Flying and Move Silently

[Tobold Hornblower]

Does flying give any bonus to a move silently check. If not, would a +2 circumstance bonus be appropriate?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

No. Any creature that's a particularly stealthy flier - like, say, an owl - will already have a bonus to Move Silently.

On the other hand, it would get to ignore any circumstance penalties from things like dry leaves on the forest floor.

 

[Lamoni]

No. Any creature that's a particularly stealthy flier - like, say, an owl - will already have a bonus to Move Silently.

But that doesn't account for the rogue that just had a fly spell cast on him.

 

[shilsen]

But that doesn't account for the rogue that just had a fly spell cast on him.

That's where the second paragraph of Patryn's post comes in.

 

[Percivellian]

Since the negatives with Move Silently, as written, deal with the speed of the silent mover, I figure those negatives are coming from footfalls, and the character's gear moving about. Since the Fly spell enables you to cast spells normally, I assume that extravagant arm movements (i.e. flapping, etc.) are not required for the flying itself, so a character's gear wouldn't be rustling about as much as it would if she were running, and of course, there are no footfalls to speak of. I would definitely give a circumstance bonus in that situation.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Since the negatives with Move Silently, as written, deal with the speed of the silent mover, I figure those negatives are coming from footfalls, and the character's gear moving about. Since the Fly spell enables you to cast spells normally, I assume that extravagant arm movements (i.e. flapping, etc.) are not required for the flying itself, so a character's gear wouldn't be rustling about as much as it would if she were running, and of course, there are no footfalls to speak of. I would definitely give a circumstance bonus in that situation.

I think that it's far, far more prudent to imagine that these things DO happen.

Don't start with common sense and work towards new rules - that way lies madness (ie - everyone using fly instead of getting a good move silently modifier).

Start with the current rules and work towards a description that fits it.

Current rules: Fly, levitate and the like do NOT give move silently bonuses - flying is just as noisy as walking.

Reason: Maybe you do need to move about (wave your arms, tilt and swoop, make running movements as if you are walking on air) to fly. Maybe the flight is not smooth - you bounce and vibrate about while it happens. Maybe the spell itself makes noise when used by those not in the know (and training in move silently in a magical world includes that knowledge) - a faint "whumm" follows the user, but by carefully regulating breathing, the noise can be lessened.

Flight is already very powerful. Don't make it better.

 

[Percivellian]

I think that it's far, far more prudent to imagine that these things DO happen.

Don't start with common sense and work towards new rules - that way lies madness (ie - everyone using fly instead of getting a good move silently modifier).

Start with the current rules and work towards a description that fits it.

I can see the sense in this. The 'game balance' point, though infinitely valid, is very rarely placating when my players are arguing with me, though. I guess I should be less of a push over.

Thanks.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Reason: Maybe you do need to move about (wave your arms, tilt and swoop, make running movements as if you are walking on air) to fly.

That would certainly explain why wearing Medium armor slows you down, even though carrying the equivalent weight doesn't (necessarily)

It would also imply that one cannot use a Fly spell while paralyzed

-Hyp.