Scaling Walls

It is possible for most characters to climb a castle’s walls. See the Player’s Handbook, Chapter 14, for basic climbing rules. Treat palisades as rough surfaces, stone and curtain walls as very smooth surfaces, and ramparts as sloping walls (see PHB, Table 27). Note that climbing movement is measured in feet per round. Characters scaling a wall suffer a number of restrictions and penalties:

· A climber loses all Armor Class bonuses from a shield and Dexterity;

· A climber suffers a –2 penalty to attack, damage, and saving throw rolls;

· Attacks directed at a climber from the ground gain the standard +2 bonus for rear attacks. Attacks directed at a climber from atop the wall gain the standard +1 bonus for an attacker on higher ground;

· A climber struck for any amount of damage must succeed with an immediate climbing check or fall to the ground. If an attack also causes a knockdown chance or a forced retreat, the climber must make a successful saving throw roll vs. death or fall to the ground;

· A climber cannot employ a two-handed weapon.

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