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Message: <blockquote data-quote="P1NBACK" data-source="post: 5341087" data-attributes="member: 83768">He begins climbing. Yes. We can find out once we engage the mechanics that resolve this fictional action (climbing up the wall). First, let's determine what happens on a success. Let's take a look: We use Athletics, obviously, and check the "Climb" subsection. The first sentence is: The check is usually part of a move action...Sweet. So, we have declared that we are moving, so that makes sense. We're moving up the wall. Now, as DM, I'd make sure the character had a move action left. No move action, then you don't have time left in this turn to move (and I say, "Sorry, you can't start climbing this turn...". However, if you have a move action, you can go ahead and proceed. DC: See the table. If you use a climber’s kit, you get a +2 bonus to your Athletics check. If you can brace yourself between two surfaces, you get a +5 bonus to your check.Great. I set a DC based on the wall and then we calculate the PC's skill in Athletics for climbing, finding out whether he is bracing himself or using a climber's kit or if there are any situational modifiers, etc... Success: You climb at one-half your speed.Sweet. If you succeed with your roll vs. the DC, then you climb up to half your speed. It's pretty clear in the rules what happens. Let's say we established the character could actually climb, we set the DC and rolled and the roll came up failure. Fail by 4 or Less: If you were already climbing, you don’t fall. If you were trying to start climbing, you fail to do so.Right there. In the rules. If you were trying to start climbing, you fail to do so. Bam! We had fiction: "I try to start climbing up the wall..." And, then mechanics: "If you were trying to start climbing, and fail by 4 or less, you fail to start climbing!" Fictionally, we come back and say, oh, I don't know, the character couldn't find the right handholds to begin, or he slipped on his first try, or he was having problems getting his gear in place, etc... We have to know whether the character was trying to climb in the first place to use this mechanic! If you are trying to start climbing, you DON'T fall. You simply, "fail to start climbing."Hmmm... I agree for the most part. But, the narration and intentions of the player fictionally inform us of the mechanics we need to use to resolve the action. If a player says, "I run up to the orc..." that is certainly fictional. However, we need to know what the player intends to do exactly. Do you want to just run, letting your guard down, and cover more ground in a shorter amount of time (run action)? Do you want to run and hit the orc (charge action)? Do you want to run and not do anything else using a longer amount of time (double move)? So, the intentions of the player matters in how we resolve the fictional "run". It depends on the player's intentions."I run forward and swipe at the orc..." Invoke Charge mechanic. Resolve. "I run forward quickly dropping my guard so I can get to him in time in order to perform first aid!" Invoke Run movement. Resolve. "I run over to that waterfall, but focus all my energy on moving so I don't have to worry about getting close to the orcs..." Invoke double-move. Resolve. In all cases, there's a fictional "run" and each mechanic can be used to resolve that run depending on the circumstances at the table and what the player's intentions are. If you say, "I rush forward..." I am certainly going to ask, as DM, "Great. Are you going to Charge, Run or Double Move?" And, if you say, "None of the above." Then I say, "Well, what do you mean by 'rush forward' then so we can resolve what you want?" Because, we might need to invoke page 42 of the DMG to resolve that. Make sense?</blockquote>

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