Given that even being able to fly for a single round is a high-level power, is there any way a flying race could be balanced in 4e?
I'm thinking it might be. Perhaps allow a per-encounter 'brief flight' of Speed 8. (Balancing with Eladrin teleport -- long distance, but crosses space between with all that entails). Perhaps a heroic tier feat to do this twice per encounter. To further balance this, if you end your move in the air, you fall on your next turn. (As a sop, allow the flyer to automatically deduct 10 feet from any fall if they are capable of taking a move action.)
Have a paragon tier racial feat that increases this to ongoing flight, provided you are carrying half a normal load (Strength * 5).
At Epic level, another racial feat increases this to a normal load.
I'm thinking it might be. Perhaps allow a per-encounter 'brief flight' of Speed 8. (Balancing with Eladrin teleport -- long distance, but crosses space between with all that entails). Perhaps a heroic tier feat to do this twice per encounter. To further balance this, if you end your move in the air, you fall on your next turn. (As a sop, allow the flyer to automatically deduct 10 feet from any fall if they are capable of taking a move action.)
Have a paragon tier racial feat that increases this to ongoing flight, provided you are carrying half a normal load (Strength * 5).
At Epic level, another racial feat increases this to a normal load.