| 2 people marked this as FAQ candidate. |
So, the Fly spell says thus:
The subject can fly at a speed of 60 feet (or 40 feet if it wears medium or heavy armor, or if it carries a medium or heavy load).
And the Fighter's Armor Training says thus:
. . . a fighter can also move at his normal speed while wearing medium armor. At 7th level, a fighter can move at his normal speed while wearing heavy armor
Would it be fair to say that 7th+ level Fighters who get Fly cast on them (or drink a Potion of Fly) moves the full 60' of movement even if they are wearing heavy armor?
Or another way of asking this--is the gained fly speed from the spell part of "his normal speed"? Or is it something else?
I'm personally inclined myself at this point to say that the Fly speed is not part of the Fighter's "normal speed" and doesn't apply--but I would like to see other interpretations, based on both RAW and what you think is fair.
Thanks.
Well, according to the RAW you have posted, I would say that the fighter is still limited because the spell specifically states the speed decreases. Since it's an effect of the spell and not the mechanics of flying that limits the speed, I would have to say the fighter is nerfed.
As for my interpretations of the RAI, I would say that the fighter is still restricted because running and hacking things to bits whilst wearing heavy armor is quite a bit different from soaring through the air and maneuvering whilst wearing heaving armor.
On the other hand, for an Eldritch Knight or a caster that has taken the armor proficiency feats, I might hand wave this restriction because they probably get to practice quite a bit with flying. So I can see letting them ignore the speed decrease with 7 levels of fighter in tow. Or even make it depended on ranks in Fly (but now we're getting into the realm of house rules, so I digress.)
Thanks guys. I'm not fully decided yet but this helps.
An EK with 7 levels of Fighter is going to be very high level, so in that case it might be worth throwing him a theoretical bone. But that's a very specific circumstance. Yes, house rules... but we all got'em.
I think that the fighter would move at the full 60' rate.
I don't think that the language in the fly spell regarding medium/heavy armor is an aspect of the spell; rather, I think it is simply a reference to the already existing and applicable carrying capacity rules. The reduction from a movement speed of 60 to 40 if wearing medium/heavy armor or carrying a medium/heavy load matches the reductions in the section of the CRB concerning Carrying Capacity (see p. 169 of the CRB).
Since the lvl 7 fighters speed is not reduced due to wearing heavy armor, I don't think it would be reduced if he gained a fly speed from the fly spell. Nor would it be reduced if he gained a climb speed somehow, or a swim speed, or a fly speed from some other method (such as later becoming a Dragon Disciple and gaining wings), or any other movement speed.
If hes carrying a medium or heavy load however, it would still be reduced.
I think a dwarf who has this spell cast on him would move at his full speed whether wearing medium/heavy armor or carrying a medium/heavy load.
I just don't think that the fly spell is written or intended to work any different that any other regular movement speed in this regard.