Dust is shiftless & lazy; Lets put it to work!

[unseenmage]

The Awaken Sand (Sa), and Control Sand (Sa) spell got me wondering where players might get dust. (Dust works with the spell as it is a "similar material".)

Which also made me realize that while collecting dust for later animation players could put it in a Portable Hole or Enveloping Pit (MIC).
According to the DMG page 304 dust can be drowned in, so drowning one's enemies in your Portable Hole just got that much more interesting.

On the upside, Awaken Sand is Instantaneous duration meaning no Dispel-ing (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/dispelMagic.htm).
However, on the downside, it also creates a 4HD, Huge, intelligent Construct whose only compulsion to obey you is that it is created as Friendly towards you.
Meaning you need to influence it via Diplomacy or 'turn to command' it via the Warforged Domain in Faiths of Eberron page 150.

Suggestions for other creative uses for dust are more than welcome. Lets finally put all that wasted waste to good use.
Edit: Ash (thanks Totema), and sawdust (thanks sumkidy) could also be repeatable sources for dust, especially via various craft skills.

Sometimes Undead turn to dust when you destroy them. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16450490&postcount=2005) (thanks Curmudgeon)
Edit: The Ritual of Crucimigration that makes characters into Necropolitans (LM115) turns them to dust if it drains their xp to zero.

Sources for Dust
This list assumes a DM who knows some of the awesome powers of dust and limits it's availability.

Spells
- Disintegrate (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/disintegrate.htm) spell

- Dust to Dust (RotW174) spell

- Sphere of Ultimate Destruction (CAr123) spell

- Polymorph Any Object (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/polymorphAnyObject.htm) spell

- Water to Dust spell (3.0 PH page236 mentions it but it isn't there)

- the old 3.0 Minor Servitor (SS68) spell as written animates a volume of material, including dust or sand, Dispel-able

- Ashen Union (Sa110), is a save or die that turns the victim to ash. (thanks sleepyphoenixx)

- Blackfire (SC29), turns victims to ash as well. (thanks sleepyphoenixx)

Items
- used Scrolls (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/scrolls.htm), (I thought these turned to dust, but that must have been a house rule at some point because I cannot find rules text supporting it.)

- Spell Component Pouch (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/goodsAndServices.htm) and it's propensity to produce an infinite variety of various magic dusts and powders for various spells.

- Shrouds of Disintegration (DMG266), turns bodies to dust, reusable

- the various 'Dust of x' items (DMG 255, 275), prohibitively costed

- poison dusts, Lich Dust and Ungol Dust (DMG297)

- ground pepper or powdered chili as mundane Dust of Sneezing and Choking (thanks Zubrowka74), flour could also work, flour, sugar, and spices can be found in the Arms and Equipment Guide page 31.

Locales
- Plane of Arborea (DMG166), third layer, borderless desert of white dust, infinite supply for the low, low cost of Plane Shift (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/planeShift.htm).

- The Elemental Plane of Earth, in to Echolost chamber, "the Earthpool, is a basin of dust so fi ne that it
appears to be liquid..." (PlaH168)

- Quasielemental Plane of Dust is from Planescape, 2nd Ed.
Also, Quasielemental Plane of Salt and Quasielemental Plane of Ash (thanks ShurikVch)

- the Basin of Deadly Dust and its Deadly Stardust (Sa202), broken nanotech, acts like a disease, changes exposed creature into Dustblight (Sa) (thanks ShurikVch)

- Ash Willow (D347pg43)
Has dark red bark, can reach heights of 120 feet tall, thrives on heat, often grows in pools of lava, grows several feet a year, continually smolder and rain ash all around them, creates 1 lb of ash each day for every 10 feet of its height, fast growing roots grow runners that spawn 1d3 new trees each month, trees spread within lava pools and along rivers of lava, areas with Ash Willows are treated as areas with snow for movement and visibility. (thanks Hangwind)

Creatures
- used Vampires (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/vampire.htm), ew Animated Object (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/animatedObject.htm) made of old stale vampire dust, gross. (As with scrolls, the SRD doesn't support this for some reason.)

