D&D 5E Climbing walls etc?

[wicked cool]

Am i missing something? my rogue needs to climb a wall -theres no dexterity bonus instead its a skill based on strength?

 

[Jacob Lewis]

Because it's a skill (Athletics) based on strength. Not sure what you're missing. You totally nailed it!

 

[Jacob Lewis]

Here's another one to ponder: all knowledge skills are based on Intelligence. Does that automatically make the wizard more knowledgeable about religion than the cleric, or about nature than the druid or ranger?

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Am i missing something? my rogue needs to climb a wall -theres no dexterity bonus instead its a skill based on strength?

Yes. It's been that way since 3rd Edition.

Here's another one to ponder: all knowledge skills are based on Intelligence. Does that automatically make the wizard more knowledgeable about religion than the cleric, or about nature than the druid or ranger?

If the wizard is trained in those skills, and has the same proficiency/rank/level, etc, then yes. (Survival is Wisdom-based in 3e, and Nature is Wisdom-based in 4e. I guess they made it Int-based in 5e.)

 

[Horwath]

Here's another one to ponder: all knowledge skills are based on Intelligence. Does that automatically make the wizard more knowledgeable about religion than the cleric, or about nature than the druid or ranger?

This is one reason that every background should have expertise in one of the background skills/tools and maybe even every class one expertise in one class skill.
That way, cleric can start with +4 religion plus int if he/she chooses so.

Also, you can rule that cleric always have advantage on Religion checks when dealing with patron deity and/or auto succeeds every check 15 or lower about patron deity.

 

[DEFCON 1]

This is one reason that every background should have expertise in one of the background skills/tools and maybe even every class one expertise in one class skill.

I did this in my current campaign. Reworked the Backgrounds and gave Expertise on one of the two skills they got. It's been fine.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I also have a house rule that says if the PC can complete a climb in a single movement (usually 30' up... due to a 30' move / 30' Dash that are both halved due to climbing) the player can roll DEX (Acrobatics) for it to represent parkouring up the wall.

If the climb is farther than 30' though, then it means the PC has to actually climb over several rounds and that's when they have to use STR (Athletics)... as I interpret it as they actually having to use their arms and legs to support their weight going up the wall, rather than just the upward momentum that the Acrobatics parkour climb can give them.

 

[Oofta]

Depending on the situation there are times I allow an acrobatics check to climb. If you've ever seen Jackie Chan do that "climb a wall by bouncing off two walls at a corner to get to the top.

But sorry. High dex does not grant you the world. It's already the most overvalued ability score in the game as it is.

 

[wicked cool]

but they should give you the option. 5th edition is all about not pidgeon holing you into a spot (dex rogues and strength rogues ).

Agreed with clerics and knowledge. really feels like a miss

 

[Oofta]

but they should give you the option. 5th edition is all about not pidgeon holing you into a spot (dex rogues and strength rogues ).

Agreed with clerics and knowledge. really feels like a miss

If it's really an issue you can specialize and you'll be decent. If you're the DM ask for a dexterity check adding your athletics proficiency.

Nobody said the game was perfect and sometimes there are tradeoffs. Go strength instead of dex and you will have inferior initiative and dexterity saves which is typically the most common one called for. Your choices of ranged attacks will be significantly worse.

Strength buys very little in the game if you're not a barbarian or in a game that closely tracks encumbrance.

 

[HammerMan]

Am i missing something? my rogue needs to climb a wall -theres no dexterity bonus instead its a skill based on strength?

TBH I never liked Dex helping to climb so yeah...

and as for Int and knowledge's. I think some classes should have bonuses to skills... All clerics should have +2 religion, all fighters should have +1 perception +1 intimadate ON TOP of all classes should give prof in a skill and if your background gives you the same skill it should turn into expertise.

 

[iserith]

Am i missing something? my rogue needs to climb a wall -theres no dexterity bonus instead its a skill based on strength?

Notably, climbing is just speed (effectively half your normal speed to climb). There is no check required by default. Only if there is some kind of situation that makes the climbing uncertain and have a meaningful consequence for failure - such as the wall being slippery or there being no handholds or being attacked while climbing - does the DM call for an ability check. Typically that will be a Strength (Athletics) check.

 

[Blackrat]

So, the variant rule on page 175, using skills with different abilities. Am I the only DM who actually uses this? Now a rogue who is proficient in athletics, I’d totally let them climb with proficiency and dex.

 

[HammerMan]

So, the variant rule on page 175, using skills with different abilities. Am I the only DM who actually uses this? Now a rogue who is proficient in athletics, I’d totally let them climb with proficiency and dex.

I use it sometimes. I am like 75/25. If someone asks to use a different stat they need to justify it (no your str mod is not helping you on arcana checks) I would say 1/4 (maybe less) of the time we end up useing other stats...

 

[Lyxen]

So, the variant rule on page 175, using skills with different abilities. Am I the only DM who actually uses this? Now a rogue who is proficient in athletics, I’d totally let them climb with proficiency and dex.

I use it, but would not allow it for this since Dex is already the god stat. And in any case, I would certainly not allow acrobatics proficiency to be used instead of athletics for something that falls that squarely into Athletics definition.

 

[John R Davis]

It's proficiency plus whatever stat the GM ( or you and the GM) decide. Most often this will be strength, but a longer easier climb maybe CON and a tricksy/twisty short climb could DEX, or a spiralling ever shifting climb could be INT.

 

[HammerMan]

I use it, but would not allow it for this since Dex is already the god stat. And in any case, I would certainly not allow acrobatics proficiency to be used instead of athletics for something that falls that squarely into Athletics definition.

this is the #1 thing I deny. "I want to climb the wall with acrobatics" says the str 10 untrianed in athletics rogue with a 20 dex... no Your dex gives you enough bonuses. However I have on limited occasions (especially if it is not a repeted ask) allowed such things.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

but they should give you the option. 5th edition is all about not pidgeon holing you into a spot (dex rogues and strength rogues ).

Agreed with clerics and knowledge. really feels like a miss

5e does pigeonhole you quite a bit. - It really pushes Rogue into investing in Dex for example. However if you decide to play a bit of a couch-potato and actively dump Str, you aren't going to be good at things requiring athleticism like jumping and climbing.
If you want to play a low-strength character who is still reasonably athletic and a good climber, you can invest proficiency, or even expertise in the skill.

Or, instead of getting better at difficult climbs, you can make the climbs easier using a rope and grapple for example.

So, the variant rule on page 175, using skills with different abilities. Am I the only DM who actually uses this? Now a rogue who is proficient in athletics, I’d totally let them climb with proficiency and dex.

I use that variant rule a lot.
In most cases however, a difficult climb is going to require the 5e definition of Str.

 

[Li Shenron]

Am i missing something? my rogue needs to climb a wall -theres no dexterity bonus instead its a skill based on strength?

You can rule a different ability modifier as per the PHB variant. IMO it is better to rule based on the situation, not on what is convenient for the character. Also, you don't always have to call for a roll if you think a PC should be able to succeed certainly (rule zero).

Agreed with clerics and knowledge. really feels like a miss

Why? I don't think a cleric is automatically proficient to know about other religions. And about their own, I don't see why it should normally require to roll.

 

[DND_Reborn]

I did this in my current campaign. Reworked the Backgrounds and gave Expertise on one of the two skills they got. It's been fine.

Agree. We've been doing the same since the beginning so Rogues with Expertise aren't necessarily better than Fighters at Athletics or Wizards at Arcana. No issues at all.

The only difference is with our rule you give up one background skill to gain expertise in the other.