Sudden Charge and Climb Speeds

[Dubious Scholar]

Sudden Charge allows you to use it with any special speeds you may have, including a climb speed.

Climbing requires two free hands. Weapons generally also require free hands.

Does this mean Combat Climber is required to be able to Sudden Charge while using a climb speed, and that it is impossible to do so with a 2h weapon, or a shield, etc?

[thenobledrake]

Sure, why not?

Well, actually, no... you don't have to have Combat Climber to be able to Sudden Charge with a Climb speed; you can use an unarmed attack that doesn't require your hand.

[Claxon]

You can use any attacks that don't require your hands, Combat Climber not necessary.

Sudden Charge also doesn't require you to make an attack, so you can use it without making an attack (though there's no mechanical benefit to doing so).

But if you'd like to use a 1 handed weapon, you'll need Combat Climber. And two-handed weapon users are SOL.

[Baitz]

I'm looking for the rule that says you need two free hands to use your climb speed (not the climb action). I can't seem to find it. Thanks.

[Ascalaphus]

Baitz wrote:

I'm looking for the rule that says you need two free hands to use your climb speed (not the climb action). I can't seem to find it. Thanks.

CRB p. 463 wrote:

Climb Speed

A climb Speed allows you to move up or down inclines and
vertical surfaces. Instead of needing to attempt Athletics
checks to Climb, you automatically succeed and move up
to your climb Speed instead of the listed distance.

When you use a climb speed you're still using the Climb Athletics action, you just automatically succeed. So you're still bound by the limitations of the skill action.

[YogoZuno]

You could climb while holding a light shield or buckler, and could potentially shield bash with them. Or use an unarmed strike of some sort.

[Gortle]

Animal Barbarian is not going to have any problems, nor someone with Orc Tusks. But technically the default humanoid weapon is Fist - which includes things like body slams.

[Aw3som3-117]

Gortle wrote:

Animal Barbarian is not going to have any problems, nor someone with Orc Tusks. But technically the default humanoid weapon is Fist - which includes things like body slams.

Unarmed Attacks (pg. 278) wrote:

Table 6–6: Unarmed Attacks lists the statistics for an unarmed attack with a fist, though you’ll usually use the same statistics for attacks made with any other parts of your body."

For the record elbow attacks, kicks, etc. seem to be perfectly acceptable by RAW. Though, I guess that's more of a flavor thing, since the statistics given for the fist attack requires 1 hand to use... I'm not really sure why a kick would require a free hand, but it makes sense for balance. Best not to think about it, lol

[Wheldrake]

The Combat Climber feat is designed specifically to be able to fight with a weapon while climbing. It doesn't seem much of a stretch to note that combat without that feat is less impactful, as you elbow, knee or forehead slam your adversary.