- Mummy Rot (MM191); Though that, "...blow away into nothing at the first wind.", clause might persist after you've turned said dust to your own purposes.

- the Bralani (MM93) can assume a form of dust or sand, could be funny to get one to hold said form long enough to Awaken Sand or Transmute Sand to Glass them.

- Dust-Stuffed Template (EH114) creatures are filled with dust when they're turned into Constructs (thanks supermonkeyjoe)

- The Unraveler (PlH130) might make dust with it's Disjoin attack but it's just as likely to make lumps of rocky material, (thanks ShurikVch)

- Dust Wight (MM3pg47), "A dust wight is surrounded by a cloud of dusty particles.", (thanks ShurikVch)

- Dustform Creature template (Sa161), crumbles to dust when dies, dies to critical hits, (thanks ShurikVch)

So there are lots and lots of sources for RAW dust. With next to no way to know how much it takes of any given one to either a) Animate a minion or b) drown a victim.

Best thing on the list is probably the third layer of Arboria as its infinite volume is accessible via a simple Plane Shift spell.

--------------
Sand Options

- Black Sand (Sa111) spell, Awakening this sand could be interesting, non-conjured sand made from victims slain by conjured sand, or via Plane Shift to "...the scoured surface of Minethys in the Tarterian Depths of Carceri (where the Plane of Shadow overlays the Elemental Plane of Earth)..." (Sa20), (thanks Totema)

- Transmute Stone to Sand (Sa125) spell, Permanent duration so its Dispel-able? Not sure how that works if you Awaken it or toss someone in it to drown.

- Slipsand (Sa121) spell, creates sand, another Permanent duration means it's likely Dispel-able too.

- Vitrify (Sa125) spell, makes crude glass

- Transmute Sand to Glass (Sa124) spell

- Sandstorm (Sa119) spell, (thanks eggynack)

- the Shapesand (Sa 77, 102) alchemical item, would be somewhat costly but could also have some interesting interactions with the various spells here.

- Slumber Sand (Sa103), does exactly what you'd think

- Whispering Sand (Sand128) spell, long distance communication, (thanks eggynack)

- Bottle of Endless Sand (Sand132) item (thanks Vedhin)

- Sand Blaster (MM3 pg58) exotic weapon (thanks Rubik (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?444154-MM3-Sand-Blaster-Exotic-Weapon-Optimization))

[Totema]

Awakened black sand sounds like a wonderful minion for a villain.

Are there any rules for ash? You could argue that, as a particulate matter, it's hardly different from dust. If you get the approval, then pretty much any flammable object becomes a low-tech source for dust as well.

[supermonkeyjoe]

Eberron Explorers handbook has the Dust Stuffed template that turns a creature into a duct-filled clockwork powered construct under the control of the rakshasah lords of duct.

[sumkidy]

Does sawdust count?

[unseenmage]

Awakened black sand sounds like a wonderful minion for a villain.

Are there any rules for ash? You could argue that, as a particulate matter, it's hardly different from dust. If you get the approval, then pretty much any flammable object becomes a low-tech source for dust as well.

After you mentioned it I double checked and the Black Sand spell has a duration other than Permanent or Instantaneous so the sand should expire when the spell does.
Unless there's a permanent source f Black Sand that I don't know about?
Ash added to the list.


Eberron Explorers handbook has the Dust Stuffed template that turns a creature into a duct-filled clockwork powered construct under the control of the rakshasah lords of duct.

Dust-Stuffed creatures filled with Shapesand could be nasty methinks. (Your post also reminded me to add Shapesand, thanks. :smallsmile:)
Dust-Stuffed added.


Does sawdust count?
Sawdust added.

[Totema]

In Sandstorm's setting, there are some locales that contain naturally occurring, permanent black sand. But I've always understood that, when creatures die from exposure to it become black sand themselves, they stay that way permanently, so even if it's created by a spell you can start to accumulate a permanent source.

[unseenmage]

In Sandstorm's setting, there are some locales that contain naturally occurring, permanent black sand. But I've always understood that, when creatures die from exposure to it become black sand themselves, they stay that way permanently, so even if it's created by a spell you can start to accumulate a permanent source.

