D&D 5E Do you allow flighted Player characters to carry other Player characters?

[Shiroiken]

I've allowed PCs to carry each other, both with and without flight as part of the equation. Earlier editions used to limit how much a creature could carry and still fly, but 5E doesn't have anything like that. Because I like to have flying monsters periodically grapple and try to fly off with PCs, I'm fine with this. One of my players is currently taking advantage of this, with his new gnome wizard having a vulture as his flying mount (he even spent most of his starting wealth to buy an exotic saddle for it).

 

[Ferrousbones]

do you allow flighted player characters to carry other player characters over obstacles and past encounters?

Yes, according to carrying-capacity/encumbrance.

What about attacking while being carried in flight?

I would say that the attacker must be smaller than the carrier, as in the Mounted rules, since said rules are generally about combat.

I also think that flight should naturally use the encumbrance rules, even if other modes of movement still use basic carrying capacity.

 

[LordEntrails]

But if these questions are really, "what should I do," then it depends on your campaign theme. Is it grimdark gritty? No flight. Fantasy superheroes? Whatever would be funny, just add advantage or disadvantage.

This is pretty much what it's about to me. Are the players being creative? Does it fit with the theme? Are they doing this so everyone at the table is having fun? Or is it an attempt at cheese? Is it a situational thing or part of a min/max strategy for a campaign that is not about min/maxing?

I've allowed it and disallowed it, all based upon the player's intent/attitude and the rule of cool.

 

[Lazybones]

I use the encumbrance rules also. It's easy to do on a VTT, where the weights are calculated by the software. But even on a tabletop, it's not that hard to eyeball things. My experience is that most player characters carry about their weight limit minus a few pounds, so in most cases a flying character isn't going to be able to lift an ally without their speed being reduced to 5 ft. Enforcing the rule also places a premium on things like having a paladin warhorse or a goliath PC who can be the recipient of the spell.

 

[Stalker0]

By the book, encumbrance works the same whether you are walking or flying. A character normally carry 15 x strength score, so for a basic 10 strength I would say that could carry most standard PC races IF they basically have no gear.

For a more general "hey pick me up and take me"....considering gear I think most PCs will easily be in the encumbered state (aka 30 x strength score)...and so you can fly them around at a speed of 5ft.


So in quick summary:

1) If PC has a big like 18-20 strength, they can just carry party members around no problem.
2) For weaker PCs that aren't like an 8 strength, they could pick up a striped down standard race character with fair ease, and could pick up a character with their gear going at 5 foot speed.

 

[mellored]

I allow carrying at half speed, per grapple ruled. Over long distance I may apply exhaustion, but I don't like splitting the party. Also more often than not they could just fly over and tie a rope so why not.

I mostly don't alow it in combat. I rule it takes 2 hands to grapple someone while flying. Though that still leaves a few options, like Vicious Mockery.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

depends on STR of the flier and mass of the one being carried.

View attachment 407902

Yeah, I've done this one too.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

2) For weaker PCs that aren't like an 8 strength, they could pick up a striped down standard race character with fair ease, and could pick up a character with their gear going at 5 foot speed.

Yes, this is the situation we find ourselves in. But my players get sad when I point out the difficulties. So I cave in, and give them what they apparently want.

But it doesn't make me happy.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

Would you allow the flighted character to attack?

 

[Distracted DM]

I have allowed flying characters to carry others but we use encumbrance. In most cases this'll result in reducing their speed to 5ft due to A5E's encumbrance rules, and also 5e's drag/push weight rules. This has prevented abuse thus far.