Climbing Walls 

 

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EXPLANATION:
There is no wall the dextrous Jen cannot climb.

The guidelines and percentages given in the PHB for the thief's ability to climb walls was meant to be a generalization. While it certainly makes sense that scaling a guard tower with many nooks, crannies, vines, and window ledges should be easier than scampering up a slimy, smooth cavern wall with no fingerholds at all, most players and DMs ignore this in game play.

The following is a wonderful and simple chart designed by Vince Garcia almost two decades ago that takes all the general wall-scaling conditions into account. Start by finding your Base Percentage Chance to climb walls along the top line. (This is the thief's standard Climb Walls percentage as listed in the 1st Ed. PHB on page 28, or whatever your thief's "normal" Climb Walls score is.)

Then, find the wall surface condition listed on the left that best describes the one you're attempting to climb. The chart will now show you the new, modified and more accurate Climb Walls percentage that the DM can use to determine whether you tumble to your rocky demise, or scamper up the wall safely.

 

Handy Chart O' Climbing Walls
  Thief's Base Climbing Percentage (per PHB, p. 28)  
Wall Surface 01-05 06-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 61-65 66-70 71-75 76-80 81-85 86-90 91-95 96-00 101-105 105-110 MV/ rd.
                                             
Very Smooth                                              
Nonslippery/ dry 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 05 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 6'
Slightly slippery/ damp 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 05 10 15 20 25 30 35 3'
Slippery/ wet 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 05 10 1'
                                               
                                               
Smooth/ Cracked                                              
Nonslippery/ dry 01 01 01 01 01 05 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 12'
Slightly slippery/ damp 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 05 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 6'
Slippery/ wet 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 05 10 15 20 25 30 35 3'
                                               
                                               
Fairly Rough                                              
Nonslippery/ dry   Use Base Climbing Percentage as is (PHB p. 28)     18'
Slightly slippery/ damp 01 01 01 01 01 05 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 9'
Slippery/ wet 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 05 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 6'
                                               
                                               
Rough/ Natural                                              
Nonslippery/ dry 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 24'
Slightly slippery/ damp 05 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 99 99 99 12'
Slippery/ wet 01 01 01 01 01 05 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 9'

1. Using a grappel/ rope increases Base Percentage by 40%. Using spikes & line gives this bonus to smooth/cracked, fairly rough, and rough surfaces.
2. Using tiger claws: smooth/cracked +10%, fairly rough +15%, rough +20% to Base Percentage. (Claws can't be used on very smooth walls.)
3. The mountaineering proficiency gives a +10% bonus per slot to the Base Percentage. Spelunking gives +5% per slot.

By Vince Garcia, Dragon Magazine, Nov. 1986

  
     
 

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