How does a broom of flying work?

[Big Blue 22]

The PCs in my group have a broom-of-flying. The rules are unclear and these boards have not offered any definitive answers (that I could find) regarding how riding/flying a broom of flying (broom) works. The broom description references overland flight which in turn references fly. The broom description also references +4 to fly skill checks. The Fly skill DC list appears to be mostly focused on winged flight (hovering requires a check, etc.) but also governs the fly spell. The Ride skill references riding any mount including flying mounts. The broom has weight restrictions: 400 max, and faster at less than 200. The broom will come when called and can be sent places apparently without a rider. Ride specifically talks about guiding the mount with your knees, shooting a bow riding, etc. A carpet of flying specifically says it needs verbal commands for control and does not need to make a check to hover, language not included in the broom description. Like the broom, the carpet has weight limits and weight affects the speed.

Has anyone put some thought into this and made up any kind of home rule they would be willing to share?

Here are the questions we have run into:

1) How is a broom controlled while in flight: verbal command, thoughts, pointing and leaning, other?

2) Does riding a broom involve skill checks with ride, fly, or some combination of the two?

3) Can a PC ride a broom of flying without using either hand like guiding a mount with knees?

3a) A mount generally has a saddle or some apparatus for connecting or securing the rider, how difficult is it to stay on a broom?

4) What are the DCs for zipping around on the broom?

5) Can 2 characters who total less than the max weight limit both ride the broom?

5a) If so, what does that do to the DCs?

5b) If so, can they change transfer control of the broom while in flight?

[Splendor]

Quote:

Broom of Flying

This broom is able to fly through the air as if affected by an overland flight spell (+4 on Fly skill checks) for up to 9 hours per day (split up as its owner desires). The broom can carry 200 pounds and fly at a speed of 40 feet, or up to 400 pounds at a speed at 30 feet. In addition, the broom can travel alone to any destination named by the owner as long as she has a good idea of the location and layout of that destination. It flies to its owner from as far away as 300 yards when she speaks the command word. The broom of flying has a speed of 40 feet when it has no rider.

Since the broom can fly on its own (and to distances far away), I would say the broom gets the bonus to the fly skill and has to make the checks. The last line states 'when it has no rider' which would mean you ride the broom.

1) Ride would be point and lean.
2) Ride skill, I would treat the broom as being war trained (since it lacks a INT score, I also wouldn't allow the spur action)
3) Ride skill allows no hands and to guide with knees. As per ride skill.
3a) Since there is no description of the broom, I would say it would depend upon the broom's creator. Harry potter brooms has stirrups, and stuff. If you wanted it to be noticeably a flying broom then it would have those things. If you wanted it to be disguised as a normal broom you'd ride bareback.
4) The broom makes the fly checks, as per the fly skill.
5) So long as the total weight is under 400lbs.
5a) As per the fly skill.
5b) Just like a horse.

[Qaianna]

The problem with that would be asking what a broom's Fly skill mod would be. I'd lean a little more towards either Fly, or maybe Ride if you're generous.

Imagining a flying wedge of witches and lances is of course an interesting image.

[Splendor]

The broom would have a fly skill of +12. Since it isn't a creature it does not have a stat or skill points so it only gets +4 (listed bonus under Broom of flying), +4 from it's size (tiny size: 3lbs, under fly skill) and +4 from it's maneuverability rating (good; see both fly skill and fly spell).

+12 lets you make all the non-wind related checks by 'taking 10' outside of combat.

[The Sword]

A lance in each hand.

I won't tell you where they put the broom handle...

[Splendor]

By first response to this thread was going to be....
"How does the broom of flying work?"
"Very well, thank you."

[Wheldrake]

There is nothing in the item description that suggests one should use the ride skill or treat the broom like a mount in any way.

The user flies using the fly skill for all maneuvers, and the broom gives the listed +4 to any fly checks: no more, no less. No additional bonus is awarded for maneuverability class, or for size. You get the listed bonus, period.

A second passenger? Why not, as long as you stay under the 400# limit, with all gear. However, I bet that few PCs are under 200#, between gear, gold and body weight. Carrying a passenger should have no effect on the DCs necessary for any fly check.

It doesn't say whether a hand is necessary to control it, or if there is any danger of falling off. So the RAW answer is that no hand is necessary and that you never fall off.

However, as DM I would require a hand on, or give a -5 on the fly check, also treating it as winged flight in that any fly check missed by 5 or more means that you fall off. But those are house rules.

[I'm Hiding In Your Closet]

Splendor wrote:

By first response to this thread was going to be....

"How does the broom of flying work?"
"Very well, thank you."

I was going to say something like,

"better than a vacuum cleaner of flying."

[DM_Blake]

If you don't know already, you can be in for quite a shock if you Google the origin of the witches-riding-brooms myth. If you ever want to read/watch Harry Potter again, don't look it up...

That aside, Wheldrake has the right of it. The broom is not a mount; it's a slotless (don't go there!) magic item of flight. Like all other slotless magic items, it doesn't require ANY slot (dun), including the hand slot. So you just simply fly where you want to fly, with both your hands free, and no chance of falling off or crashing. You do need to make checks against the Fly skill as described in the rules for that skill, with the broom's bonus being applied.

Impossible?

It's magic.

[Qaianna]

DM_Blake wrote:

If you don't know already, you can be in for quite a shock if you Google the origin of the witches-riding-brooms myth. If you ever want to read/watch Harry Potter again, don't look it up...

That aside, Wheldrake has the right of it. The broom is not a mount; it's a slotless (don't go there!) magic item of flight. Like all other slotless magic items, it doesn't require ANY slot (dun), including the hand slot. So you just simply fly where you want to fly, with both your hands free, and no chance of falling off or crashing. You do need to make checks against the Fly skill as described in the rules for that skill, with the broom's bonus being applied.

Impossible?

It's magic.

OK, I can live with this. And of course imagining a pack of barbarians on brooms of flying swinging twohanders at people.

Or a broom loaded up with halfling archers cruising a neighbourhood ... until they find a rival gang. 'Flyby!'

[zainale]

for Harry Dresden very poorly. but if you have fly skill why should you worry?

[Splendor]

Wheldrake -

Quote:

The broom of flying has a speed of 40 feet when it has no rider.

Which indicates the broom normally has a rider. The broom flies, the rider rides.