Underwater Flying [2006 Thread]

[Rath the Brown]

Does the fact that there is a spell Swim (Stormwrack) change anyone's mind on whether or not Fly allows you to move underwater at normal Fly speed?

 

[mvincent]

From the Manual of the Planes - Elemental Plane of Water:
"Those with fly speeds can fly at half their normal rate, and their maneuverability is reduced one grade"

 

[irdeggman]

So since the rules don't specifically state you can't fly underwater then you should be able to burrow through air since the RAW doesn't specifically state you can't do that either or burrow in water or better yet walk in air. The RAW doesn't specifically state you can't walk in air.

 

[Dracorat]

Swinging your sword wouldn't be considered normal movement for underwater.

And if someone tried to move by swinging their sword I wouldn't allow it.

 

[Artoomis]

This has become too petty and ridiculous for me. I'm done with this one.

 

[mvincent]

So since the rules don't specifically state you can't fly underwater then you should be able to burrow through air since the RAW doesn't specifically state you can't do that either or burrow in water or better yet walk in air. The RAW doesn't specifically state you can't walk in air.

As indicated earlier, you can walk through water. I would also let someone burrow through a water filled hole or even through ice, jello, diamond dust, etc..

You can certainly walk through air (and with the airwalk spell you can walk on air without having a fly speed).

Mind you, I was actually somewhat neutral on the subject. I would not have normally allowed flight to be used underwater, and even though it seemed reasonable to rule that you might still get some propulsion, I would've viewed that as a house rule.

However, the precedence of an actual rule on this from an official WotC supplement (MotP) gives me a RAW method of addressing this (where before it was still subject to some interpretation).

 

[Musrum]

From the Manual of the Planes - Elemental Plane of Water:
"Those with fly speeds can fly at half their normal rate, and their maneuverability is reduced one grade"

And there it is. Knockout punch!

 

[Deset Gled]

However, the precedence of an actual rule on this from an official WotC supplement (MotP) gives me a RAW method of addressing this (where before it was still subject to some interpretation).

I don't think that a specific ruling about a different plane of existence should be used to override the definitions of movement in the normal, Material plane. The fact that one source is a 3.0e supplement, and the other is the 3.5 SRDs doesn't help. YMMV.

 

[irdeggman]

I don't think that a specific ruling about a different plane of existence should be used to override the definitions of movement in the normal, Material plane. The fact that one source is a 3.0e supplement, and the other is the 3.5 SRDs doesn't help. YMMV.

True and there weren't any changes in the update manual on this.

It does, however, supply someone with something that may be used as a basis for the interpretation that flying can be done underwater.

I don't necessarily agree with that line of thought - but, there is at least something that they can "lock on" to use.

 

[Artoomis]

True and there weren't any changes in the update manual on this.

It does, however, supply someone with something that may be used as a basis for the interpretation that flying can be done underwater.

I don't necessarily agree with that line of thought - but, there is at least something that they can "lock on" to use.

Yep (since this has turned less ridiculous I'm back). That essentialy says how to apply the concept of how "hampered movement" might apply to flying in a dense medium (water).