Thank you. Just checked and am updating to reflect.

[sleepyphoenixx]

There is rarely a shortage of material for these spells since having Awaken Sand means you also have access to Transmute Stone to Sand (Sa) or, if there is no stone, Transmute Mud to Rock (PHB).
You should be able to find some mud unless your DM is a real jerk :smalltongue:.

Other sources of usable material:
Ashen Union (Sa) is a save or die that turns the victim to ash.
Blackfire (SpC) turns victims to ash as well.

[unseenmage]

There is rarely a shortage of material for these spells since having Awaken Sand means you also have access to Transmute Stone to Sand (Sa) or, if there is no stone, Transmute Mud to Rock (PHB).
You should be able to find some mud unless your DM is a real jerk :smalltongue:.

Other sources of usable material:
Ashen Union (Sa) is a save or die that turns the victim to ash.
Blackfire (SpC) turns victims to ash as well.

You bring up a good point, depending on local conditions a character would have either access to plenty of mud or plenty of dust/sand. Rarely both in the same environment.

At first I was listing sources for dust mostly for fun but wow was I surprised to find so many sources and such lethal uses.

[Zubrowka74]

Does dust of sneezing and choking count? It's magical but you could use the mudane equivalent : pepper or powdered chili.

[unseenmage]

Does dust of sneezing and choking count? It's magical but you could use the mudane equivalent : pepper or powdered chili.

The various "Dust of" magic items are listed but thanks for reminding me of powdered foodstuffs. :) They're listed now.

[ShurikVch]

Maybe, Unraveler can produce some dust with it's Disjoin attack?
Dust Wight always surrounded with dust cloud.

Also, quasi-elemental Plane of Dust. Infinite dust...

[eggynack]

Don't forget sandstorm (Sand, 119). It requires no sand to work, and it leaves piles of the stuff behind as an aftereffect. Also, it's basically a somewhat more powerful control winds, so it's kinda awesome.

[unseenmage]

Maybe, Unraveler can produce some dust with it's Disjoin attack?
Dust Wight always surrounded with dust cloud.

Also, quasi-elemental Plane of Dust. Infinite dust...

Added the Unraveler though it's just as likely it leaves lumps of material.

Source and pages for the Dust Wight and the Quasielemental Plane of Dust please?


Don't forget sandstorm (Sand, 119). It requires no sand to work, and it leaves piles of the stuff behind as an aftereffect. Also, it's basically a somewhat more powerful control winds, so it's kinda awesome.

I assumed it conjured dust that disappeared when the spell ended, added.

[ShurikVch]

Source and pages for the Dust Wight and the Quasielemental Plane of Dust please?

Dust Wight is from MM3 http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mmiii_gallery/82986.jpg


Quasielemental Plane of Dust is from Planescape, 2nd Ed.
Also, Quasielemental Plane of Salt and Quasielemental Plane of Ash

[eggynack]

I assumed it conjured dust that disappeared when the spell ended, added.
Yeah, it looks like that at first. A lot of these weather control spells require a lot of cross-referencing to figure out. Parsing sources like frostburn or sandstorm can occasionally be a real headache as a result. This is particularly true of call avalanche, which might not even have a RAW definition of its effects.

[Deophaun]

Obtain Familiar: Nimbat...

Oh, wrong Dust...

[unseenmage]

Dust Wight is from MM3 http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mmiii_gallery/82986.jpg


Thanks for the pic, definitely drove home how dusty he is. :smallsmile: Added.


Quasielemental Plane of Dust is from Planescape, 2nd Ed.
Also, Quasielemental Plane of Salt and Quasielemental Plane of Ash
Added.

I assume Planescape is a 3rd party source? Not that I'm knocking it, just hadn't heard of it before. (Though it does ring a bell, just can't remember.)

[Vaz]

Black Sand actually creates a patch of black sand which upon causing enough damage to drop the victim turns them into Sand.

