Climbing / Swimming Training

[DrZaius]

Hey everyone,

So, it occurs to me there's no central repository of how many climb/swim ranks are required for the various hunting areas in the game. This annoys me to no end, because it doesn't allow me to plan my training appropriately (i.e. I have no idea if I need 10 swim ranks by level 10, or level 50). With that in mind, I'd like to use this thread to consolidate that information. I get the sense that a lot of people know this information off hand, but I am not one of them.

Ideally, if people could post hunting areas, and the amount of climb/swim required to be successful, I'll edit this post so everyone can be able to search for it when they want to plan themselves. I'll add that I know PT factors in as well; let's assume 1x training unless it makes sense to do otherwise.

I'll start!

From a discussion the other day, I have heard people recommend 50 climb, 75 swim ranks at cap.


Solhaven - Wooded Plains / wood wights, 20-25: 10-15 climbing ranks
River's Rest - Sea Caves/Krolvin Ship, 20-25: 10-15 swimming ranks
Pinefar and Northeast of Icemule: probably ranging from 20-40 climbing ranks.
River's Rest - Maelstrom Bay, 30+: 20/20 climbing/swimming (swimming ranks can be negated by 112, if trained in climbing)
Ta'Vaalor/Ta'Illistim - Aradhul Road, 60: 40+ climbing, swimming if climbing checks are failed
Landing - Hidden Plateau/Labyrinth, 65+: 30-50 climbing
Bowels: 40 swim ranks
Bonespear: 20 climb ranks
Stronghold: 25 climb ranks
Nelemar: 70-75 swim ranks



EDIT: To the bot who gave me positive rep with a nonsensical PM, thanks I guess?

[mgoddess]

I usually try to have 20 climbing, 15-20 swimming by the time I need to get anywhere that really requires it.

Solhaven - Wooded Plains, 20-25: 10-15 climbing ranks
River's Rest - Sea Caves/Krolvin Ship, 20-25: 10-15 swimming ranks
River's Rest - Maelstrom Bay, 30+: 20/20 climbing/swimming (swimming ranks can be negated by 112, if trained in climbing)
Ta'Vaalor/Ta'Illistim - Aradhul Road, 60: 40+ climbing, swimming if climbing checks are failed
Landing - Hidden Plateau/Labyrinth, 65+: 30 climbing is decent enough to have only minimal failure (unless the RNG is h8ing).

[Androidpk]

Armor worn is also a factor. I'm in full plate and have trouble climbing up onto the hidden plateau with 50 climbing ranks.

[DrZaius]

Armor worn is also a factor. I'm in full plate and have trouble climbing up onto the hidden plateau with 50 climbing ranks.

Well, I'll have to think about a range on a number of these; are you fully trained for the armor?

[Androidpk]

Well, I'll have to think about a range on a number of these; are you fully trained for the armor?

Yes, I'm also 2x in PT.

[Valyss]

Yes, I'm also 2x in PT.

i feel like i had a similar amount of trouble making that climb with 50 ranks as i did with 30. that said, you won't get hurt, and climbing out is easy. other than the vaalor shortcut, and maybe the rift with some boxes you won't find much harder.

i would say 50 ranks and 101 as a post-cap goal

[Drakefang]

Here's the thing, there are a ton of factors for climb and swimming checks. PF, climb, swim, stance, encumbrance, spells, armor, maybe more. Part of the reason pures have so much trouble with climbs is because a lot of them still aren't singled in physical fitness. They get encumbered with just their robes on because they nerf their CON...etc. The list goes on. I honestly believe there is a racial modifier for some of these, too. I think swimming is harder for giantmen but climbs are easier, for example. Any evidence I have to that effect is merely anecdotal, though.

Climbing checks abound in Pinefar and Northeast of Icemule, probably ranging from 20-40 ranks. As I recall I needed close to 40 ranks to make at least one of the climbs up there consistently. Nelemar should be fine with 60-70 ranks. At 70 ranks I have no issues with the swim but with fewer I struggled once in a while. The swim into the Bowels requires about 40 ranks. The climb up to the Stronghold requires about 25+ ranks of climb. I am pretty sure PF factors in heavily as does stance on that climb. Solhaven's toughest climb might be up to the wood wights. I don't know how many that takes but I'd hazard 15ish ranks. The hill up to Bonespear/waern takes a check, too. 20 ranks or so to get up there, I believe.

All of my characters are at least singled in PF, so that should be a help more than a hindrance when it comes to checks.

[poloneus]

The old standard of .3x climb and .4x swim no longer apply? As an Elven Ranger I've never encountered trouble with that while staying in my level range in the Icemule/Pinefar/Rift areas unless significantly encumbered. Obviously 618 helped, but I was maybe .5x PF at that point and fully trained for brig.

[Androidpk]

i feel like i had a similar amount of trouble making that climb with 50 ranks as i did with 30. that said, you won't get hurt, and climbing out is easy. other than the vaalor shortcut, and maybe the rift with some boxes you won't find much harder.

i would say 50 ranks and 101 as a post-cap goal

You were in full plate at that point right? When I was MBP I had around 30 ranks and made the climb no problem. When I do the climb it is always while unencumbered and in offensive stance and at 50 ranks I've gotten as many as 4 failures in a row.

[DrZaius]

What's the general consensus on the shortcut to EN? 60 climbing ranks?
-DrZ

[KneeCapper]

Halfling Ranger capped 618 running, 1x PF, 30 ranks swim and climb, 40 ranks armor for my brig and almost never miss a check.

[Suppressed Poet]

My giant can get by with somewhere between 15-20 ranks to climb the gorge to Darkstone. I think he has about 15 ranks of swimming and that is enough for the swim too. Of course he has an excellent constitution bonus, strength bonus, generally has 509 up, and is 1x PF in late 40s.