Does a spell-caster have to be able to actually cast a spell that allows them to fly before they can put points into the Fly skill, or is having it on the class spell list good enough?
You must be able to cast it.
You cannot take ranks in this skill without a natural means of flight or gliding. Creatures can also take ranks in Fly if they possess a reliable means of flying every day (either through a spell or other special ability).
I'm gonna resurrect this thread, because I realized that tons of Guides, Hero Lab, and character sheets have this incorrect, and players have been taking the Fly skill from level 1. You can only do that if you're a Strix. Let's see when folks can take the Fly skill. (Note that this is NOT comprehensive, I'm just skimming)
Alchemist Level 5 with Fly orLevel 6 with Wings Discovery
Barbarian - Level 10 with Dragon Totem Wings.
Bard - no fly spells.
Cleric - Level 5 with Travel Domain.
Druid - Level 4 (wildshape) or Level 2 Sky Druid.
Oracle - Level 7 Flame Oracle with Wings of Flame, Level 10 Lure of the Heavens, more.
Shaman - Level 5 with Flight Hex, Level 10 Lure of the Heavens, etc etc
Sorcerer - Level 5, if they know the spell.
Witch - Level 5, if they know the spell, or Flight Hex
Wizard - Level 5, if they know the spell.
I'm sure there are more options (Aasimar, Kobold, Sylph feats/traits etc etc), but those are the ones off the top of my head. Now go fix all those Guides! :D I'm gonna mention this to Wolf Lair! :D
If anyone is still participating in that thread about paralyzed flight, please mention this. You have to cast fly before you can level the skill, some people think the skill is a prerequisite for the spell.
Does a spell-caster have to be able to actually cast a spell that allows them to fly before they can put points into the Fly skill, or is having it on the class spell list good enough?You have to have daily access to some form of flying power, either by spell, or by magic item.
So if you get winged boots at level 1, you can start putting in skill points at level 2.
Or if you grew up on the plane of air...
Now you're getting pedantic. Actually growing up on the Plane of Air wouldn't help if you were just a human limited to living on a rock. And most games don't have player character air elementals.Or if you grew up on the plane of air...Does a spell-caster have to be able to actually cast a spell that allows them to fly before they can put points into the Fly skill, or is having it on the class spell list good enough?You have to have daily access to some form of flying power, either by spell, or by magic item.
So if you get winged boots at level 1, you can start putting in skill points at level 2.
Sorry, I meant a plane with subjective gravity.
Some GMs are very permissive with character origin stories. Some are not.
Was merely trying to add to the conversation, not trying to be a jerk.
Or if you grew up on the plane of air...Does a spell-caster have to be able to actually cast a spell that allows them to fly before they can put points into the Fly skill, or is having it on the class spell list good enough?You have to have daily access to some form of flying power, either by spell, or by magic item.
So if you get winged boots at level 1, you can start putting in skill points at level 2.
Or buy a non-magical Glider for 500gp...
EDIT: or build one on the cheep.This puts it well within the range of most non-1st level characters.
Or if you grew up on the plane of air...Does a spell-caster have to be able to actually cast a spell that allows them to fly before they can put points into the Fly skill, or is having it on the class spell list good enough?You have to have daily access to some form of flying power, either by spell, or by magic item.
So if you get winged boots at level 1, you can start putting in skill points at level 2.
Or buy a non-magical Glider for 500gp...
This puts it well within the range of most non-1st level characters.
My first level character had rich parents. Sorry. Rich Parents, 900 gold!
Gliders sound fun. :)
Or if you grew up on the plane of air...Does a spell-caster have to be able to actually cast a spell that allows them to fly before they can put points into the Fly skill, or is having it on the class spell list good enough?You have to have daily access to some form of flying power, either by spell, or by magic item.
So if you get winged boots at level 1, you can start putting in skill points at level 2.
Or buy a non-magical Glider for 500gp...
This puts it well within the range of most non-1st level characters.
My first level character had rich parents. Sorry. Rich Parents, 900 gold!
Gliders sound fun. :)
Unless you are paralyzed...
But then, would a glider qualify as a viable means of flight?
Your options are very limited for maneuverability...
"Creatures can also take ranks in Fly if they possess a reliable means of flying every day (either through a spell or other special ability)."
I don't see how you could say a glider doesn't "qualify as a viable means of flight" using the above.
Granted, a glider does allow you to fly... a vehicle.
Likewise, controlling this vehicle can be done by making a Driving Check using the Fly skill, but then it can also be controlled with an Acrobatics skill (or even a Wisdom check in place of a driving check).
To add to that, the very DC's needed to control the glider are not the same ones for a creature engaging in self propelled flight (wings or magic).
The rules for both forms of aerial movement are different.
Which does beg the added question then... which rules do flying carpets or broomsticks use? Normal Fly Skill checks, or the rules for vehicles?
I'm pretty sure no one expects a skill to actually be enforced to be practiced every single day. For example, a mage unable to cast spells for day should still be able to spend points in the skill.
Second, there is no limit to the duration of flight needed for use per day. 1 single round of daily flight satisfies the requirement. So even in an flat plane, a horse and wagon could easily manage that with a glider. And in an area like the Sahara, there are plenty of sand dunes to hop off of.
Pathos: Driving a Vehicle with Magic Propulsion: Typically, a vehicle with magic propulsion requires actions but no driving checks in order to drive it. When driving a vehicle with magic propulsion, treat every action as though the driver succeeded at the driving check.
EDIT: Also on fly: "Smaller air-current vehicles, such as gliders and wind sleds, use Acrobatics or Fly instead. Much of their control depends on knowledge of flight or proper movements of the body to control the vehicle." So it IS the same skill being used to 'drive' as it is to fly. ;)
Oh, if someone wanted to deal with a 10'x10' object in a dungeon just to get the Fly skill, I'd allow it. Or spend the money and leave it elsewhere. They get the Fly skill, as they've learned to glide, or hang glide, or whatever. That's a lot of stuff to lug around or a lot of gold to burn at level 1, just to put a point in Fly.
I'm pretty sure that unless you can already roll on Fly, you aren't allowed to fly.
I mean, if the thread about using the Fly spell while being paralyzed has taught us anything, it's that.
Right?
Isn't the fly skill required before you can cast the Fly spell?
I think you just need the Fly skill to do maneuvers while flying, like hovering. Maybe we need a chart!
At 4,000 gp, the Ring of Seven Lovely Colors is the least expensive magic item I know that gives regular flight.
The Eagle Cape is 7,000 gp. The Winged Boots pop in at 16,000 gp.
/cevah