I've been refreshing my familiarity the rules for flight, the fly spell, and the Fly skill (involving the spell, etc) of late due to the problems flight can cause at low levels (real or perceived), and something struck me as odd about it. After a few times of looking over the skill, I noticed that the Fly skill has a "Concentration check" of sorts built into it, similar to the check required by a spellcaster when injured while casting.
While a caster must succeed on a Concentration DC (10 + damage dealt + spell level), an individual need only succeed on a DC 10 check to avoid losing 10 feet of altitude. I realize these are two different actions - casting a spell versus maintaining elevation - but I posit that they both require a relevant degree of focus.
After giving it a great deal of thought, I'm giving serious consideration to making the following change:
Original: "If you are flying using wings and you take damage while flying, you must make a DC 10 Fly check to avoid losing 10 feet of altitude."
House Rule: "If you are flying using wings and you take damage while flying, you must make a DC (10 + damage dealt) Fly check to avoid losing 10 feet of altitude."
The effects of the change are as follows:
1. Ranks in fly matter a good deal more.
2. Maneuverability plays a more important role as well, especially when determining balance of low-level flying effects/traits.
3. The chances of actually suffering a Fly check failure by 5 or more while attacked are relevant, instead of next to impossible for many creatures with only a handful of skill ranks invested, if any.
4. Bringing down a winged flying creature with mundane means is far more feasible. However, creatures flying using the Fly spell are unaffected. I've yet to decide if this is an issue or not.
Thoughts?
I like it. It makes using archers to "bring down" flying creatures a much more viable tactic.
Yeah, truth be told, I thought I misread it when I saw the RAW DC at a static 10.
Even Average Joe the Fighter who focuses on melee won't feel entirely left out if he has to switch to his bow due to aerial opponents - he'll at least feel like he has a chance of contributing.