Bull Rush: a question

[UselessTriviaMan]

And this is why I posed the question to this forum.

I'm intimately familiar with 3.5E, but not quite so much with Pathfinder. Reading the RAW I knew there really isn't any way for the victim to avoid falling, but the Climb check to catch yourself does make sense. (Aside: All PC/combatants in this event are only 5th level, which means that even if they DO catch themselves they're still probably completely screwed. But that's kinda the point.) As I read it, it would be a DC 20 Climb check to grab the edge of the pit. Unless the bull rush shoved them into the center, in which case it'd be... a DC 25? 30? Something like that.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

As I read it, it would be a DC 20 Climb check to grab the edge of the pit. Unless the bull rush shoved them into the center, in which case it'd be... a DC 25? 30? Something like that.

It's the DC to Climb the wall plus 20. Pulling yourself up over a ledge using just your hands is DC 15-- hence, 35. Getting Bull Rushed to the center of the pit wouldn't allow a Climb check at all.

 

[UselessTriviaMan]

Cool. It's harsh (for the victim), but it's the correct ruling. And that's exactly what I was looking for.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[Michael Silverbane]

It's the DC to Climb the wall plus 20. Pulling yourself up over a ledge using just your hands is DC 15-- hence, 35. Getting Bull Rushed to the center of the pit wouldn't allow a Climb check at all.

In the case of being bull rushed into the center of the pit, the guy doing the bull rushing would be able to use that climb check to grab the edge of the pit.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

In the case of being bull rushed into the center of the pit, the guy doing the bull rushing would be able to use that climb check to grab the edge of the pit.

He doesn't need to. He can just choose to stop at the edge.

 

[N'raac]

He doesn't need to. He can just choose to stop at the edge.

Given this is for a one off, and the Bull Rush will be instant death to the target, perhaps it would be reasonable to include a requirement for the attacker to roll to avoid stepping over the edge himself. That might make the tactic less of an automatic choice, exposing the user to risk himself.