...The affected creature must have its hands free to climb in this manner.
This is a bit too general. I ran into a situation in a game the other day where some more description was needed.
1. Does the creature use both hands when climbing as the spell would seem to indicate?
2. Must the creature keep both hands on the wall/ceiling when not climbing but still stuck to it? If not, must the creature keep at least one hands on it?
3. Are the creature's feet affected by the spell? If yes, can the creature stand up upside-down on the ceiling?
4. Does the spell create a form of adhesive on the hands that would interfere with other actions?
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1. "Hands" implies at least two hands must be free (if the creature might have more than two).
2. If the creature doesn't move, I don't see that it needs to have a hand on the surface.
3. Yes and yes.
4. It creates a magical force rather than an adhesive (actual spiders and insects have claws on their feet that are sufficient to hold on to surfaces due to the great difference in surface/volume ratio). The spell text doesn't describe the physical action in detail, but doesn't mention any effects on other objects. For example, it is no more difficult than usual to disarm the subject. I would say the subject only sticks to flat surfaces and only when he chooses to do so, not to everything he touches.
1. Does the creature use both hands when climbing as the spell would seem to indicate?That seems to be what spell says, and how the climb skill works aw well. That seems specific enough.
2. Must the creature keep both hands on the wall/ceiling when not climbing but still stuck to it?
The text could be read in a way that the spell recipient has to use both hands to make use of the spell, but it would stand to reason the climb skill's rules would be applied here, but that would be the GM's prerogative to make that ruling.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/climb
You need both hands free to climb, but you may cling to a wall with one hand while you cast a spell or take some other action that requires only one hand.
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I had this come up in a recent game also. In prepping my villain who was to use this spell, it seemed to me that if you have to keep both hands and feet on the wall at all times, it's a pretty lousy spell, good only for scaling walls and ceilings, rather than perching up high to do nasty stuff to those below you. I allowed my villain to "sit" on the wall and cast spells and shoot his crossbow.
My players' comments were that it was very "Spidey-like".
My thoughts were that since the spell specifically mentioned using hands that it was like the climb action, one hand to cling. This would prevent any actions that take two hands.
I recently had an encounter where an enemy was standing on the ceiling using both hands to attack. Didn't seem like the traditional Gollum-style of climbing for spider climb.
I recently had an encounter where an enemy was standing on the ceiling using both hands to attack.
Do note, that is how the Magic item Slippers of Spider Climbing works.
Slippers of Spider Climbing
Aura faint transmutation; CL 4th
Slot feet; Price 4,800 gp; Weight 1/2 lb.
Description
When worn, a pair of these slippers enables movement on vertical surfaces or even upside down along ceilings, leaving the wearer's hands free. Her climb speed is 20 feet. Severely slippery surfaces—icy, oiled, or greased surfaces—make these slippers useless. The slippers can be used for 10 minutes per day, split up as the wearer chooses (minimum 1 minute per use).
I am aware. Do note that the spider climb spell specifically states the use of hands which the slippers do not require.
It's not climb it gives you a climb speed which other creatures with a magical climb speed can walk up a wall without hands. I would say you could handstand on the wall if you wanted.
Creatures with a climb speed still need to make climb checks. They just get a +8 racial bonus to climb and can always take 10s.
Spider climb says you don't have to make the check, implying you always succeed, but you still otherwise need to follow the rules for climbing.
What I don't get is how the spell is "better" than either having a natural climb speed and the magic slippers ... I.e you don't need to make an checks against the climb skill for vertical or upside down