (drowned one etc.) it would be immune

Those could always be affected similarly by pepper.

[Northcott]

I think these beliefs were spawned by the same thought processes that make little children avoid stepping on two different tiles with the same foot, if you see what I mean.

You mean little kids avoid stepping on cracks in the ground because of traditional symbolic references combined with their practical use in preserving unliving flesh?

That's odd. ;)

[Hastur T. Fannon]

Those could always be affected similarly by pepper.

"You're meant to be fighting them - not seasoning them!"

[shellbelle101]

Little children ? Pshaw ! It's a survival mechanism for me. Ask Shellbelle if you don't believe me. :D

Surely you are referring to my Indy con experience with you, right? ;)

Sorry to copy and paste, but here's an excerpt of why it might be a good idea for FC to avoid uneven surfaces.

...In my presence he:
ran into at least three signs,
stumbled off at least 12 curbs,
stumbled up at least 5 curbs, and
stumbled over at least three "uneven patches" in the brick sidewalks,
and yet never "ate it" once.
Impressive. :applause:

Conclusion: bad perception/good dex.
:D

[Ancalagon]

Surely you are referring to my Indy con experience with you, right? ;)

Sorry to copy and paste, but here's an excerpt of why it might be a good idea for FC to avoid uneven surfaces.

...In my presence he:
ran into at least three signs,
stumbled off at least 12 curbs,
stumbled up at least 5 curbs, and
stumbled over at least three "uneven patches" in the brick sidewalks,
and yet never "ate it" once.
Impressive. :applause:

Conclusion: bad perception/good dex.
:D

I've hung out with him and never seen him do that... Maybe he was distracted in your presence? ;)

[Scarbonac]

I recall a movie from the 70s where a psychic detective-guy defeated a rogue clay golem with salt.

[Freedom Canadian]

I've hung out with him and never seen him do that... Maybe he was distracted in your presence? ;)


Er...

Well, you do have the right idea as far as to relative distractiveness is concerned, but mostly you and I never spent 3 full days walking around together. :D

My feet still hurt a bit just thinking about all the walking we did at Gen Con.

As far as salt goes, it's just a nifty substance. It's all white, powdery and crystalline. It's needed to sustain life, it's found in the oceans (which cover most of the planet) and it gives a great taste to food. Mysticism-wise, it can be used to trace stuff. Drama-wise, anything traced with it is easy to erased with a strong gust of wind. It's just loaded with neatness.

[The Winslow]

Also, sodium and chlorine are both toxic, but combined together they aren't. (Though it can be bad for the heart if you take too much of it.) It's kinda fun.

In an RPG setting, most salt was produced and exported by a city which name was Nacle. I can be dorky that way. :)

[Freedom Canadian]

In Exalted, salt is so important to life (because you can use it to ward your house against angry spirits and to preserve food) that all economic activity is linked to the price of salt. In fact, bank interest rates are based on the "salt rate", which is the percentage that you must tithe to the gods of salt in your area when you harvest the substance. So a good bank loan will be at "salt rate + 1%" interest while a risky loan will be at "salt rate +20%". :D

[shellbelle101]

I've hung out with him and never seen him do that... Maybe he was distracted in your presence? ;)

Er...
Well, you do have the right idea as far as to relative distractiveness is concerned...

:yes:

You Know!


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