Freedom of Movement underwater?

[Dross]

While swimming, you move at 1/4 speed.

While walking along the bottom, you move at 1/2 speed.

With freedom of movement you can "move" at "normal" speed. Which of these movement modes (or maybe both) this is referring to is graciously left to the reader to infer. The FAQ seems to maybe say both, but then completely fails to mention anything about full movement speed, leaving me still unsure of what its stance really is, except that you can still move "normally" underwater!

snip....... Because it reads to me like you swim and walk as per usual (1/4 speed and 1/2 speed) according to the FAQ when under the effect of freedom of movement.

Hhhmmm.
To me the walk at 1/2 speed seems to imply the hindered movement in water, which FoM would remove.

But using the same logic, swiming would still be 1/4 since it isn't a "normal" mode of movement (no swim speed as such).

Maybe we should just have the character drown?

 

[ThirdWizard]

Hhhmmm.
To me the walk at 1/2 speed seems to imply the hindered movement in water, which FoM would remove.

But using the same logic, swiming would still be 1/4 since it isn't a "normal" mode of movement (no swim speed as such).

Maybe we should just have the character drown?

I think the table implies that you can swim at full movement speed. So a human barbarian in light armor would now swim at speed 40. At least, that's my interpretation of the table.

 

[Infiniti2000]

That actually doesn't appear to be stated in the rules, and in fact both the 3.0 FAQ and the Manual of the Planes state that you can fly in water. Regardless, we already know that you can use your ground speed in water (which should suffice to answer ThirdWizard's question).

(a) It actually is, (b) I don't care what the FAQ says, (c) only while walking on the bottom. You cannot 'walk' or swim at normal 'walk' speed. You move normally, i.e. while swimming you swim normal speeds. It's really not any more complicated than that and you are adding much more capability to the spell that I believe doesn't exist.

 

[DarkJester]

I think I'll be going with normal swim checks for getting around in the water, and full speed movement on the bottom. I don't want to deal with people "falling through the water" nor do I want to let everyone just whisk there way through water via fly. I'll also be allowing people under the effect to ignore currents and waves, and always make their swim checks as if they were in calm water. Works for me.

Thank's for the input everyone.

 

[mvincent]

(a) It actually is, (b) I don't care what the FAQ says, (c) only while walking on the bottom.

a) You didn't supply a quote
b) Do you care what the Manual of the Planes says?
c) As mentioned, just the walking option suffices to answer ThirdWizard's question (i.e. just the walking option provides a reason for the Freedom of Movement description to include references to 'move and attack normally'.)

Why are you trying to start an argument where none is needed? The flying option has been hashed out before in a very long thread (I can provide a link rather than trying to duplicate it here). If you don't want to allow flying in water with Freedom of Movement (and don't care what the FAQ or Manual of the Planes allows) that's fine. That's not what this thread is about anyways.

 

[frankthedm]

To me the walk at 1/2 speed seems to imply the hindered movement in water, which FoM would remove.

But using the same logic, swiming would still be 1/4 since it isn't a "normal" mode of movement (no swim speed as such).

FoM does not let someone climb any faster, does it? It is not the spell's fault the person is not built to swim.

 

[ThirdWizard]

c) As mentioned, just the walking option suffices to answer ThirdWizard's question (i.e. just the walking option provides a reason for the Freedom of Movement description to include references to 'move and attack normally'.)

No question. Pointing out ambiguities that the FAQ doesn't address.

 

[Infiniti2000]

a) You didn't supply a quote

"A creature with a fly speed can move through the air at the indicated speed..."

b) Do you care what the Manual of the Planes says?

Only if it's a quote discussing the Prime Material plane, or unless the OP actually cares about an answer from whatever plane the quote discusses.

c) As mentioned, just the walking option suffices to answer ThirdWizard's question (i.e. just the walking option provides a reason for the Freedom of Movement description to include references to 'move and attack normally'.)

Exactly, move normally at normal swim speed unless you are on the 'ground' in the water; in which case you move at full land speed.

Why are you trying to start an argument where none is needed? The flying option has been hashed out before in a very long thread (I can provide a link rather than trying to duplicate it here). If you don't want to allow flying in water with Freedom of Movement (and don't care what the FAQ or Manual of the Planes allows) that's fine. That's not what this thread is about anyways.

I'm not trying to start anything, just presenting an opposite opinion. I disagreed with what you said and unless you present that link every time this point comes up, I will always chime in. If you're aware that a really long thread exists discussing this, then you should bring it to the attention of the OP, who may not be aware of it. Otherwise, just be prepared to discuss it over and over again.

 

[Cabled]

And normal fly speed through water is exactly 0, which means you can't do it, FoM or no.

Unless you happen to have wings, winged boots, a flying carpet, a flying mount, or any other method of moving about through the air.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Exactly, move normally at normal swim speed unless you are on the 'ground' in the water; in which case you move at full land speed.

There is a problem with that. The table indicates that walking along the ground you move at 1/2 movement, swimming you move at 1/4 movement, with a swim speed you move at normal movement, and with freedom of movement you move at normal movement. This implies to me full movement rate while swimming, since it makes no caveat for a particular mode as expressed in footnote 3 of said table.

Unless you happen to have wings, winged boots, a flying carpet, a flying mount, or any other method of moving about through the air.

Oro?