CAn you ride your own tensors floating disk?

[Lodow MoBo]

Really the subject say's it all. It is no earth shattering mechanic question. This a disagrement I've had with my DM. Personally I think it would be cool to ride around 2 feet off the ground.

 

[Knoxgamer]

No. I believe the spell text (no books here) says that it always follows 3 feet behind you.

 

[Lodow MoBo]

The range of the spell is close.

It states if not directed it float 5 feet from you.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Well, given that:

Floating Disk
Evocation [Force]
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: 3-ft.-diameter disk of force
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

You create a slightly concave, circular plane of force that follows you about and carries loads for you. The disk is 3 feet in diameter and 1 inch deep at its center. It can hold 100 pounds of weight per caster level. (If used to transport a liquid, its capacity is 2 gallons.) The disk floats approximately 3 feet above the ground at all times and remains level. It floats along horizontally within spell range and will accompany you at a rate of no more than your normal speed each round. If not otherwise directed, it maintains a constant interval of 5 feet between itself and you. The disk winks out of existence when the spell duration expires. The disk also winks out if you move beyond range or try to take the disk more than 3 feet away from the surface beneath it. When the disk winks out, whatever it was supporting falls to the surface beneath it.
Material Component: A drop of mercury.

I'd say the highlighted part is the important part.

There are two ways to go with this.

1. The only way the disk moves is by following you. Therefore, while you could conceivably stand on it (assuming you were under the weight limit - 100 lbs per level), it would remain in place.

2. The disk automatically moves to follow you at your normal speed (i.e., 30 ft for Medium creatures), unless you direct it otherwise. In which case, you could sit on it (assuming you were under the weight limit), and direct it to move elsewhere. This would have some inherent danger in it, since if you were to accidentally glide over a pit it would automatically wink out of existence, dropping you into said pit. I'd rule that, if you went this way, directing the disk to move would be a move-equivalent action, like most persistent, moveable spells.

Frankly, I could see it going either way.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Really the subject say's it all.

This question has generated debates that end in fist-fights in the past

-Hyp.

 

[welby]

that last debate on this I read, it sounded like you could. Other people can ride it. Is there some sort of mystical aura surrounding the caster that makes the disk float away from him. Can he not touch the disk? Can he not direct the disk to be still? Can he not touch the disk while the disk is moving? Of course he can. So why coulndn't the caster touch it in such a way that is supports his full weight, especially when it can do the same for his friends.

 

[The Souljourner]

The question is really one of locomotion. I don't think anyone contends that you can't sit on your own tenser's floating disk... the real question is, while sitting on it, can you make it move?

It's very unclear whether "unless otherwise directed" means "unless you specify a different distance for it to follow you" or "unless you tell it to move in a different way".

-The Souljourner

 

[Hypersmurf]

It's very unclear whether "unless otherwise directed" means "unless you specify a different distance for it to follow you" or "unless you tell it to move in a different way".

If it's the first, you just dangle one foot over the side and say "Stay three feet away from me".

It's like a little outboard motor!

-Hyp.

 

[shilsen]

This question has generated debates that end in fist-fights in the past

-Hyp.

Yup. I started a similar thread ("Tenser's Floating Sedan Chair") on Eric's boards back when the 3e books first came out, and it sparked a long discussion. IIRC, there were more 'nay's than 'aye's, but as always with this topic, there was no consensus.

 

[Malin Genie]

Brings to mind an image of a wizard siting on his Floating Disk moving it along with a long pole, wearing a flat, broad-brimmed black hat and a striped shirt, and singing opera...