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I wouldn't allow it. IMO, the spell is limited to moving objects of light bulk or less (until heightened). Unless you and your equipment meet that requirement, it will not move you. Beyond that, mage hand has a specifically defined function. It grabs an object and moves it at your behest. Period. You are not an unattended object. If it can push you and your equipment along, why not allow it to Shove someone in combat? How about deflect an arrow? Can it push a cart laden with equipment? Who needs horses when you have mage hand?
You can of course do whatever you want. It is YOUR campaign after all, but I would not allow it in mine.
Horizontally, of course. Though, why not vertically too?
Mage hand has a target of "1 unattended object of light Bulk or less." That's the only option for targets. So you can't move yourself.
Mind that the bulk restriction of Mage Hand can't be fully applied because you don't grasp and carry anything.
If you aren't grasping and moving anything then what are you doing?
The spell "grasps the target object and moves it slowly up to 20 feet." That's the only thing it can do.
The world itself doesn't have a bulk amount defined. So I can consider it to be of light bulk. It is floating weightless in space after all. So therefore I can grab hold of the world and move it under me. [/troll]
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The world itself doesn't have a bulk amount defined. So I can consider it to be of light bulk. It is floating weightless in space after all. So therefore I can grab hold of the world and move it under me. [/troll]
[physics teacher mode]
The Earth isn't weightless. At this distance from the Sun, the Earth is experiencing a gravitational force (weight) of about 3.54x10^22 N.And it isn't floating since there is no buoyant force negating that weight.
[/physics teacher mode]
;)
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We keep talking about the target rules because you are posting in the Rules Forum, and the targeting rules clearly don't allow this.
If you are trying to make your own version of Mage Hand, then you probably want to be in the Homebrew and House Rules Forum.
That said, if I were going to allow this I'd require players to use the Forceful Push feat from the Spell Trickster archetype rather than the standard version of Mage Hand. Since it requires an attack against a foe you aren't supposed to be able to use it on yourself, but it does target one creature and give them a push so it's closer to what you're trying to accomplish.
Ok, I see. I guess it's unlikely GMs would like this idea. =)
Yup. You are trying to combine two lower level spells to duplicate the effects of a higher level spell.
If we weren't talking about game rules and balance and things like that, this definitely would work, only speeds would be small if mage hand exerted too little force. Air resistance for a levitating object would be very small. As an example you could find some video of people pulling big ships (and water resistance is much bigger).
Yeah, from a physics standpoint, the amount of force that Mage Hand can generate in order to move an object of light or negligible bulk isn't going to move a significant object like a creature and all of their gear very much even if we are only talking about air resistance being the only opposing force. I don't have any specific numbers to crunch here, but if we assume that it can move you at a rate of 1 inch per round that would seem a fair approximation. So that would mean 60 rounds to move 5 feet. So 6 minutes (I think). How long does levitate last? Jump might be a better option.
Which one, by the way? It still wouldn't be anywhere close to Fly or Air Walk.
Yup. You are trying to combine two lower level spells to duplicate the effects of a higher level spell.
It isn't a complete duplication. But it would be for things like getting across a chasm or up to an area that is out of reach. Things where casting fly, air walk, dimension door, or even water walk would be useful.
I don't think it would be overly broken to allow it. But I can certainly see why it would not be taken kindly by a GM that has set up a scenario that you are trying to gimmick your way past.
The world itself doesn't have a bulk amount defined. So I can consider it to be of light bulk. It is floating weightless in space after all. So therefore I can grab hold of the world and move it under me. [/troll]
Remember, we can't see the Sun or Moon based on penalties via Distance, so...yeah!
The world itself doesn't have a bulk amount defined. So I can consider it to be of light bulk. It is floating weightless in space after all. So therefore I can grab hold of the world and move it under me. [/troll]Remember, we can't see the Sun or Moon based on penalties via Distance, so...yeah!
That was in 1st edition. They do not have a flat penalty depending on distance in 2nd edition. They do have things like fog that limit the distance you can see.
Conditions limiting visibility to about a mile are called mist, and those that do so to about 3 miles are called haze.
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Back on topic, this is not a rules question. The rules are clear that this would not work.
Myself, it'd be a no: you are never an "unattended object". The Forceful Push feat, as was already mentioned, is the only way it could work and that runs into the issue of trying to 'hit yourself' with a spell as there isn't a mechanism for opting to intentionally fail a spell DC.
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Levitate has some small force keeping you in the vertical column you are currently in, otherwise you would drift around on the air currents in the vicinity.
New silly suggestion- don't move yourself with mage hand, but use the mage hand to bring footholds that you kick off of.
I would include an acrobatics check to use this in any constructive manner, rather than just ramming yourself into the nearest wall.
New silly suggestion- don't move yourself with mage hand, but use the mage hand to bring footholds that you kick off of.
I'm not sure that I am fully understanding the suggestion. Maybe a more concrete example would be in order.
The best interpretation that I can come up with from what you have already given is that you are levitating out of reach of any stable terrain features, so you want to use Mage Hand to bring an item close enough to you that you can push off from it and move yourself by doing so.
The problem with doing that is the difference in mass. At the highest level, Mage Hand can only move an object of 2 bulk. Kicking or throwing a free-floating object of 2 bulk is not going to provide you with much acceleration. The amount of force generated that would be pushing you is related to the difference in mass between you and the object, and to the velocity with which the object is thrown. And you don't throw things that fast.
I would not allow it as a standard tactic.
I might allow it as some desperate clever way to overcome an obstacle in a tough circumstance.
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This reminds me of a character setup we used in Starfinder.
Our groups technomancer had an inflatable rubber ball attached her vacc-suit on a cord. While she was in zero-G, she would use Mage Hand to push the ball which would tug her along.
We thought it was a very inventive way to propel herself while in space, especially since we were 3rd level when it came up, so we let it happen.