Just hanging around

[Samuel Grundy]

Ok, so my player wants to know the mechanical way to "hang" from a ceiling bound structure in any of the following ways. This question is asked with and without the use of Spider climb and climb speed abilities.

1. Both hands, using feet for unarmed strikes
2. Both feet, using weapons in either or both hands
3. One arm , using spare arm to attack with a weapon
4. One available prehensile limb such as with the White haired witch and using other free limbs as normal.

Here are some rules regarding climb in the direction we're looking at.

Quote:

DC30 climb check - An overhang or ceiling with handholds but no footholds, or a typical city wall.

Climb Speed Ability A creature with a climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb (see above), it moves at double its climb speed (or at its land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a –5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

Spider climb The subject can climb and travel on vertical surfaces or even traverse ceilings as well as a spider does. The affected creature must have its hands free to climb in this manner. The subject gains a climb speed of 20 feet and a +8 racial bonus on Climb skill checks; furthermore, it need not make Climb checks to traverse a vertical or horizontal surface (even upside down). A spider climbing creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

[Archaeik]

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. While climbing, you can’t move to avoid a blow, so you lose your Dexterity bonus to AC (if any). You also can’t use a shield while climbing. Anytime you take damage while climbing, make a Climb check against the DC of the slope or wall. Failure means you fall from your current height and sustain the appropriate falling damage.

Most situations, the DC 30 to "hang" from a ceiling is probably appropriate.
Circumstance would probably play into it a lot, such as if there was a place suitable to lock you feet in (probably a +4, +2 for each foot)

Look at Monkey Moves, I think it removes the Dex penalty.

[Samuel Grundy]

So just to clarify

To move you must make a climb check, if you are struck while climbing you must also make a check to avoid falling off. Under normal circumstances you are denied your dex while climbing. Those with a climb speed retain their dex.

To simply hang you can only have 1 arm free, making certain actions restricted. Such as casting spells with a somatic component without Still Spell, or wielding two handed, or an off hand weapon.

[Archaeik]

That's how I read it.

I'd expect to make a climb check to "hold on"(as a move action) in any round you make any attack/standard, but I didn't see that explicitly in RAW.

Went back to check.

A Climb check that fails by 4 or less means that you make no progress

I'd work hanging by that.