Ropes of climbing were magically animated ropes that could be commanded to tie or untie themselves.[1]
Description[]
A rope of climbing was a rope made from silk and weighed 3 pounds (1 kilogram), was 60 feet (18 meters) long, and was about as thick around as a wand. To those able to detect magic, the rope gave off a faint aura of transmutation magic. It could hold up to 3,000 pounds (1,400 kilograms) in weight.[1][4]
In magic shops, ropes of climbing sold for about 3,000 gold pieces in most economies.[1] In the Underdark, superior versions of the ropes sold for almost double that value.[2]
Abilities[]
A rope of climbing was strong enough to support upwards of 3,000 pounds (1,400 kilograms), a feat in and of itself, but its special ability to knot or unknot itself was what made it so helpful when climbing. As long as someone were to hold one end of the rope, it could be commanded to fasten itself securely to any object within its reach in any direction. The rope could climb sideways, up, or down, moving like a snake to reach its goal where it would secure itself. When snaking along the ground or up or down a wall toward its goal, it moved at about a third the speed of a typical human.[1]
A rope of climbing could also be ordered to form knots all along its length, making it easier to climb. The rope would knot itself every foot (30 centimeters) using up about 10 feet (3 meters) of its length to do so.[1]
The superior ropes of climbing crafted in the Underdark also granted the user improved skill at climbing,[2] and felt somewhat sticky.[3]
Creation[]
To craft a rope of climbing, a spellcaster needed to be able to cast the animate rope spell.[1] Crafting one of the superior versions typically took about six days.[3]
Notable Owners[]
- Dathan, a half-elven adventurer from Cormyr.[5]
- Jadethread, an infamous thief.[6]
- Jezz the Lame, one of the leaders of the drow House Jaelre.[7][8]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
- Tallin's tightrope, variant ropes of climbing that only snaked forward at an angle of up 45 degrees upward or downward.[9]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Card Games
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Further Reading[]
- David Wise (1992). AD&D Trading Cards 1992 series, #670, "Rope of Climbing". TSR, Inc..
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams (July 2003). Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 266. ISBN 0-7869-2889-1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 75. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Andy Collins, Eytan Bernstein, Frank Brunner, Owen K. C. Stephens, John Snead (March 2007). Magic Item Compendium. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 176. ISBN 978-0-7869-4345-6.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (December 2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 197. ISBN 978-0-7869-6562-5.
- ↑ David Wise (1992). AD&D Trading Cards 1992 series, #54, "Dathan of Thunderstone". TSR, Inc..
- ↑ David Wise (1992). AD&D Trading Cards 1992 series, #560, "Jadethread". TSR, Inc..
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 126. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Eric L. Boyd, Thomas M. Reid (July 2007). Shadowdale: The Scouring of the Land. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 135. ISBN 07-8694-039-5.
- ↑ John Nephew, Carl Sargent and Douglas Niles (1989). The Complete Thief's Handbook. Edited by Scott Haring. (TSR), p. 107. ISBN 0-88038-780-7.