Movement & Linear Obstacles

[Bob Mackenzie]

Ladies & Gents

Played a skirmish "pick up" game on Friday using the 3E rules. This provoked a whole bunch of questions. Ive looked in the PHB but no answers present themselves, can anyone help?

How much time does it take to open a non-locked door - in a 6 second round the amount of time is probably significant - we ruled it was a move equivalent action but that seems a little harsh?

Similarly how much time does it take to crawl through an open window or over a 4' tall wall/hedge? Again we ruled it was a move equivalent action.

There seem to be no rules for slopes affecting moves

How far can a character climb a ladder? Should be faster than a rogue climbing a wall

It appears you can move through a space occupied by a friend without penalty. This means you can charge through such a space? Given the need for an unimpeded straight run for a charge I find this a little odd.

Even more odd is that I think I can charge/move through by friend in COMBAT and initialte a bull rush on the enemy they are fighting - I'm moving through my friend's square and ending up in the enemy's square, oddly unharmed by my friend's whirling weapon

Am I reading the rules correctly? If so I'd probably rule as the DM the there were no charges through friedly occupied squares and thet there is non movement at all allowed though a friend in combat except with tumble. Comments?

Cheers

Bob Mackenzie

 

[Dursk Starkfire]

In our campaign, you can travel through a space occupied by a friend, provided they are not threatened. If they are threatened, you have to roll a tumble check (DC15). The concept is that your ally will readily move out of your way as you travel through. A 5' square is a pretty large area to share between two creatures. There is only an issue when a creature wishes to protect its "personal space".


As far as ladders and 4 foot walls with windows are concerned, you should check out the Climb skill PHB64.
With a successful Climb check, you can move ONE-HALF your speed as a full-round action. You can move ONE-QUARTER your speed as a move-equivalent action.

They also give some example DC's for climb checks.
DC10 ladder, window with ledge
DC15 unknotted rope

 

[Bob Mackenzie]

DC10 ladder, window with ledge

Dear Dursk

Thanks for the prompt reply it definately clears up the movement rates. However my PHB does not give either of the above under DC10 for climb.

By assigning DC10 to a ladder that means thare is a 25% chance of an untrained climber falling off. If ladders were that dangerous to use than they would not sell then in hardware shops. Personallay I'd make them DC0 so only the clumsiest have any chance of not making progress and nearly no one will fall off one, same goes for windows

A ladder may well go to DC10 if you are trying to hang on with one hand a wave your sword with the other

Cheers

Bob

 

[maddman75]

If its DC ten and there's no one trying to stick a sword into you, you can take ten on it .

 

[Dingleberry]

By assigning DC10 to a ladder that means thare is a 25% chance of an untrained climber falling off. If ladders were that dangerous to use than they would not sell then in hardware shops. Personallay I'd make them DC0 so only the clumsiest have any chance of not making progress and nearly no one will fall off one, same goes for windows

A ladder may well go to DC10 if you are trying to hang on with one hand a wave your sword with the other

As an untrained climber who owns a ladder bought from a hardware store, I can tell you that when I climb it, I'm doing the real-world equivalent of taking 10. If I'm rushed/threatened/distracted, I'm quite certain I would fall off MORE than 25% of the time.

 

[Bob Mackenzie]

Good point

However I assumed that taking 10 took a minute of time, real world being careful with a ladder doesn't take that long (or am I just reckless)?

Cheers

Bob

 

[Stalker0]

I'd say DC 9. I would probably be considered to have a dex of 9 or 8, and I can climb up a ladder alright


Not saying to make fantasy like reality, but I'd say a commoner with slightly lower dex should be able to make it up that ladder.

 

[Shayuri]

Taking 10 doesn't take any longer than a normal check. It just can't be done under pressure.

Taking 20 takes 20x the time of a normal check, but that's a wholly different thing.

 

[Mahali]

For the door I'd say a ME.

For a 4' hedge/wall you might be better off with a Jump check. And taking 10 usually doesn't work very well when you're wearing armor or carrying more than a couple pounds of equipment.

 

[Bob Mackenzie]

Taking 10 doesn't take any longer than a normal check. It just can't be done under pressure.

Taking 20 takes 20x the time of a normal check, but that's a wholly different thing.

Thanks for the qlarification - i know take twenty took 2 minutes I just assumed take 10 was 1 minute - seemed logical to me

Cheers

Bob