Fly vs. Alter Self.

[Ysgarran]

I've slowly been going through all the spell changes and came across this one that didn't seem consistent to me. Unless I've missed errata somewhere the Fly spell duration has been changed from 10 minutes/level to 1 minute/level. Speed has been cut back from 90 feet/round to 60 feet/round.

OK, if that is the case I will use 'Alter Self' at 10 minutes/level instead to change into a winged humanoid form (Avarial) to do my combat flying. If you can find the correct form speed is 120 feet/round.

The only thing I lose is the safety net that fly has when the spell ends. It just strikes me that is a case where they have axed the utility of a third level spell too much.

Thoughs? Opinions?

Ysgarran.

p.s.
In choosing a form for alter-self would you let a character choose a 'generic' winged humanoid form or you would force the character find a named type like Avarial (Winged Elf) to change to?

 

[Allanon]

Correct me if I'm wrong (and that isn't unlikely), but isn't it so that alter self doesn't give you the abilities of the chosen form? Only the appereance? So although you've got wings you've never used them and most likely can't use them unless you're already an natural flyer.

 

[sithramir]

If an avarial is a humanoid then you can alter self into him and gain his speed, racial feats, natural armor, and wings. If I was the DM i'd not allow this until you've at least seen an avarial in the campaign as there are no core humanoids with wings. But if you are playing FR and have seen them before you can do this. I think you don't fly well though so can't hover and have to be moving every round.

 

[Ysgarran]

I think that it was appearence only in the pre 3.0 day, but not any longer.

You acquire the physical qualities of the new form while retaining your own mind. Physical qualities include natural size, mundane movement capabilities (such as burrowing, climbing, walking, swimming, and flight with wings, to a maximum speed of 120 feet for flying or 60 feet for nonflying movement), ....

 

[sithramir]

If an avarial is a humanoid then you can alter self into him and gain his speed, racial feats, natural armor, and wings. If I was the DM i'd not allow this until you've at least seen an avarial in the campaign as there are no core humanoids with wings. But if you are playing FR and have seen them before you can do this. I think you don't fly well though so can't hover and have to be moving every round.

 

[sithramir]

If an avarial is a humanoid then you can alter self into him and gain his speed, racial feats, natural armor, and wings. If I was the DM i'd not allow this until you've at least seen an avarial in the campaign as there are no core humanoids with wings. But if you are playing FR and have seen them before you can do this. I think you don't fly well though so can't hover and have to be moving every round.

 

[frankthedm]

BTW one reason that alter self has flying mentioned ,even there are no 'core' rules flying humaniods, is that the rules for alter self are also used for polymorf self and related spells. I recall someone trying use the fact flight is mentioned by this spell to justify complaining about a DM deciding there is no valid flying base, non templated humaniod choice in core.

 

[DM2]

frankthedm...not only that, but races that aren't humanoid can cast alter self, changing into creatures of their same type, which will often include flight.

DM2

 

[hong]

Personally, I'd rule that an avariel was a monstrous humanoid, along with any other human-like thingy with wings.

 

[Ysgarran]

I think that is exactly why there are no humanoid winged creatures in the core rules. The only example of a 'humanoid' with wings we could find (actually one a player in my campaign could find) was the Avariel.

Ysgarran.

Personally, I'd rule that an avariel was a monstrous humanoid, along with any other human-like thingy with wings.