Can a Roc fly in a jungle?


Rules Questions


One of my players is considering a Roc animal companion for our upcoming Serpent's Skull campaign.

Would the roc be able to fly in the jungle?

Shadow Lodge

What does your jungle look like?

Liberty's Edge

You would have to decide if the jungle was so dense that the Roc would have to try to avoid crashing into trees and vines. If it's a medium-sized Roc, it would probably have enough room in most jungles. A large one would probably have a harder time.

In any case, even if it's dense, there's a Fly skill check to avoid falling after bumping into big things (DC 25). It seems that bumping into smaller things (such as vines and branches) isn't taken into consideration.

Maybe a large Roc with decent Fly skill would be just fine flying through the jungle, but would leave a very noticeable trail of broken branches and fallen trees.

The Exchange

Are we talking epic King Kong type jungle where immense trees create a top canopy that still allows huge room between trunks before a dense undergrowth?

Or are we talking typical Earth like rainforest jungle where tree trunks are close enough that a wingspan more than a foot or two hinders flight for nearly all birds?

As DM, it comes down to you completely to be honest. For me, I'd go a mixture of the two so there are times where the bird can't be used or at least is difficult to use, and at other times it proves no hindrance at all.

Liberty's Edge

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I just watched James Cameron's Avatar movie the other day.
That huge Dragon, which Sully tames, flies in the Jungle. Looks cool. Of course, there will definiatelly be placed where a Eoc will not be able to spread his wings...

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps Subscriber

Since they took away my Snake in Armor, my druid has been using a Roc Companion. He has narrow frame, so his space is 2 x 2 normally and he can move at half speed in a 2 x 1. Since wingspan doesn't exist in the pathfinder rule set, as long as there is a 10' wide gap, he can fly through it and with narrow frame, can do so at half speed, which requires a fly check.


Thamks for all the input folks. I appreciate that.

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