I think, I would like the climbing ladder animation more, if it were some kind of 'personaility' of a hero who is a jester, rogue or otherwise very athletic and braggy. It would improve his uniqueness and personality. Instead of climbing down he would just jump with a salto or something like that.
But a dwarf in heavy armor doing an overflip on top of a ladder? That's just kind of odd.
If you have sneaking high enough, your char perhaps learned to mask himself, turning his sight into an enemy. Kind of mimikry. That would a logical reason why he can get closer than others.
