In the game, I was running the party came across a swarm of Giant Centipedes. The party decided to run instead of engaging in combat but the Centipedes dashed and caught up with them which forced the combat. Fortunately for the players where the Centipedes caught up to the players was in a tight hallway so only two of them could attack at a time. Looking at Centipede stat is has a 30 feet Climb movement.
I've never really used the climbing movement in other encounters so that got me to asking if I had the Centipedes in the back of the swarm climb up the walls and move along the ceiling to make an attack action from over the other centipedes or directly overhead of the party. I usually err on the side of caution because the attacks would be in the personal space of either the creatures of the players, even though they were on the ceiling and did make that action so I'm hoping to get the hive mind opinion or experience on the subject.
Actually, climb speed just increases the available climb distance in comparison to basic rules.
You still have to make climbing checks and you cannot just move upside down on the ceiling.
The climbing checks mentioned are only for particularly slippery vertical surfaces, otherwise no check is needed. Similarly there is a line for swimming (no check) and swimming in rough water (check).
Climbing up a tree? Across a rough stone wall? Easy peasy if you have a climb speed.
Actually, climb speed just increases the available climb distance in comparison to basic rules.
You still have to make climbing checks and you cannot just move upside down on the ceiling.
The climbing checks mentioned are only for particularly slippery vertical surfaces, otherwise no check is needed. Similarly there is a line for swimming (no check) and swimming in rough water (check).
Climbing up a tree? Across a rough stone wall? Easy peasy if you have a climb speed.
Normal climbing rules apply, even when you have a climbing speed.
First rule:
While climbing or swimming, each foot of movement costs 1 extra foot (2 extra feet in difficult terrain), unless a creature has a climbing or swimming speed.
Second rule:
At the GM's option, climbing a slippery vertical surface or one with few handholds requires a successful Athletics check. Similarly, gaining any distance in rough water might require a successful Athletics check.
Second part is not excempted for creatures with climbing speed.
As the DM, you can decide if the walls are textured enough for the centipedes to crawl across. You would need to add some pretty specific details to justify them actually crawling on the ceiling (like... it would have to have roots or something, and a lot of them, for them to grip on comfortably without spider-climb). But it wouldn't be a stretch to say that they can climb along the walls so more of them can attack at once.
In the game, I was running the party came across a swarm of Giant Centipedes. The party decided to run instead of engaging in combat but the Centipedes dashed and caught up with them which forced the combat. Fortunately for the players where the Centipedes caught up to the players was in a tight hallway so only two of them could attack at a time. Looking at Centipede stat is has a 30 feet Climb movement.
I've never really used the climbing movement in other encounters so that got me to asking if I had the Centipedes in the back of the swarm climb up the walls and move along the ceiling to make an attack action from over the other centipedes or directly overhead of the party. I usually err on the side of caution because the attacks would be in the personal space of either the creatures of the players, even though they were on the ceiling and did make that action so I'm hoping to get the hive mind opinion or experience on the subject.
Actually, climb speed just increases the available climb distance in comparison to basic rules.
You still have to make climbing checks and you cannot just move upside down on the ceiling.
For that the creature needs the spider climb rule in addition:
Spider Climb: The [insert creature] can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Look for example at the Giant Spider.
Thank you for clearing that up for me. Glad I held back on that action when I did.
The climbing checks mentioned are only for particularly slippery vertical surfaces, otherwise no check is needed. Similarly there is a line for swimming (no check) and swimming in rough water (check).
Climbing up a tree? Across a rough stone wall? Easy peasy if you have a climb speed.
Normal climbing rules apply, even when you have a climbing speed.
First rule:
While climbing or swimming, each foot of movement costs 1 extra foot (2 extra feet in difficult terrain), unless a creature has a climbing or swimming speed.
Second rule:
At the GM's option, climbing a slippery vertical surface or one with few handholds requires a successful Athletics check. Similarly, gaining any distance in rough water might require a successful Athletics check.
Second part is not excempted for creatures with climbing speed.
As the DM, you can decide if the walls are textured enough for the centipedes to crawl across. You would need to add some pretty specific details to justify them actually crawling on the ceiling (like... it would have to have roots or something, and a lot of them, for them to grip on comfortably without spider-climb). But it wouldn't be a stretch to say that they can climb along the walls so more of them can attack at once.
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