Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 BloodMoon666 Sep 21, 2015 9:18:27	I was browsing through the PHB and the internet in search of why do some creatures have swimming or climbing speeds and what do they mean/give rules wise. And I stumbeled upon the armo(u)r table and somehing caught my eye. Some armors give disadvantage to sneaking checks due to being too cumbersome/stiff/noisy/etc. And I started wondering why aren't there similar debuffs for swimming or climbing? I think it would encourage more people to use lighter armors and not feel bad about losing the AC if, for example, they don't have high DEX. What do you guys think about this? Do you feel this would then make lightly armored classes more powerful in and out of combat compared to fighters or paladins, for example? I'm considering to houserule these restrictions into my upcoming campaign. Sorry for the wall of text btw...typing this in my phone so text formatting isn't an option on this site, it seems.
#2 Noctaem Sep 21, 2015 11:02:17	because they decided to use STR requirements for the heavy armor.  So by your presented logic, I need 15 STR to use plate, which my class allows me to use, but then I have disadvantage when climbing because of the plate armor I'm wearing.  STR already has very few useful uses in the game, attaching a penalty from armor to checks that use the ability score would just make it even more useless.  And it already is in almost every build outside of two-handed weapon builds.
#3 Coredump00 Sep 21, 2015 13:52:17	Of course you, as DM are supposed to adjudicate specific situations to include the exact variables at the time.  That is your job. But keep in mind that 5E is simplified, and works best that way.  Most DMs tend to only adjudicate in the negative for players.... most added 'complexity' is making it harder on the PCs. So be careful with that.   I would probably not give a climbing penalty, except maybe for a group check, or for an extended climb...but probably not even then. I would make it impossible to swim in plate, and pretty much any heavy armor (and some medium armor)
#4 Tempest_Stormwind Sep 21, 2015 14:00:35	Incidentally, the frequency with which you call for Strength (Athletics) checks while climbing or swimming is also up to the DM. Maybe you might not call for these checks at all for routine tasks in light armor (you'd still call for them for something sophisticated), but you call for them all the time in heavy armor. Similarly, the consequences of these checks is up to the DM - maybe a failed Athletics check while climbing in light armor means you're not making progress this round, while a failed check in heavy armor means you fall.   Remember that an ability check doesn't reflect "being able to do something" so much as "attempting something with an uncertain outcome / a risk of failure". If you believe that attempting to swim is impossible in plate armor (a perfectly legitimate position), then the outcome isn't uncertain, and you aren't going to call for a check or let it slide.
#5 BloodMoon666 Sep 21, 2015 23:49:45	Hm yes. Come to think of it, I haven't really used climbing or swimming much in my games so I guess I'm really uncertain what the DCs should be(pc in heavy plate trying to climb a steep hill, trying to fight the stream in medium armor, holding on to/grabbing hold of the ledge for dear life, trying to hold breath for longer than your standard con mod minutes etc.).