3.5 Spider Climb Question - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

3.5 Spider Climb Question

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
predatorius
Feb 17, 2010 1:58:44 Hi,

during our last session we encountered a certain pickle. One PC had spider climb spell in use. He wanted to jump and use his spider climb to get 'stickied' to the wall in order to avoid a trap.

The DM ruled that spider climb is for travelling vertical walls (as it says in the PHB), not for jumping and 'grappling'. Although spiders may do this in nature, it seems somewhat ridiculous that PC with all his gear does like that.

What do you think?
#2
da_chicken
Feb 17, 2010 2:13:50 He ought to read the spell description again. It explicitly mentions that you can move on ceilings.

The subject can climb and travel on vertical surfaces or even traverse ceilings as well as a spider does. The affected creature must have its hands free to climb in this manner. The subject gains a climb speed of 20 feet; furthermore, it need not make Climb checks to traverse a vertical or horizontal surface (even upside down). A spider climbing creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/spiderClimb.ht...
#3
predatorius
Feb 17, 2010 2:18:34
He ought to read the spell description again. It explicitly mentions that you can move on ceilings.

The subject can climb and travel on vertical surfaces or even traverse ceilings as well as a spider does. The affected creature must have its hands free to climb in this manner. The subject gains a climb speed of 20 feet; furthermore, it need not make Climb checks to traverse a vertical or horizontal surface (even upside down). A spider climbing creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/spiderClimb.ht...

Ok, so it says. But in a way the problem was the 'landing' to the wall. The PC tried to jump 10 feets without speed and land to the wall directly. Or is this again problem with the realism of D&D and should just be taken as it is.
#4
da_chicken
Feb 17, 2010 2:27:56 Ah, I see. I misread what you were saying then.

If I were DM, I'd have made the player roll a Jump check. The result of the roll would be how high the character's head would go, and then you can extrapolate where the body would end up from there. Then I'd have the player roll a "catch yourself while falling" which is DC 10 + wall's climb value. Actually that seems high to me for an intentional jump. Say DC 5 + wall's climb value or you fall and probably trigger the trap. Spider climb itself pretty much says "you always succeed on climb checks," so in this case I'd say no climb check at all, and if you jump high enough you don't trigger the trap. Granted, it's nearly impossible to jump that high without magic (the current world record being about 6 feet) but there you go. With a jump spell it should be no problem.

To me it's an innovative solution to a trap. No need to punish the players for being smart. This is what you give extra XP for!
#5
predatorius
Feb 17, 2010 3:09:18
Ah, I see. I misread what you were saying then.

If I were DM, I'd have made the player roll a Jump check. The result of the roll would be how high the character's head would go, and then you can extrapolate where the body would end up from there. Then I'd have the player roll a "catch yourself while falling" which is DC 10 + wall's climb value. Actually that seems high to me for an intentional jump. Say DC 5 + wall's climb value or you fall and probably trigger the trap. Spider climb itself pretty much says "you always succeed on climb checks," so in this case I'd say no climb check at all, and if you jump high enough you don't trigger the trap. Granted, it's nearly impossible to jump that high without magic (the current world record being about 6 feet) but there you go. With a jump spell it should be no problem.

To me it's an innovative solution to a trap. No need to punish the players for being smart. This is what you give extra XP for!

This solution seems reasonable. I consider suggesting it at next session. Thanks! And excuse me for my unclear first message.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 predatorius Feb 17, 2010 1:58:44	Hi, during our last session we encountered a certain pickle. One PC had spider climb spell in use. He wanted to jump and use his spider climb to get 'stickied' to the wall in order to avoid a trap. The DM ruled that spider climb is for travelling vertical walls (as it says in the PHB), not for jumping and 'grappling'. Although spiders may do this in nature, it seems somewhat ridiculous that PC with all his gear does like that. What do you think?
#2 da_chicken Feb 17, 2010 2:13:50	He ought to read the spell description again. It explicitly mentions that you can move on ceilings. The subject can climb and travel on vertical surfaces or even traverse ceilings as well as a spider does. The affected creature must have its hands free to climb in this manner. The subject gains a climb speed of 20 feet; furthermore, it need not make Climb checks to traverse a vertical or horizontal surface (even upside down). A spider climbing creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing. www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/spiderClimb.ht...
#3 predatorius Feb 17, 2010 2:18:34	He ought to read the spell description again. It explicitly mentions that you can move on ceilings. The subject can climb and travel on vertical surfaces or even traverse ceilings as well as a spider does. The affected creature must have its hands free to climb in this manner. The subject gains a climb speed of 20 feet; furthermore, it need not make Climb checks to traverse a vertical or horizontal surface (even upside down). A spider climbing creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing. www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/spiderClimb.ht... Ok, so it says. But in a way the problem was the 'landing' to the wall. The PC tried to jump 10 feets without speed and land to the wall directly. Or is this again problem with the realism of D&D and should just be taken as it is.
#4 da_chicken Feb 17, 2010 2:27:56	Ah, I see. I misread what you were saying then. If I were DM, I'd have made the player roll a Jump check. The result of the roll would be how high the character's head would go, and then you can extrapolate where the body would end up from there. Then I'd have the player roll a "catch yourself while falling" which is DC 10 + wall's climb value. Actually that seems high to me for an intentional jump. Say DC 5 + wall's climb value or you fall and probably trigger the trap. Spider climb itself pretty much says "you always succeed on climb checks," so in this case I'd say no climb check at all, and if you jump high enough you don't trigger the trap. Granted, it's nearly impossible to jump that high without magic (the current world record being about 6 feet) but there you go. With a jump spell it should be no problem. To me it's an innovative solution to a trap. No need to punish the players for being smart. This is what you give extra XP for!
#5 predatorius Feb 17, 2010 3:09:18	Ah, I see. I misread what you were saying then. If I were DM, I'd have made the player roll a Jump check. The result of the roll would be how high the character's head would go, and then you can extrapolate where the body would end up from there. Then I'd have the player roll a "catch yourself while falling" which is DC 10 + wall's climb value. Actually that seems high to me for an intentional jump. Say DC 5 + wall's climb value or you fall and probably trigger the trap. Spider climb itself pretty much says "you always succeed on climb checks," so in this case I'd say no climb check at all, and if you jump high enough you don't trigger the trap. Granted, it's nearly impossible to jump that high without magic (the current world record being about 6 feet) but there you go. With a jump spell it should be no problem. To me it's an innovative solution to a trap. No need to punish the players for being smart. This is what you give extra XP for! This solution seems reasonable. I consider suggesting it at next session. Thanks! And excuse me for my unclear first message.