I want to play a halfling cavalier/summoner charging astride my gecko-like eidolon. So, obviously, I want "climbing charge" to be thing that you can do. That means I'll have to find support for my concept in both the charging and climbing rules.
From the srd, on charging:
*You must have a clear path toward the opponent, and nothing can hinder your movement (such as difficult terrain or obstacles)...
*If any line from your starting space to the ending space passes through a square that blocks movement, slows movement...you can't charge.
Now, if you have a climb speed, climbing along the wall or ceiling doesn't "hinder, block or slow" your movement, provided you have a climb speed and can make your climb check (with -5 for accelerated climbing) by taking 10- you're moving at full speed with no risk of failure.
With charging out of the way, let's look at climbing. Climbing is part of movement, generally a move action. But not always a move action. You can't Run - but that exception shows that other actions than "Move Action" can include climbing - such as Withdraw, or indeed Charge.
Climbing does require "both hands" (that's humanocentric!), so I don't know how that would work with a six-limbed creature.
In conclusion, I find that both Charging and Climbing rules allow for climbing charges - given a sufficiently skilled climber. Any counterpoints or comments?
Minor detail - if your climb speed is equal to your land speed, there's no need to use accelerated climbing.
Personally I would allow it, but I would impose some form of climb check on it, *especially* if you were doubling your speed.
You need to make your climb check, of course. By a strict interpretation of the charge rules, you can't even try it if there's a chance of failure. Fortunately, creatures with a climb speed can always take 10.
Were it not for the fact that your mount is an Eidolon, I would also insist on some form of animal handling check too.
No need for that, IMO. If it has a climb speed, climbing is a perfectly ordinary way to go from point A to point B, not a separate instruction.
Now, if I want to go by RAW, I would say that it's only only possible when your climb speed is equal to your regular movement speed.
Actually - and this is very much NOT clear on a cursory reading of the Climb rules - your climb speed replaces the usual "1/4 land speed", and your climbing speed can never exceed your land speed; when (as a creature with a climb speed) you take the -5 for accelerated climbing, you double your climb speed, not to exceed land speed. Thus, if your climb speed is equal to your land speed, accelerated climbing does nothing, and if your climb speed is ½ land speed or more, you can move your full land speed ith -5 to climb.
It appears legal by RAW provided you aren't slowed down, and you aren't trying to climb ice or something.
If you can take 10 and still make your climb check on an ice-slicked wall, why wouldn't you be able to charge?
I don't think you can take 10 on climb checks while in combat - combat being one of the most obvious definitions of "immediate danger".
I don't think you can take 10 on climb checks while in combat - combat being one of the most obvious definitions of "immediate danger".
I think the ability to take 10 "even if rushed or threatened while climbing" trumps that.
The only problem I can see is that while imagining climbing a flat verticle surface seems like you could easily charge across it, I'm having trouble imagining charging across the rocky surface of mountain. I don't think the rules cover adequately how that funciton, I think it's mostly just skimmed over and that which would normally be considered difficult terrain on flat land is ignored while climbing because it doesn't slow you down more than climbing (without a climb speed does). Also, how often do you expect to be climbing something and have combat? As a DM I would never run combat on the side of a mountain while climbing because the rest of your party would have a difficult time without sufficient magic. Further, your enemies wouldn't engage you in combat on the side of cliff either, because that seems like a bad idea for them too. My point is, while this is interesting I fear it wont be something that comes up often or is useful.
Personally, I think your better off just getting a flying edilon and you can charge anything anywhere.