Climbing a Monster [Archive] - Wizards Community

Climbing a Monster [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Centauri
08-26-05, 05:30 PM How would you handle a character climbing about on the body of a larger creature. It's not grappling, exactly. I imagine it would just call for a Climb check, plus some vicious penalties depending on the availability of hand-holds, the degree of sliminess, and the orneriness of the creature. How would you rule attacks by the climbee against the climber, and vice versa? The climber might be able to get into a spot that the climber can't access well, and can't see, and might be able to attack a vital spot directly.

I'm given to think about this because it's a staple maneuver of fantasy. Legolas climbed on both a cave troll and an oliphant in The Lord of the Rings, and this picture:
http://wizards.com/dnd/images/dmg2_gallery/90120.jpg
shows two characters climbing around on a tarrasque.
Tyler Do'Urden
08-26-05, 06:43 PM I probably wouldn't allow it at all if possible. Consider what you do when you see or feel a bug or something crawling on you. What do you do? You crush it's [hiney].

Dragons and the like would probably think of having adventurers all over them as really, really gross.
EvilVegan
08-26-05, 06:52 PM Grapple vs Climb check

The giant bane feat in complete warrior has details, but yea.
zero_cool
08-26-05, 07:57 PM that´s interesting.

let me see. I don´t recall I had read something about it, so...

First of all, you will need to be two sizes smaller than the creature you try to climb. (ex. medium could climb huge creatures, but no large, and small creaures could climb large creatures but no mediums).

a simple climb check with penalties will not do. It have to be some opposed check.

It is important to know where you are climbing, because you can´t shake off a creature that it is in your arm as easily as one that is in your back. Let´s says you climb a troll in in the back.

atack of oportunity, then
first check. climb check 20.
second check. dex check is requiered to know if the creature can react and shake you off. you need to climb 3/4 of the creature height to attack, and every time you climb you need an opossed dex check to continue climbing. If you succeed succeed, then:
you may now, as an standard action, make an attack against that creature denying his dex. And as a move action you can continue on top of the creature with another dex check.
if you fail, the enemy can start a grapple attempt against you (if has anything to get you, ex, hands, claws, tail) if not, or if it fails, you fall.

you can even make a feat like Monster Climber or something
FlameLover
08-26-05, 08:12 PM Hm, again this is something I'm interested in due to my recent study of the Hulk. Anyway i'd say you would have to be 3 sizes smaller (just like you would if you were entering someone else's sqaure) and would make it an opposed reflex (Not sure why but it fits I think).

So it'd be climb DC20 to get on them. So once you're on they take a -4 penalty to hit you and when attacking them they are denied their dex to AC. But on each round you'd have to make a free climb check opposed by their reflex save or fall off landing prone in an adjacent square. Maybe allow you with 3 succesful rounds of climibing to attack their head? In that case i'd make a critical hit blind the creature (gross but what are you gonna do?)

Hm, that's not so good but I would aim for something easy (read: easier than grapple). Making it a feat would be OK I guess but I feel htat Climb should be given some more purpose (since it soon becomes a redundant skill with fly/levitate spells)
Centauri
08-26-05, 08:14 PM Interesting responses. I think that Ride should be incorporated into the checks somehow, when it comes to holding on to a creature that's trying to shake you loose.
Duration_10_Rounds
08-26-05, 09:08 PM How about....

Climbing a Foe:
* You must be at least 3 size catagories smaller than the target you wish to climb.
* To initiate your climb you must make a climb check VS DC 15 + the creatures Dex bonus. +5 to the DC if the creature tried to hit you with a melee attack this turn.
* When the creatures tries to hit you during your climb you Make a ride roll, this takes the place of your AC. If the creature has fur or feathers add +2 to this roll is they have perfectly smooty skin or scales subtract -2 from this roll.
* To advance up/across the creature you must make climb checks, apply bonuses or penalties based on the creatures skin/carapice/feathers suitability as a climbing surface (Fur or Feathers = good, Scales or Smooth skin = bad).

Focibly Mount(aka Grabbing a tiger by the tail):
* You must be the same size or 1 size catagiry smaller than your target.
* You make a Touch attack & Grapple, from behind a target you gain +4 to this attack if you jump from above the target.
* The oppnent recieves no AoO from your grapple attempt if he was not aware of your presence when the grapple was started.
* If the opponent is unable to phisicaly attack a creature "mounting" it then it can not attack, deal damage nor attempt to pin you.
* You can not attempt to pin the target of this grapple.
* The target can attempt to "buck" you by making an unarmed attack opposed by your ride check. the bucking creture provokes no AoO by doing this.
* You may attack or deal damage to the target of this grapple as per the grappling rules with a natural or small weapon. If you do so your ride check vs bucking is halved for the rest of the round.
* If you get bucked you take the opponents Str bonus in subdual damage and are prone in a square adjacent to him.

