Flying characters and mounts

[Brun IronBender]

1 Suarion shaman druid wild shapes into a pterodactyl and the gnome sorc wants a lift. The Druid has decent fly score but the sorc has no ride. The Sorc weighs less then the druids light encumbrance. What rules do I need to reference to adjudicate this?

2. Cavalier has fly cast on his wolf steed. Wolf is at medium encumbrance due to barding and weight of rider. Wolf is not trained fly. Can this be a trick? What DC to encourage the wolf to fly if no trick?

Thanks.

[Oladon]

You can make Ride checks untrained; with that said, though, if the druid is carrying the gnome, then the gnome isn't trying to ride.

You can also make Fly checks untrained. The fly spell grants the target a flying speed, just as if the wolf had always had it. There shouldn't be any roll needed to get the wolf to fly at that point.

[asthyril]

using a trick is usually necessary for an animal to use a spell effect that isn't natural to it. air walk is a good example of this. hopefully the book coming out next month will clarify things like this.

[SlimGauge]

1. It depends on how the pterodactyl druid chooses to give the lift.

If he simply picks up the gnome in his claws (feet) and flys off with him, the gnome is just along for the ride with no control or input into what the druid does (other than verbal, of course). It's similar to being carried by a vehicle. The druid uses the fly rules.

If the gnome wants to ride like a mount, the druid still uses the fly rules, but the gnome uses the rules under the ride skill. It's the GM's call what checks the gnome doesn't need to make.

For example:
Guide with Knees. The druid isn't being guided anyway (he can fly as he likes) but the GM might rule that the gnome needs to make this check or he must use one hand to hang on, depriving him of the use of it for any other purpose.

Stay in Saddle. The gnome has to make this check if/when he takes damage, or fall off.

Soft Fall. The gnome has to make this check if he does fall off or take the damage and become prone.

Fight with Combat-Trained Mount / Control Mount in Battle.
Again, the druid isn't being controlled or directed. However, the GM might rule the gnome must still make the check or be unable to use his actions to do anything other than hang on.

Spur Mount.
I don't think the druid will take kindly to being subjected to damage from the gnome, so he'd better not try it.

Fast Mount/Dismount. The gnome must make this check if he wants to get on or off without spending the move action.

2. That sounds like a "Push" using the Handle Animal skill.

EDIT: dang'd speeling

[Mathius]

Thanks for this input. I think I will use guide with knees if there is ever a need for the sorc to have both hands. I will also use the fight with combat trained mount but it can be replaced with a fly check from the druid. Two chances at the same effect.

Mathius

[SlimGauge]

Don't forget the penalty if they haven't got a special saddle (see the riding bareback bit).