D&D 5E (2024) Fly and carrying

[Kobold Stew]

Unless there's an explicit distinction made between flying and other movement types, I fully expect encumbered flight and encumbered walking, swimming, or what have you to be treated the same.

What is the distinction between lifting and carrying in this case?
What factor or factors explain the limit of Medium and Heavy armor for those that fly?

 

[Stormonu]

D&D's encumbrance/carry rules have always been weird. I'd say you made an appropriate call, though I know some who wouldn't reduce the spell's flight speed as it is magical in nature and not necessarily bound to the standard encumbrance rules.

(Actually, smart thing might have been to cast the fly spell on the fighter first, whose likely to have a better strength and have him doff his plate for a later crossing).

 

[AlViking]

I rule that you can't exceed your normal carrying capacity, if you are encumbered (from the 2014 rules) by carrying more than strength times 5 your speed is reduced by 10 ft and you have to land at the end of your move.

 

[Stalker0]

If we are going RAW at this point, the book makes no distinctions with flight and carrying capacity. Flight is just another mode of movement.

So your "lift" carrying capacity would apply in this cases to carry the various people.

I think its perfectly reasonable to add more restrictions to flight to make it harder to use (as its very powerful)...perfectly reasonable, but for the OP's perspective that is not the RAW.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

What is the distinction between lifting and carrying in this case?
What factor or factors explain the limit of Medium and Heavy armor for those that fly?

I think that all the creatures that have armour rather than weight limits on their flight use physical wings to provide that flight.
It could be argued that it is the bulk or awkwardness of heavier armour that limits flight for those races.

 

[Kobold Stew]

If we are going RAW at this point, the book makes no distinctions with flight and carrying capacity. Flight is just another mode of movement.

So your "lift" carrying capacity would apply in this cases to carry the various people.

I'm not sure this follows. What we can say is that 2024 rules removed "encumbered" as a condition.

We can also note, since some posters are looking at 2014 rules as well, that the 5' movement speed was only applicable to pushing and dragging:

Push, Drag, or Lift. You can push, drag, or lift a weight in pounds up to twice your carrying capacity (or 30 times your Strength score). While pushing or dragging weight in excess of your carrying capacity, your speed drops to 5 feet.

Note that "lifting" in the earlier rules does not allow the 5' movement.

I think its perfectly reasonable to add more restrictions to flight to make it harder to use (as its very powerful)...perfectly reasonable, but for the OP's perspective that is not the RAW.

Nothing is written that answer this definitively. It's the DM's call, as I've said; but I know where I'd be putting money on what the Sage Advice would say.

 

[Clint_L]

If we are going RAW at this point, the book makes no distinctions with flight and carrying capacity. Flight is just another mode of movement.

So your "lift" carrying capacity would apply in this cases to carry the various people.

I think its perfectly reasonable to add more restrictions to flight to make it harder to use (as its very powerful)...perfectly reasonable, but for the OP's perspective that is not the RAW.

I agree, but this thread is making me think that I might want to houserule a set carrying capcity for fly, on the premise that it is the magic doing the lifting, not the character.