"My hat of flight noes know limits"

[theNater]

Yeah, 'cause nothing says "Epic hero" like an airsick bag.

If you get motion sickness from riding on a jumping, spinning horse I don't see how it being on the ground is going to help. Maybe epic heroism isn't for you; may I suggest farming? Very few people get motion sickness hoeing melons.

As for the fighter getting screwed out of the fun because he didn't fly....

Just how badly was your GM trying to screw you? Flying carpet, boots of flying, Flying mounts, Potions of Flight, etc, etc... In every game I've played any high level character, in any edition, who didn't have at least emergency flight was deliberately gimping himself regardless of class.

Right, this is the "everybody can fly all the time" solution. It balances things okay, but it makes flight much less wondrous. When the whole party is wearing Boots of Flying, being able to soar over the heads of your enemies is about as impressive as being able to fire a crossbow.

 

[IanArgent]

The spell in Glory Road was quite definitely a ritual. I just reread that a short time back. (A book that deserves to be on a lot more recommended reading lists for the genre, politics or no politics)

 

[Andor]

The spell in Glory Road was quite definitely a ritual. I just reread that a short time back. (A book that deserves to be on a lot more recommended reading lists for the genre, politics or no politics)

True. It was definitely an Overland Flight ritual rather than a combat worthy superhero type of flight, but still a worthy counter to the "People don't fly in fantasy books" post I was responding to. And as an added plus it's a magic ritual with hot nekkid empress.

 

[Hussar]

Yeah, 'cause nothing says "Epic hero" like an airsick bag.

As for the fighter getting screwed out of the fun because he didn't fly....

Just how badly was your GM trying to screw you? Flying carpet, boots of flying, Flying mounts, Potions of Flight, etc, etc... In every game I've played any high level character, in any edition, who didn't have at least emergency flight was deliberately gimping himself regardless of class.

Boots of Flying (I assume you mean Winged Boots) give you 15 minutes of flight per day.

Flying mounts required serious skill investment.

Even the smallest Carpet of Flying is 20000 gp. No PC under about 12th would likely have this. By then, the casters have been pumping out Overland Flight for several levels. Why bother?

Potions I'll give you, but, again, you're looking at very short term flight. Y'know, like they're getting in 4e.

 

[hong]

True. It was definitely an Overland Flight ritual rather than a combat worthy superhero type of flight, but still a worthy counter to the "People don't fly in fantasy books" post I was responding to.

You misspelled the "people don't use superhero type of flight in fantasy books" post you were responding to.

You know, the one you quoted yourself. Like this.

4. Self-propelled superhero style flight is something I can't remember actually seeing in any fantasy fiction.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I never realized being able to fly was so game-breaking.

Then you have either never played in a game with any tactical minded players, OR your DM has only actually had access to about half the monster manual and DMG when designing adventures because unlimited easy flight makes the other half pointless.

 

[IanArgent]

True. It was definitely an Overland Flight ritual rather than a combat worthy superhero type of flight, but still a worthy counter to the "People don't fly in fantasy books" post I was responding to. And as an added plus it's a magic ritual with hot nekkid empress.

As a ritual, Overland flight isn't quite so gamebreaking as a power; though I would place it at higher than the ritual that allows you to teleport to a known teleport circle, since you can go anywhere and change your destination on the way.