[ShurikVch]

Sandstorm have Basin of Deadly Dust, which is filled with stardust - nonmagical grain-of-sand-sized constructs. Those who exposed to stardust, will be slowly turn into dustblights.

Also, the same book have Dustform Creature - walking animated pile of dust, which will crumble into dust after destruction.

[eggynack]

Are we listing uses for sand and dust too? If so, whispering sand (Sand, 128) is pretty sweet. You've gotta love long distance mass communication.

[unseenmage]

Sandstorm have Basin of Deadly Dust, which is filled with stardust - nonmagical grain-of-sand-sized constructs. Those who exposed to stardust, will be slowly turn into dustblights.

Also, the same book have Dustform Creature - walking animated pile of dust, which will crumble into dust after destruction.

I was completely unaware of the first one and I'd forgotten the second. Thanks, added.

I like the Dustform Creatures being on this list because they have a set volume. Meaning that normally you'll have next to no idea how much more dust you need before you can Awaken Sand.
With Dustform creatures you kill one and get exactly a creature of their size category worth in dust. Nice and simple.


Are we listing uses for sand and dust too? If so, whispering sand (Sand, 128) is pretty sweet. You've gotta love long distance mass communication.

Don't see why not, we get enough and I'll have to reorganize the OP. :smallbiggrin:

[JBPuffin]

I assume Planescape is a 3rd party source? Not that I'm knocking it, just hadn't heard of it before. (Though it does ring a bell, just can't remember.)

...Depends on what you mean by "3rd party"; it's a campaign setting for Dungeons and Dragons 2nd edition, and essentially boils down to "D&D + plane-shifting shenanigans".

Not sure who wrote it, but it's one of the somewhat classic settings. Seriously, you ought to read into it.

[Hangwind]

Ash Willow from Dragon Magazine. I normally stay away from the magazine stuff, but in this case it seems fairly harmless.

[Mutazoia]

The Awaken Sand (Sa), and Control Sand (Sa) spell got me wondering where players might get dust. (Dust works with the spell as it is a "similar material".)

Which also made me realize that while collecting dust for later animation players could put it in a Portable Hole or Enveloping Pit (MIC).
According to the DMG page 304 dust can be drowned in, so drowning one's enemies in your Portable Hole just got that much more interesting.

On the upside, Awaken Sand is Instantaneous duration meaning no Dispel-ing (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/dispelMagic.htm).
However, on the downside, it also creates a 4HD, Huge, intelligent Construct whose only compulsion to obey you is that it is created as Friendly towards you.
Meaning you need to influence it via Diplomacy or 'turn to command' it via the Warforged Domain in Faiths of Eberron page 150.

Suggestions for other creative uses for dust are more than welcome. Lets finally put all that wasted waste to good use.
Edit: Ash (thanks Totema), and sawdust (thanks sumkidy) could also be repeatable sources for dust, especially via various craft skills.

Sometimes Undead turn to dust when you destroy them. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16450490&postcount=2005) (thanks Curmudgeon)

Sources for Dust
This list assumes a DM who knows some of the awesome powers of dust and limits it's availability.

Spells
- Disintegrate (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/disintegrate.htm) spell

- Dust to Dust (RotW174) spell

- Sphere of Ultimate Destruction (CAr123) spell

- Polymorph Any Object (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/polymorphAnyObject.htm) spell

- Water to Dust spell (3.0 PH page236 mentions it but it isn't there)

- the old 3.0 Minor Servitor (SS68) spell as written animates a volume of material, including dust or sand, Dispel-able

- Ashen Union (Sa110), is a save or die that turns the victim to ash. (thanks sleepyphoenixx)

- Blackfire (SC29), turns victims to ash as well. (thanks sleepyphoenixx)

Items
- used Scrolls (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/scrolls.htm), (I thought these turned to dust, but that must have been a house rule at some point because I cannot find rules text supporting it.)

- Spell Component Pouch (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/goodsAndServices.htm) and it's propensity to produce an infinite variety of various magic dusts and powders for various spells.

