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Gloves of Swimming and Climbing

Gloves Of Swimming And Climbing
  • Category: Wondrous Item
  • Rarity: Uncommon (Requires Attunement)

While wearing these gloves, you have a Climb Speed and a Swim Speed equal to your Speed, and you gain a +5 bonus to Strength (Athletics) checks made to climb or swim.

Tactical Applications​

Combat Strategy: Provides swimming speed equal to walking speed and climbing speed equal to walking speed. Excellent for tactical positioning and accessing otherwise unreachable locations.

Class Synergies:

  • Any Class: Universal utility for movement enhancement and environmental navigation
  • Rangers: Perfect for wilderness exploration and diverse terrain navigation
  • Rogues: Enhanced mobility for infiltration and tactical positioning
  • Exploration Builds: Essential for characters focused on reaching difficult locations

Build Considerations: Provides permanent movement enhancements without requiring activation. Most valuable in campaigns featuring varied terrain and vertical challenges.

Acquisition Methods​

Crafting Requirements: Requires aquatic creature materials, mountain climbing gear enchantments, and movement magic. Creation cost 3,000-6,000 gp and takes 6 weeks.

Common Sources:

  • Adventuring gear specialists and exploration outfitters
  • Treasure hoards of aquatic and mountain-dwelling creatures
  • Commission from enchanters specializing in movement magic
  • Found in the collections of professional climbers and swimmers
  • Rewards from grateful aquatic or mountain communities

Alternative Acquisition: Sometimes discovered in underwater ruins or mountain caves.

Value & Trade​

Estimated Value: 4,000-8,000 gp, with higher demand in coastal regions and mountainous areas.

Trade Considerations: Popular among explorers, adventurers, and anyone operating in diverse terrain environments.

Character Integration​

Roleplay Elements: Suggests experience with aquatic environments, mountain climbing, or comprehensive exploration training.

Character Concepts:

  • Professional explorer specializing in challenging terrain
  • Aquatic specialist with mountain climbing experience
  • Rescue operative trained for diverse emergency environments
  • Character with comprehensive survival and navigation skills

Adventure Hooks​

The Aquatic Expedition: Underwater missions where swimming capabilities enable exploration of flooded ruins and aquatic environments.

The Mountain Ascent: Climbing challenges where enhanced movement enables access to remote peaks and cliff-face locations.

The Multi-Terrain Chase: Pursuit scenarios across diverse landscapes where superior movement provides crucial advantages.

The Rescue Mission: Emergency situations requiring rapid movement through challenging terrain to reach endangered individuals.

Variants & Customization​

Greater Gloves of Swimming and Climbing (Rare): Enhanced movement speeds and ability to move through difficult terrain without penalty.

Gloves of All-Terrain Movement (Very Rare): Includes burrowing speed and resistance to movement-impairing effects.

Specialized Movement Gloves (Rare): Optimized for specific environments like arctic conditions or desert travel.

Specialized Variants:

  • Explorer's Gloves: Enhanced for long-distance travel and environmental survival
  • Rescue Gloves: Optimized for emergency response and difficult rescue operations
  • Scout's Gloves: Enhanced stealth capabilities while moving through various terrains

Lore & History​

Origins: Created by ancient explorers who needed to traverse the most challenging and diverse terrain on their expeditions.

Historical Significance: These gloves enabled the mapping of previously inaccessible regions and the discovery of hidden civilizations.

Cultural Impact: Represent the spirit of exploration and the desire to overcome natural barriers through magical enhancement.

Magical Craft: Demonstrates understanding of movement magic and the integration of multiple locomotion enhancements.

Balancing Notes​

Introduction Timing: Appropriate for levels 4-8 when movement challenges become significant and terrain diversity increases.

Campaign Impact: Provides meaningful exploration advantages without overwhelming combat encounters.

Terrain Dependency: Value depends on campaign setting and frequency of swimming and climbing challenges.

Encounter Design​

Recommended Challenges:

  • Exploration scenarios featuring water hazards and climbing obstacles
  • Chase sequences across diverse terrain requiring multiple movement types
  • Environmental puzzles where enhanced movement enables creative solutions
  • Rescue missions in challenging terrain where speed and versatility matter

Tactical Adjustments: Environments may include more vertical elements and water features that reward enhanced movement.

Movement Items: Boots of Speed, Winged Boots, and other items that enhance character mobility and positioning.

Exploration Equipment:

  • Items that improve environmental navigation and survival
  • Equipment for challenging terrain and extreme conditions
  • Tools for professional exploration and rescue operations

Complementary Equipment: Items that enhance Strength or Dexterity checks related to climbing and swimming.

Roleplay Opportunities​

Exploration Mastery: Characters develop expertise in navigating challenging terrain and environmental hazards.

Rescue Heroics: Enhanced movement enables dramatic rescue scenarios and heroic feats of environmental navigation.

Cultural Bridge: Superior movement abilities may earn respect from aquatic and mountain communities.