Why is Spider Climb better than Spider Scuttle?

[BASHMAN]

Spider Scuttle is a Warlock Utility 2. Free action. Until the end of your NEXT turn, you can climb at your walk speed, and can move at your speed even while prone.

Spider Climb = a move action that you can climb at your speed.

Is walk speed not the same as your speed? I thought walk speed was your speed (as opposed to "run speed" which is your speed +2). Or is walk speed something like 2 squares? If walk speed = speed, then Spider Scuttle, the level 2 power is clearly far better than Spider Climb, the level 6 power.

If walk speed is something like only 2 squares, why don't they just say "you gain a climb speed of 2 squares"?

 

[Doctor Proctor]

What power are you talking about? I don't see a Warlock Utility 2 called Spider Scuttle.

 

[Smeelbo]

Presumably it's in PHB2 or Arcane Power.

Without the exact wording, this is my guess.

Looking at Athletics: Climb PHB182: "You climb at one half your normal speed." Your "Scuttle" is an exception to this: you can move your full speed while climbing.

But having a Climb Speed you "do not make Athletics checks to climb."

So the difference would be with the level 2 utility, you have to make a Climb check, but with the 6th level ability, you do not.

This is only a guess, since I don't have the text for Scuttle.

Smeelbo

 

[Nytmare]

Might it also be that Spider Climb allows you to run and shift while "climbing"?

 

[Gruns]

Not quite...

Spider Climb = a move action that you can climb at your speed.

That's not what Spider Climb does. Spider Climb asctually gives you a Climb Speed, which means you don't need to make checks to climb up walls, for example. That's an important difference.
I don't know the exact wording of Spider Scuttle, but I'd guess it does NOT give you a climb speed, and simply allows you to move at your full speed (if your Climb check is successful) as opposed to half your speed.

Later!
Gruns

 

[Journeymanmage]

PHB: Warlock Utility 6: Spider Climb
FRPG: Warlock Utility 2: Spider Scuttle

Both give you Climb at your speed.

Spider Climb: 1 move action w/ Climb (at your speed)
Spider Scuttle: Until end of your next turn ... Climb (at your speed).

Your speed is your speed (most races 6) ... race, armor or other effects may alter this number.

Ignoring other Utility powers at whichever level ... Spider Scuttle is superior:
1. It's 4 levels lower
2. w/o "outside" help, you can get in five Climb actions (move x2 per turn and an AP move)
3. You can move while Prone

Athletics does Not come into the "picture" as both Utilities give you Climb.

- So to the OP ... it isn't.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I assume it is better because the FR people had a 'neat idea' and didn't cross check it with existing PHB stuff!

 

[fissionessence]

I assume it is better because the FR people had a 'neat idea' and didn't cross check it with existing PHB stuff!

Either that or it was decided that spider climb is a really bad utility power (which I would agree with), so they made an updated [better] version in a later supplement to 'replace' it (which I would agree with).

Then again, they could have just failed to cross-check, which I'm also perfectly fine with [in this case].

~ fissionessence

 

[twilsemail]

PHB: Warlock Utility 6: Spider Climb
FRPG: Warlock Utility 2: Spider Scuttle

Both give you Climb at your speed.

Spider Climb: 1 move action w/ Climb (at your speed)
Spider Scuttle: Until end of your next turn ... Climb (at your speed).

Your speed is your speed (most races 6) ... race, armor or other effects may alter this number.

Ignoring other Utility powers at whichever level ... Spider Scuttle is superior:
1. It's 4 levels lower
2. w/o "outside" help, you can get in five Climb actions (move x2 per turn and an AP move)
3. You can move while Prone

Athletics does Not come into the "picture" as both Utilities give you Climb.

- So to the OP ... it isn't.

On top of all of this, Spider Scuttle lasts a good deal longer.

Spider Climb [Move action] lasts for that move action.
Spider Scuttle [free action] lasts until the end of your next turn.

 

[chaotix42]

I'm of the opinion that it's just the case of a better power sneaking in unnoticed. I kind of thought that Spider Climb was triple-mild-weaksauce anyway.

Or maybe not? MP's 1st lvl fighter daily Lasting Threat is the exact same as one from the PHB but with an extra cookie at the end.