Feat: Rodeo Master.
Preq: 4 Ranks in Ride
You gain +4 on all rolls involved in Climbing for Forcibly Mounting an opponent

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Centauri 08-26-05, 05:30 PM	How would you handle a character climbing about on the body of a larger creature. It's not grappling, exactly. I imagine it would just call for a Climb check, plus some vicious penalties depending on the availability of hand-holds, the degree of sliminess, and the orneriness of the creature. How would you rule attacks by the climbee against the climber, and vice versa? The climber might be able to get into a spot that the climber can't access well, and can't see, and might be able to attack a vital spot directly. I'm given to think about this because it's a staple maneuver of fantasy. Legolas climbed on both a cave troll and an oliphant in The Lord of the Rings, and this picture: http://wizards.com/dnd/images/dmg2_gallery/90120.jpg shows two characters climbing around on a tarrasque.
Tyler Do'Urden 08-26-05, 06:43 PM	I probably wouldn't allow it at all if possible. Consider what you do when you see or feel a bug or something crawling on you. What do you do? You crush it's [hiney]. Dragons and the like would probably think of having adventurers all over them as really, really gross.
EvilVegan 08-26-05, 06:52 PM	Grapple vs Climb check The giant bane feat in complete warrior has details, but yea.
zero_cool 08-26-05, 07:57 PM	that´s interesting. let me see. I don´t recall I had read something about it, so... First of all, you will need to be two sizes smaller than the creature you try to climb. (ex. medium could climb huge creatures, but no large, and small creaures could climb large creatures but no mediums). a simple climb check with penalties will not do. It have to be some opposed check. It is important to know where you are climbing, because you can´t shake off a creature that it is in your arm as easily as one that is in your back. Let´s says you climb a troll in in the back. atack of oportunity, then first check. climb check 20. second check. dex check is requiered to know if the creature can react and shake you off. you need to climb 3/4 of the creature height to attack, and every time you climb you need an opossed dex check to continue climbing. If you succeed succeed, then: you may now, as an standard action, make an attack against that creature denying his dex. And as a move action you can continue on top of the creature with another dex check. if you fail, the enemy can start a grapple attempt against you (if has anything to get you, ex, hands, claws, tail) if not, or if it fails, you fall. you can even make a feat like Monster Climber or something
FlameLover 08-26-05, 08:12 PM	Hm, again this is something I'm interested in due to my recent study of the Hulk. Anyway i'd say you would have to be 3 sizes smaller (just like you would if you were entering someone else's sqaure) and would make it an opposed reflex (Not sure why but it fits I think). So it'd be climb DC20 to get on them. So once you're on they take a -4 penalty to hit you and when attacking them they are denied their dex to AC. But on each round you'd have to make a free climb check opposed by their reflex save or fall off landing prone in an adjacent square. Maybe allow you with 3 succesful rounds of climibing to attack their head? In that case i'd make a critical hit blind the creature (gross but what are you gonna do?) Hm, that's not so good but I would aim for something easy (read: easier than grapple). Making it a feat would be OK I guess but I feel htat Climb should be given some more purpose (since it soon becomes a redundant skill with fly/levitate spells)
Centauri 08-26-05, 08:14 PM	Interesting responses. I think that Ride should be incorporated into the checks somehow, when it comes to holding on to a creature that's trying to shake you loose.
Duration_10_Rounds 08-26-05, 09:08 PM	How about.... Climbing a Foe: * You must be at least 3 size catagories smaller than the target you wish to climb. * To initiate your climb you must make a climb check VS DC 15 + the creatures Dex bonus. +5 to the DC if the creature tried to hit you with a melee attack this turn. * When the creatures tries to hit you during your climb you Make a ride roll, this takes the place of your AC. If the creature has fur or feathers add +2 to this roll is they have perfectly smooty skin or scales subtract -2 from this roll. * To advance up/across the creature you must make climb checks, apply bonuses or penalties based on the creatures skin/carapice/feathers suitability as a climbing surface (Fur or Feathers = good, Scales or Smooth skin = bad). Focibly Mount(aka Grabbing a tiger by the tail): * You must be the same size or 1 size catagiry smaller than your target. * You make a Touch attack & Grapple, from behind a target you gain +4 to this attack if you jump from above the target. * The oppnent recieves no AoO from your grapple attempt if he was not aware of your presence when the grapple was started. * If the opponent is unable to phisicaly attack a creature "mounting" it then it can not attack, deal damage nor attempt to pin you. * You can not attempt to pin the target of this grapple. * The target can attempt to "buck" you by making an unarmed attack opposed by your ride check. the bucking creture provokes no AoO by doing this. * You may attack or deal damage to the target of this grapple as per the grappling rules with a natural or small weapon. If you do so your ride check vs bucking is halved for the rest of the round. * If you get bucked you take the opponents Str bonus in subdual damage and are prone in a square adjacent to him. Feat: Rodeo Master. Preq: 4 Ranks in Ride You gain +4 on all rolls involved in Climbing for Forcibly Mounting an opponent