I think a lot of this will be situationally determined by the DM based on exactly what is being climbed, what you are fighting, how it interacts with rules for cover and so on.
There are a few basics:
Climbing generally impacts movement. "Each foot of movement costs 1 extra foot (2 extra feet in difficult terrain) when you’re climbing".
The DM might situationally call for a Strength (Athletics) check. An example used in Chapter 7 is: "you attempt to . . . cling to a surface while something is trying to knock you off."
If you happened to have a Climber's Kit and use an action to anchor yourself then -- assuming the anchor holds -- it would limit how far you could fall.
But yeah, beyond that it will mostly be up to the DM to run things based on the particular situation.
Generally speaking 5e doesn't use "penalties" in the way previous editions did by applying a direct negative modifier to the roll. If the DM thinks it's called for, they can all for a roll to be made at advantage/disadvantage.
There's also not many combat-relevant rules for climbing, since it's pretty much assumed that anyone without a climbing speed or magic item won't try to climb during combat.
Other than what is noted above, there isn't a whole lot in the books (PHB, DMG, TGE, XGE) on the notion of fighting while climbing.
I would up the DC, and apply Disadvantage on rolls, but also, pay attention to how they attack -- climbing always needs at least one brace and one hold, so at best they could have one hand free (and not always so). So anything needing ammunition to be loaded would be pretty much out, and opportunity attacks are going to be a hard call.
I have no idea how one would handle it for something like a VTT
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Only a DM since 1980 (2000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA
While no rules specifically address getting attacked or damaged while climbing, some places in the rules suggest Dexterity checks to maintain balance or keep from falling as well as Strength (Athletics) checks when climbing become harder due to surface being slippery or with fewer handholds or while something is trying to knock you off.
There is also saving throws when forced to make one because your character is at risk of harm that could be used.
As for penalty, any check or save can be affected by advantage and disadvantage when the DM decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or the other and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result.
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Are there rules for combat while climbing?
AC penalties? Save penalties? Chances to fall?
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I think a lot of this will be situationally determined by the DM based on exactly what is being climbed, what you are fighting, how it interacts with rules for cover and so on.
There are a few basics:
Climbing generally impacts movement. "Each foot of movement costs 1 extra foot (2 extra feet in difficult terrain) when you’re climbing".
The DM might situationally call for a Strength (Athletics) check. An example used in Chapter 7 is: "you attempt to . . . cling to a surface while something is trying to knock you off."
If you happened to have a Climber's Kit and use an action to anchor yourself then -- assuming the anchor holds -- it would limit how far you could fall.
But yeah, beyond that it will mostly be up to the DM to run things based on the particular situation.
Generally speaking 5e doesn't use "penalties" in the way previous editions did by applying a direct negative modifier to the roll. If the DM thinks it's called for, they can all for a roll to be made at advantage/disadvantage.
There's also not many combat-relevant rules for climbing, since it's pretty much assumed that anyone without a climbing speed or magic item won't try to climb during combat.
Other than what is noted above, there isn't a whole lot in the books (PHB, DMG, TGE, XGE) on the notion of fighting while climbing.
I would up the DC, and apply Disadvantage on rolls, but also, pay attention to how they attack -- climbing always needs at least one brace and one hold, so at best they could have one hand free (and not always so). So anything needing ammunition to be loaded would be pretty much out, and opportunity attacks are going to be a hard call.
I have no idea how one would handle it for something like a VTT
Only a DM since 1980 (2000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA
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While no rules specifically address getting attacked or damaged while climbing, some places in the rules suggest Dexterity checks to maintain balance or keep from falling as well as Strength (Athletics) checks when climbing become harder due to surface being slippery or with fewer handholds or while something is trying to knock you off.
There is also saving throws when forced to make one because your character is at risk of harm that could be used.
As for penalty, any check or save can be affected by advantage and disadvantage when the DM decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or the other and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result.