Can you trip a flying opponent?

[Shallown]

The rules don't exactly state you cannot. And the book /SRD gives an example of pulling a riding opponent down so it seems in general you cannot but I could see an arguement to allow it.

I see it as changing the orientation of someone flying (or swimming for that matter) and it still taking a move equivalent to orientate (stand). I understand creatures with no back/side/front such as an Ooze doesn't care which end is up but a flying human could be turned upside down or at least flattened out witha triop like manuever.

Opinions?

Later

 

[Berk]

I don't see a point in trying to trip a flying creature. Now pulling them down and trying to slam them against the ground I can see, but not trying to trip them. They still have a balance even if upside down, don't start thinking about not having seen any upside down flying birds IRL cuz well, this isn't RL. I personally would rule if the flying creature being tripped is flying because of wings then they would be disoriented. If they are flying because of magic and such then I don't personally see a reason why they would.

 

[officeronin]

I guess I'd house rule it to disorient them, requiring a move equivalent to reorient themselves. I would allow the Improved Trip follow-up...

OfficeRonin

 

[geezerjoe]

I'd suggest that before you make a general ruling take into consideration the creature's flying rating. By this I mean if a creature is a clumbsy or poor flier it might very well be possible to 'trip' the creature as it would have trouble recovering (and the trip could target just about any part of the creature's body that would result in the creature becoming off balanced).

A creature with a good flying ability would be much harder to trip and would recover more quickly, and the trip would have to be able to target a specific portion of the creature that allows flight (which would call for a called shot).

Finally if a creature had a perfect flying ability then trip attempts would be meaningless ... IMHO perfect fliers are better at flying then we are a walking or even just standing.

Of course the result of the trip wouldn't be the same as described in the PHB and would depend upon ALL SORTS of factors. So this would in essence be a 'house rule' but I think one that could be considered logical

l8r

Joe Too Old

 

[Artoomis]

Take the simplest approach.

Trip works, but, of course, you don't end up prone. Instead, you end up simply need one MEA to recover from the trip, or you may take the "prone" penalties for being upsoide down (or whatever).

Is it perfect? No. Is it reasonable and simple? Yes.