H is for Hook (grappling): Digging for Gems in the Dungeoneer's Survival Guide

Now I think todays gem might even be useful


Grappling hook in the DSG is given at 75gp and weight 75cn. The description is:

Grappling hooks: These two- or three-pronged hooks are designed to be thrown at a surface that the hooks catch on to. A rope is nearly always attached to a grappling hook.

Players Handbook is lacking in any description which surprised me. And same with the Dungeon Masters Guide which flummoxed me. So the DSG is of use!

Naturally B/X and BECMI didn't let me down: Cook Expert gives them a price of 25g and says 'they are a large 3 or 4 pronged hook, made of specially hardened iron, used to anchor a rope.' Cyclopedia agrees giving an encumbrance of 80cn.

But the best use from the DSG is the grappling hook rules. You see, the party throwing a grappling hook up a cliff face or castle wall, is something they just might do (as opposed to own a mine like yesterdays post).

How high can one throw the hook?

What's the chance of it catching?

Vital for a DM to know? Okay, maybe not but if you wanted to know...

A character can throw a grappling hook upward a distance to 1/3 of his Strength score (rounded up) times 10.

A Vertical Grapple

Catch and slip means the grappling hook will slip after 1d6 rounds.

Noise? A successful throw is audible 100-400 yards, unsuccessful 200-800 yards away.

What about crossing a horizontal chasm.

The horizontal distance that a grappling hook can be thrown equals the vertical distance, unless the character has enough room to swing the hook in a circle several times before the cast. In this case, if a character has a radius of 10 feet from his body cleared of obstacles, he can throw the hook twice as far horizontally as he could otherwise.

There is a 50% chance on the opposite site of the chasm is something protruding the grapple might attach to.

Chance of success

Gems we can take

1. A character can throw a grappling hook upward a distance to 1/3 of his Strength score (rounded up) times 10.

2. The horizontal distance that a grappling hook can be thrown equals the vertical distance, unless the character has enough room to swing the hook in a circle several times before the cast. In this case, if a character has a radius of 10 feet from his body cleared of obstacles, he can throw the hook twice as far horizontally as he could otherwise.

Personally I would just make a to hit roll for success, I hate percentile mechanics

Tree Branches AC7

Ruined Foundations (horizontal throw) AC6

Wooden Wall   AC5

Stone Parapet AC4

Cave Formations (horizontal throw) AC 3

Stone Wall top AC2

Rocky ledge AC1

Bare Stone Walls / Floor AC0

Or 

Easy AC 7

Hard AC 5

Very Hard AC 3

Here's Hoping AC 0