Fly spell and Unconsciousness

[the Jester]

Okay, so if you're under the influence of a fly spell and the spell ends, you feather fall to the ground.

What if you're knocked out (or killed) while flying? Does this return the dangers of falling to the fly spell?

 

[Starglim]

Using a fly spell requires as much concentration as walking. If you're walking and you are struck unconscious, you cease walking. Since you have Good manoeuvrability using fly, you can hover, but that would require using the flight ability. I think the unconscious subject would fall to the ground.

 

[Geoff Watson]

It doesn't say the character falls, so I think the 'correct' ruling is that the character hovers.

Personally, I would rule that the character slowly drifts down (or continue in the same direction if moving at high speed, slowing down).

Geoff.

 

[shilsen]

I have unconscious characters under a fly spell continue to hover (prone) in mid-air. I do think that the spell description gives enough leeway for other interpretations too.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Starglim has it right. You fall. Note that even having Good or Perfect maneuverability does not make you immune from stalling.

 

[Terath Ninir]

I must be reading things incorrectly, because I simply *can't* be seeing people imply that a person using fly would fall if they went unconscious. Since the spell has safety precautions built in -- feather fall -- no *sensible* person could possibly say such a thing.

So I must not have just read that. Feather fall to the ground, maybe, but no one with the ability to read would say the character would just fall. Nope. Definitely didn't read that.

 

[Peter Gibbons]

Using a fly spell requires as much concentration as walking. If you're walking and you are struck unconscious, you cease walking. Since you have Good manoeuvrability using fly, you can hover, but that would require using the flight ability. I think the unconscious subject would fall to the ground.

That's correct. The Rules of the Game article "All About Movement (Part Four)" by Skip Williams points out that hovering is either a free action or move action. If you are rendered unconscious, you cannot take the action to hover, so you fall.

Kind-hearted DMs may house-rule that the spell's feather fall-like feature kicks in automatically if the spell's magic is not actively utilized, but what is certain is that you don't remain aloft.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Kind-hearted DMs may house-rule that the spell's feather fall-like feature kicks in automatically if the spell's magic is not actively utilized, but what is certain is that you don't remain aloft.

That houserule has additional implications. Now, someone with fly cannot freefall on purpose or dive.

 

[Hypersmurf]

The Rules of the Game article "All About Movement (Part Four)" by Skip Williams points out that hovering is either a free action or move action. If you are rendered unconscious, you cannot take the action to hover, so you fall.

Using the Hover feat requires taking a move action to cease forward motion.

If you begin your turn already hovering, no action is required to continue hovering using the feat.

Hovering via Good or Perfect maneuverability doesn't even have that restriction.

"It's a free action to hover" isn't supported by a quote from the rules.

So, if a gargoyle with the Hover feat is flying and is stunned, he stalls and falls.

If a gargoyle with the Hover feat is flying, takes a move action to begin hovering, and then is stunned, strictly, he doesn't stall, since he's not required to maintain forward motion while hovering.

If a gargoyle with the Hover feat is flying, takes a move action to begin hovering, and then is Paralyzed, he falls, under the rules for winged creatures and paralysis.

If an arrowhawk is flying and is stunned, he stops moving. He has no minimum forward speed to avoid stalling, and his Perfect maneuverability allows him to hover. If he's Paralyzed, he falls, under the rules for winged creatures and paralysis.

If an air elemental is flying and is stunned or paralyzed, he stops moving. He has no minimum forward speed to avoid stalling, and his Perfect maneuverability allows him to hover.

-Hyp.

 

[Peter Gibbons]

That houserule has additional implications. Now, someone with fly cannot freefall on purpose or dive.

Good point! In fact, that sounds like a fairly reasonable "opportunity cost" to pay for the added security granted by the house rule.