Ranger's Camouflage Ability, Hide in Plain Sight and Flying Question?

[Stormrunner]

I wouldn't allow it, simply because it can be too easily abused. It effectively removes the "natural terrain" limitation altogether. Party is in a city? Hey, I'll just hover a few inches off the ground, and presto, I can hide!

 

[RigaMortus2]

Interestingly enough, this would mean the Elemental Plane of Air has no terrain in it at all...

 

[Aluvial]

So I'm writing up my rulings for tonight's game, and I realize after re-reading these posts, that there really isn't a consensus on whether you can Camouflage in the air...

Does anyone else have some input on this. I'm tempted to go with allowing it if there is a backdrop, but then are clouds backdrops, or the sun?

I can see hiding in the light of the sun, or with clouds behind...

So then you have to ask, does a Ranger's Camouflage work in all types of terrain? If so, then can he effectively change colors, much like the chameleon does to suit his background?

Aluvial

 

[mvincent]

are clouds backdrops, or the sun?

While anything can be a backdrop, I would definitely not consider them appropriate for backdrops natural "terrain". (terrain means ground)

I can see hiding in the light of the sun, or with clouds behind

As a PC, it doesn't hurt to try (creativity adds fun). As a DM I'd allow it for a time or too (because it's creative, not because I feel the rules support it), but not on a continual basis

does a Ranger's Camouflage work in all types of terrain? If so, then can he effectively change colors, much like the chameleon does to suit his background?

No. It's assumed that he just knows how to blend in (typically by wearing appropriately colored cloths, but it's abstracted)