If he wants to climb faster than normal, there is a rule for that. If someone is attempting to haul him up with a rope while he is climbing, there is a rule for that. The individual skill descriptions do an excellent job of taking the simple skill resolution system and applying it to the individual skills as in the case of the Climb skill above. The skill descriptions also include sample DC's for most situations that DM and players will run into. Also new for 3 rd Edition are Feats.
Feats cover a plethora of special abilities that characters can gain.
Characters get one feat at first level, one at third and then one ever three levels thereafter. Humans also get a bonus feat at first level. Finally, fighters and wizards get bonus class-related feats that must be chosen from special lists. Some feats also have prerequisites. For example, a character must be a Fighter, at least 4 th level and have previously taken Weapon Focus, in order to take Weapon Specialization.