Flying is Epic - But Ebony Fly is high heroic?

[LightPhoenix]

Wizards also get Levitation at level 6.

My group coined Levitation as "Ghetto Flight" ever since I realized you could spend your Standard Action to move your full speed while levitating. While it certainly hasn't been game-breaking (for ghetto flight you don't get any attacks without an AP), it's a very handy defensive spell.

 

[Obryn]

Ebony Fly is not so durable.

Yep. Its defenses are quite low for its level; it can't hover; and, really, 14 HP is not a lot! Better get yourself a safewing amulet if you expect to fly around on it a lot...

As a DM, I'd target the hell out of it.

-O

 

[Leatherhead]

I am actually giving my party one of these in an upcoming adventure.

Seeing as how it can only be ridden by one person (300lbs max iirc), and it can be taken out with very little damage, it has limited combat applications. I expect it to be used as a problem solver more than a mobile artillery platform.

Of course, I am one of those crazy DM's who actually likes it when their party does something completely different to solve a problem, as it shows to me that they are immersed in the game.

 

[Old Gumphrey]

As a DM, I'd target the hell out of it.

-O

Because screwing the players over just because you can is very fun for them. Wouldn't play a Shaman in that game...

 

[Nifft]

Because screwing the players over just because you can is very fun for them. Wouldn't play a Shaman in that game...

I would! The Shaman's spirit thingy is surprisingly resilient, and every big attack it eats is a net win in terms of party HP. (Seriously, think about an elite or solo spending a single-target attack to deal damage to the spirit, and how this results in low, fixed damage to the shaman. It's a big win.)

Cheers, -- N

 

[Obryn]

Because screwing the players over just because you can is very fun for them. Wouldn't play a Shaman in that game...

Whaa?

How is playing as an intelligent adversary screwing the players? If a wizard or sorcerer is flying above the battlefield, pelting away, shouldn't the opponents try to bring him to the ground?

-O

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I would! The Shaman's spirit thingy is surprisingly resilient, and every big attack it eats is a net win in terms of party HP. (Seriously, think about an elite or solo spending a single-target attack to deal damage to the spirit, and how this results in low, fixed damage to the shaman. It's a big win.)

Cheers, -- N

Whaa?

How is playing as an intelligent adversary screwing the players? If a wizard or sorcerer is flying above the battlefield, pelting away, shouldn't the opponents try to bring him to the ground?

-O

Agreed on both accounts.

 

[Ryujin]

Actually, its not so much the overland flight that worries me as the ability to fly as much as you want in an encounter. This is indeed level 16 for select classes, not epic. But the Ebony Fly is still 7 levels earlier and available to everyone. There are no other items of heroic or paragin level that allow such flexible flight; the closest is one that gives a mount flying ability.

Another way to express this; at what level would a ritual let you do something like this? Overland flight is level 20; Phantom steed is level 6 but reliably getting an Arcana result of 40 is again mid-paragon. And rituals requires specialized skills that the Ebony Fly does not.

I am not trying to bash the Ebony Fly here; I am trying to see if it is balanced and if you can base other effects on it.

With someone assisting and a lucky roll, I could make that number for Phantom Steed at 8th level. If I had actually built my character to do it, then I wouldn't even need the assistant.

 

[spinmd]

One thing to note - the Temporary HPs only last 5 minutes. You can't conjure it in the morning, and keep the THPs throughout the day.

-O

Sorry, slight thread derail, but wouldn't the ebony fly keep the temporary HPs until a rest? The PHB says about temporary HPs:

Last until You Rest: Your temporary hit points last until they’re reduced to 0 by damage or until you
take a rest.

So as long as the owner of the ebony fly / or the ebony fly doesn't take a short or extended rest, wouldn't the fly have the temp HPs?

 

[Tuft]

Sorry, slight thread derail, but wouldn't the ebony fly keep the temporary HPs until a rest? The PHB says about temporary HPs:

Last until You Rest: Your temporary hit points last until they’re reduced to 0 by damage or until you
take a rest.

So as long as the owner of the ebony fly / or the ebony fly doesn't take a short or extended rest, wouldn't the fly have the temp HPs?

I think it referrs to the general rule that things that lasts for an encounter, that is until a short (or long) rest, generally lasts for five minutes when you are outside of a combat situation and are not counting rounds. (PH, p. 278)

I'm not so sure the designer of the Ebony Fly thought about that rule when designing it, though...