Ravenloft's race, Dhampir, has the Spider Climb ability. My question is whether the breed needs to do a check to be able to climb. I don't see much sense in them needing to check, as the idea of the skill is precisely to be able to walk through surfaces such as walls and ceilings in a natural way. A Dhampir falling while trying to climb is kind of weird.
While not mentioned in the Dhampir's description, other creatures with the Spider Climb, such as the Giant Spider, explicitly mention that ability checks are not required. In principle, that's what having a movement speed means. A climbing speed means that you can climb as easily as walking, and a check would only be required if the player were attempting something unusually difficult.
Dhampirs gain the full spider climb ability in two stages, so I suspect that the missing "..., without needing to make an ability check." qualifier was simply an oversight.
No, a Dhampir does not ignore ability checks for climbing. Having a climbing speed just means that you don't suffer the movement penalty while climbing. Ability checks are only ignored if the feature explicitly says so.
However, it is important to note that climbing does not require an Athletics check by default. A DM should only call for an Athletics check if there is some difficulty, such as a sheer surface with no handholds, a wet and slippery surface, or loose rocks for example.
Climbing does not generally require any check unless you encounter difficult situation. Having a climbing speed let you essentially ignore extra movement cost.
Climbing, Swimming and Crawling: Each foot of movement costs 1 extra foot (2 extra feet in difficult terrain) when you’re climbing, swimming, or crawling. You ignore this extra cost if you have a climbing speed and use it to climb or a swimming speed and use it to swim. At the DM’s option, climbing a slippery vertical surface or one with few handholds requires a successful Strength (Athletics) check.
The Strenght (Athetics) check provide exemples of situation that would warrant a check;
Athletics. Your Strength (Athletics) check covers difficult situations you encounter while climbing, jumping, or swimming. Examples include the following activities: • You attempt to climb a sheer or slippery cliff, avoid hazards while scaling a wall, or cling to a surface while something is trying to knock you off.
There seems to be an error in the Dhampir's Spider Climb trait as climbing across ceiling with no hands would be nearly impossible to succeed without climbing equipment to prevent falling. I don't think it's supposed to make any check.
Spider Climb. You have a climbing speed equal to your walking speed. In addition, at 3rd level, you can move up, down, and across vertical surfaces and upside down along ceilings, while leaving your hands free.
It does seem a little odd but could be a specific limitation for PCs. I should point out that the Dhampir feature functions the same as the Spider Climb spell.
Until the spell ends, one willing creature you touch gains the ability to move up, down, and across vertical surfaces and upside down along ceilings, while leaving its hands free. The target also gains a climbing speed equal to its walking speed.
It does seem a little odd but could be a specific limitation for PCs. I should point out that the Dhampir feature functions the same as the Spider Climb spell.
Until the spell ends, one willing creature you touch gains the ability to move up, down, and across vertical surfaces and upside down along ceilings, while leaving its hands free. The target also gains a climbing speed equal to its walking speed.
A ruling to allow all creatures with a climbing speed to ignore ability checks feels wrong to me. Especially when recent releases like TCoE have features that specifically call it out, like the Beast Barbarian's 6th level feature.
I feel like the ability works fine as printed. It just means that walking on the ceiling or a wall is not considered difficult for a Dhampir, so you wouldn't have to make as many checks. But if you get knocked about by enemies or strong weather then you might fall, so do have to make a check in that specific situation. It also leaves your hands free to make attacks or perform other tasks, where other creatures have to cling to the surface they're climbing.
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(Sorry for my bad english)
Ravenloft's race, Dhampir, has the Spider Climb ability. My question is whether the breed needs to do a check to be able to climb. I don't see much sense in them needing to check, as the idea of the skill is precisely to be able to walk through surfaces such as walls and ceilings in a natural way. A Dhampir falling while trying to climb is kind of weird.
While not mentioned in the Dhampir's description, other creatures with the Spider Climb, such as the Giant Spider, explicitly mention that ability checks are not required. In principle, that's what having a movement speed means. A climbing speed means that you can climb as easily as walking, and a check would only be required if the player were attempting something unusually difficult.
Dhampirs gain the full spider climb ability in two stages, so I suspect that the missing "..., without needing to make an ability check." qualifier was simply an oversight.
No, a Dhampir does not ignore ability checks for climbing. Having a climbing speed just means that you don't suffer the movement penalty while climbing. Ability checks are only ignored if the feature explicitly says so.
However, it is important to note that climbing does not require an Athletics check by default. A DM should only call for an Athletics check if there is some difficulty, such as a sheer surface with no handholds, a wet and slippery surface, or loose rocks for example.
Climbing does not generally require any check unless you encounter difficult situation. Having a climbing speed let you essentially ignore extra movement cost.
The Strenght (Athetics) check provide exemples of situation that would warrant a check;
There seems to be an error in the Dhampir's Spider Climb trait as climbing across ceiling with no hands would be nearly impossible to succeed without climbing equipment to prevent falling. I don't think it's supposed to make any check.
It does seem a little odd but could be a specific limitation for PCs. I should point out that the Dhampir feature functions the same as the Spider Climb spell.
It is similar indeed. While i can't find any official support for it, i know the Devs said on Twitter that climb speed needed no check https://twitter.com/mikemearls/status/752981020803108864?s=20
And that Spider Climb trait* also needed no check https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/767935159739961344?s=20
*Sure he refers to monster trait, and not racial trait even though they have the same name.
A ruling to allow all creatures with a climbing speed to ignore ability checks feels wrong to me. Especially when recent releases like TCoE have features that specifically call it out, like the Beast Barbarian's 6th level feature.
I feel like the ability works fine as printed. It just means that walking on the ceiling or a wall is not considered difficult for a Dhampir, so you wouldn't have to make as many checks. But if you get knocked about by enemies or strong weather then you might fall, so do have to make a check in that specific situation. It also leaves your hands free to make attacks or perform other tasks, where other creatures have to cling to the surface they're climbing.