Ghosts of Saltmarsh is an adventure anthology published by Wizards of the Coast for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. Released on May 21, 2019, the book compiles seven classic D&D adventures, primarily from the 1st edition, and updates them for the current ruleset, while also introducing new material to connect them into a cohesive campaign arc centered around the titular coastal town of Saltmarsh.
Overview The book focuses on nautical adventure, exploration, and intrigue, providing Dungeon Masters (DMs) with resources to run campaigns involving sea travel, ship combat, ancient underwater evils, and the political tensions within a burgeoning port town. It's designed for characters of levels 1-12, offering a progression from low-level skirmishes to high-stakes confrontations with formidable foes.
Content
- Adventures: The core of the book consists of seven updated adventures, most famously including modules from the "U" series (e.g., The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh, Danger at Dunwater, The Final Enemy) and others like Tammeraut's Fate and The Styes. These adventures involve investigating haunted mansions, negotiating with lizardfolk, exploring sunken temples, battling aberrations, and confronting powerful undead or other creatures from the deep.
- Saltmarsh Setting: A significant portion of the book is dedicated to detailing the town of Saltmarsh, its inhabitants, factions (such as the traditionalists, loyalists, and the dwarven mining company), and local lore. This provides DMs with a ready-made base of operations and a vibrant social tapestry for players to interact with.
- Nautical Rules: Ghosts of Saltmarsh includes extensive rules for ship-to-ship combat, managing a crew, exploring underwater environments, and various hazards of the sea. It features stat blocks for different types of vessels and guidelines for naval encounters.
- Monsters and Magic Items: The book introduces several new monsters, many with an aquatic theme, and a selection of magic items appropriate for a seafaring campaign.
- Campaign Hooks: Advice and ideas are provided for weaving the individual adventures into a larger narrative, offering different overarching plots and themes for the DM to explore.
Themes Common themes explored in Ghosts of Saltmarsh include:
- Exploration: Discovering ancient ruins, sunken ships, and unknown islands.
- Intrigue: Navigating the political factions and secret societies within Saltmarsh.
- Horror: Confronting ancient evils, aberrations, and undead horrors from the deep.
- Naval Warfare: Engaging in ship combat and dealing with pirates or other maritime threats.
- Morality: Making choices that impact the future of Saltmarsh and its inhabitants.
Reception Ghosts of Saltmarsh was generally well-received by critics and players for its successful modernization of classic adventures, its focus on a less common nautical theme within 5th edition, and its valuable resources for DMs running seafaring campaigns. It is praised for its production quality, detailed setting information, and the flexibility it offers in structuring a campaign. It is considered a strong addition to the 5th edition adventure library, particularly for DMs looking for a change of pace from traditional dungeon crawls or overland quests.