D&D 5E Climbing a tower rules 5e

[iserith]

So climbing a rope from the ground, 5 miles into the sky, while drunk, in a howling gale, does not require a check to perform?

It's either an impossible task (and you cant even attempt it), or its automatically successful (due to not being in a category of any of the examples in the rules of when to require a check).

I just want to be clear this is how you make your rulings.

It doesn't require a Strength (Athletics) check, no.

I might ask for a Constitution check if I wasn't sure if the character could push past his or her normal limits given the distance. Being drunk or having to contend with a howling gale might impart disadvantage.

Really though, if there's going to be a climbing challenge of some kind in my games, I will have already described one of the difficult situations in the specific rules for climbing as being present e.g. the icy walls of the buildings of the frozen-over village or an abyssal tower partially covered in deadly razorvine.

 

[Charlaquin]

So climbing a rope from the ground, 5 miles into the sky, while drunk, in a howling gale, does not require a check to perform?

Climbing 5 miles would take over an hour even at a fast pace, which seems like reasonable cause to call for a Constitution check or save to avoid exhaustion. And being drunk might incur the poisoned condition, which gives disadvantage on ability checks. Also, the gale probably constitutes a hazard in the same category as “something trying to knock you off,” so might merit a Strength check.

 

[iserith]

Climbing 5 miles would take over an hour even at a fast pace, which seems like reasonable cause to call for a Constitution check or save to avoid exhaustion. And being drunk might incur the poisoned condition, which gives disadvantage on ability checks. Also, the gale probably constitutes a hazard in the same category as “something trying to knock you off,” so might merit a Strength check.

Here come the arguments that the wind isn't trying to knock you off.

 

[Charlaquin]

Here come the arguments that the wind isn't trying to knock you off.

Yeah...

 

[Maxperson]

I think you misunderstood @iserith there. Table rules, as described in the DMG, are rules about how the game is played (as opposed to house rules, which are changes to the rules about how to play the game). Examples include “avoid distractions” and “bring snacks.” Essentially, @iserith was saying the DM is free to do anything they want, within the limits of the group’s social contract.

Sure, but I don't see how this applies. The rules as written are presumed to be the rules in play at the table. There's no change I need to make. This isn't the same as bring chips and soda, or no anchovies on the pizzas. I don't see this as a social contract issue.

 

[Maxperson]

Even use a term that shares half the words of "house rules" and people get stabby.

Table rules are rules for your table. As I just pointed out, that doesn't really apply to RAW. The default rules are presumed to be in play unless something changes that.

 

[iserith]

Table rules are rules for your table. As I just pointed out, that doesn't really apply to RAW. The default rules are presumed to be in play unless something changes that.

Table rules are defined in the DMG and that's what I was referring to. For the rest, I refer you back to post #779 where the dispute remains.

 

[Maxperson]

Table rules are defined in the DMG and that's what I was referring to.

Yep. None of that applies here. Those are for rules that exist outside of the game. Metagaming, table talk, how we will go about rules discussions, etc. They are NOT for actual game rules as written. My use of the rules as written to call for a strength check for climbing is not a table rule at all. It's simply RAW.

 

[iserith]

Yep. None of that applies here. Those are for rules that exist outside of the game. Metagaming, table talk, how we will go about rules discussions, etc. They are NOT for actual game rules as written. My use of the rules as written to call for a strength check for climbing is not a table rule at all. It's simply RAW.

I think you are missing the point of what I was referring to in context about table rules being the only constraint on the DM's ability to make whatever ruling he or she wants.

 

[Maxperson]

I think you are missing the point of what I was referring to in context about table rules being the only constraint on the DM's ability to make whatever ruling he or she wants.

Then it's a big Red Herring. Nothing more than a distraction since table rules don't have anything to do with making rulings at all. Table rules are metarules that exist outside the game.