SRD:Escape Artist Skill

This material is published under the OGL

Escape Artist (Dex; Armor Check Penalty)

Check

The table below gives the DCs to escape various forms of restraints.

Ropes

Your Escape Artist check is opposed by the binder’s Use Rope check. Since it’s easier to tie someone up than to escape from being tied up, the binder gets a +10 bonus on his or her check.

Manacles and Masterwork Manacles

The DC for manacles is set by their construction.

Tight Space

The DC noted on the table is for getting through a space where your head fits but your shoulders don’t. If the space is long you may need to make multiple checks. You can’t get through a space that your head does not fit through.

Grappler

You can make an Escape Artist check opposed by your enemy’s grapple check to get out of a grapple or out of a pinned condition (so that you’re only grappling).

Restraint	Escape Artist DC
Ropes Binder’s	Use Rope check at +10
Net, animate rope spell, command plants spell, control plants spell, or entangle spell	20
Snare spell	23
Manacles	30
Tight space	30
Masterwork manacles	35
Grappler	Grappler’s grapple check result

Epic Check

You can pass through spaces smaller than your head, or even through a wall of force.

DC	Task
80	Extremely tight space
120	Pass through wall of force

Extremely Tight Space

This is the DC for getting through a space when your head shouldn’t even be able to fit; this can be as small as 2 inches square for Medium-size creatures. Halve this limit for each size category less than Medium-size; double it for each size category greater than Medium-size. If the space is long, such as in a chimney, multiple checks may be called for.

Pass through Wall of Force

This allows you to find a gap of weakness in a wall of force (or similar force effect) and squeeze through it.

Action

Making an Escape Artist check to escape from rope bindings, manacles, or other restraints (except a grappler) requires 1 minute of work. Escaping from a net or an animate rope, command plants, control plants, or entangle spell is a full-round action. Escaping from a grapple or pin is a standard action. Squeezing through a tight space takes at least 1 minute, maybe longer, depending on how long the space is.

Try Again

Varies. You can make another check after a failed check if you’re squeezing your way through a tight space, making multiple checks. If the situation permits, you can make additional checks, or even take 20, as long as you’re not being actively opposed.

Special

If you have the Agile feat, you get a +2 bonus on Escape Artist checks.

Synergy

If you have 5 or more ranks in Escape Artist, you get a +2 bonus on Use Rope checks to bind someone.

If you have 5 or more ranks in Use Rope, you get a +2 bonus on Escape Artist checks when escaping from rope bonds.

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