- Shrouds of Disintegration (DMG266), turns bodies to dust, reusable

- the various 'Dust of x' items (DMG 255, 275), prohibitively costed

- poison dusts, Lich Dust and Ungol Dust (DMG297)

- ground pepper or powdered chili as mundane Dust of Sneezing and Choking (thanks Zubrowka74), flour could also work, flour, sugar, and spices can be found in the Arms and Equipment Guide page 31.

Locales
- Plane of Arborea (DMG166), third layer, borderless desert of white dust, infinite supply for the low, low cost of Plane Shift (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/planeShift.htm).

- The Elemental Plane of Earth, in to Echolost chamber, "the Earthpool, is a basin of dust so fi ne that it
appears to be liquid..." (PlaH168)

- Quasielemental Plane of Dust is from Planescape, 2nd Ed.
Also, Quasielemental Plane of Salt and Quasielemental Plane of Ash (thanks ShurikVch)

- the Basin of Deadly Dust and its Deadly Stardust (Sa202), broken nanotech, acts like a disease, changes exposed creature into Dustblight (Sa) (thanks ShurikVch)

- Ash Willow (D347pg43)
Has dark red bark, can reach heights of 120 feet tall, thrives on heat, often grows in pools of lava, grows several feet a year, continually smolder and rain ash all around them, creates 1 lb of ash each day for every 10 feet of its height, fast growing roots grow runners that spawn 1d3 new trees each month, trees spread within lava pools and along rivers of lava, areas with Ash Willows are treated as areas with snow for movement and visibility. (thanks Hangwind)

Creatures
- used Vampires (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/vampire.htm), ew Animated Object (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/animatedObject.htm) made of old stale vampire dust, gross. (As with scrolls, the SRD doesn't support this for some reason.)

- Mummy Rot (MM191); Though that, "...blow away into nothing at the first wind.", clause might persist after you've turned said dust to your own purposes.

- the Bralani (MM93) can assume a form of dust or sand, could be funny to get one to hold said form long enough to Awaken Sand or Transmute Sand to Glass them.

- Dust-Stuffed Template (EH114) creatures are filled with dust when they're turned into Constructs (thanks supermonkeyjoe)

- The Unraveler (PlH130) might make dust with it's Disjoin attack but it's just as likely to make lumps of rocky material, (thanks ShurikVch)

- Dust Wight (MM3pg47), "A dust wight is surrounded by a cloud of dusty particles.", (thanks ShurikVch)

- Dustform Creature template (Sa161), crumbles to dust when dies, dies to critical hits, (thanks ShurikVch)

So there are lots and lots of sources for RAW dust. With next to no way to know how much it takes of any given one to either a) Animate a minion or b) drown a victim.

Best thing on the list is probably the third layer of Arboria as its infinite volume is accessible via a simple Plane Shift spell.

--------------
Sand Options

- Black Sand (Sa111) spell, Awakening this sand could be interesting, non-conjured sand made from victims slain by conjured sand, or via Plane Shift to "...the scoured surface of Minethys in the Tarterian Depths of Carceri (where the Plane of Shadow overlays the Elemental Plane of Earth)..." (Sa20), (thanks Totema)

- Transmute Stone to Sand (Sa125) spell, Permanent duration so its Dispel-able? Not sure how that works if you Awaken it or toss someone in it to drown.

- Slipsand (Sa121) spell, creates sand, another Permanent duration means it's likely Dispel-able too.

- Vitrify (Sa125) spell, makes crude glass

- Transmute Sand to Glass (Sa124) spell

- Sandstorm (Sa119) spell, (thanks eggynack)

- the Shapesand (Sa 77, 102), alchemical item would be somewhat costly but could also have some interesting interactions with the various spells here.

- Slumber Sand (Sa103), does exactly what you'd think

- Whispering Sand spell (Sand128), long distance communication, (thanks eggynack)


Maybe you could just carry it around in a giant gourd on your back...make the gourd out of sand while your at it....

[littlebum2002]

There's a spell called Dust to Dust? Is there also a spell called Ashes to Ashes?


Also, casting Awaken Sand on a pile of Chili powder is diabolical. Just think if the possibilities!