Flyby Attack [Archive] - Wizards Community

Flyby Attack [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
nubman76
10-09-07, 12:44 PM How does flyby attack work? Do people who do melee a majority of the time do they ever get to attack things with this ability. Or can you only attack something with flyby attack with ranged? I'm just wondering on the specifics about this ability cause i think a player is using incorrectly he is a harpy and when he uses it he just says he gets to attack the enemy with melee cause he flies by and then goes back in the air after the attack. Is there no attack of opportunity for the defender from the harpy flying in at him, attacking, and becoming airborne and moving away again. I am not real familiar with this kind of stuff. So any help to clarify the usage of this ability and what defenders can/cannot do against it.
Obsidianjaerc
10-09-07, 12:53 PM It functions just like an aerial Spring Attack (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#springAttack)
ravenshrike
10-09-07, 07:42 PM Except without the 5 ft requirement, but you need IFB to negate the AoOs
zenlike
10-09-07, 08:07 PM Flyby Attack is actually different than Spring Attack. It allows you a Standard Action at any time during your move, whereas Spring Attack allows you to make only an Attack Action.

Also, the SRD doesn't mention anything about ignoring AoO with Flyby Attack.

The character would provoke an AoO when they fly away (unless the target has reach, in which case they would provoke an AoO when they fly in to attack).
Obsidianjaerc
10-09-07, 09:52 PM Er... quite right. Let this be a lesson. Never post within the first 20 minutes of being sentient.
Doctor_Grumpus
10-14-07, 11:54 PM You have the AoOs, as well as readied actions to taken care of the flyby attacking harpy.

If you want to get really mean, ready a grapple action. They should be pretty easy to take down, given their unamazing strength.
runestar
10-15-07, 12:04 AM Depends. Some monsters with flight, such as dragons, tend to have excellent range. You aren't going to be able to grapple them if they stay out of your reach, as might be the case for a dragon using flyby attack to get into a more advantageous position to use its breath weapon for example.

I would never have a harpy enter melee combat anyways.:P
Doctor_Grumpus
10-15-07, 11:56 AM OK, I agree it's all based on the situation. But I wasn't talking about a dragon's ranged attack, I was referring to a harpy's melee attack using the flyby attack feat, as originally posted.

And as for grappling a dragon? I only do it on the old ones: The young ones are just too darn strong. You have to wait until they get old and frail. Everyone knows that!

(Do I really need to insert these --> :rolleyes: Eh...just to be safe...)
Empirate
10-15-07, 12:17 PM You should also keep in mind the maneuverability of the harpy in question, as well as how much downward movement, upward movement, and turning take out of its flying movement-per-round allotment. I'm currently DMing for a flying character, too, and you have to be careful there. It can easily happen to you that you simply don't have enough move left to pull out again after the attack.
jaelis
10-15-07, 12:38 PM I think Flyby Attack has been pretty well explained: it lets you perform any standard action in the middle of your move. Pretty flexible, but doesn't help with AoOs.

Improved Flyby Attack negates the attacks of opportunity your your target if you use Flyby to make a melee attack.

Also, there is nothing to prevent a flying creature from using plain old Spring Attack.
1 ton ghost
10-16-07, 02:25 AM in a nutshell,

Spring Attack in x, y, and z axis, provokes attacks of opportunity but contingent on flight maneuverability.

strategies vs...

-typically overcome w/ a reach weapon or natural reach of said creature
-readied action to interupt w/in intercept zone considering attacking reach
-tanglefoot bag grounds often (paticularly useful at higher altitudes forcing crash, however, range increment is hectic), any entangling FX really
-hold person/monster
-concealment, forces them into smoke/fog/etc. to find quarry
-weather; high wind and the like hamper this

oh, related: is there a current ruling on dmg and flight? that is, i thought there was an old rule stipulating a threshold on HP loss of a creature and it no longer being able to fly. thought it was like 1/2 HP or less, no fly.
Someone
10-16-07, 01:15 PM oh, related: is there a current ruling on dmg and flight? that is, i thought there was an old rule stipulating a threshold on HP loss of a creature and it no longer being able to fly. thought it was like 1/2 HP or less, no fly.I don't think so, the current hp system leaves you fully functional until you hit 0. But yeah, I kinda vaguely remember an old rule like that myself...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
nubman76 10-09-07, 12:44 PM	How does flyby attack work? Do people who do melee a majority of the time do they ever get to attack things with this ability. Or can you only attack something with flyby attack with ranged? I'm just wondering on the specifics about this ability cause i think a player is using incorrectly he is a harpy and when he uses it he just says he gets to attack the enemy with melee cause he flies by and then goes back in the air after the attack. Is there no attack of opportunity for the defender from the harpy flying in at him, attacking, and becoming airborne and moving away again. I am not real familiar with this kind of stuff. So any help to clarify the usage of this ability and what defenders can/cannot do against it.
Obsidianjaerc 10-09-07, 12:53 PM	It functions just like an aerial Spring Attack (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#springAttack)
ravenshrike 10-09-07, 07:42 PM	Except without the 5 ft requirement, but you need IFB to negate the AoOs
zenlike 10-09-07, 08:07 PM	Flyby Attack is actually different than Spring Attack. It allows you a Standard Action at any time during your move, whereas Spring Attack allows you to make only an Attack Action. Also, the SRD doesn't mention anything about ignoring AoO with Flyby Attack. The character would provoke an AoO when they fly away (unless the target has reach, in which case they would provoke an AoO when they fly in to attack).
Obsidianjaerc 10-09-07, 09:52 PM	Er... quite right. Let this be a lesson. Never post within the first 20 minutes of being sentient.
Doctor_Grumpus 10-14-07, 11:54 PM	You have the AoOs, as well as readied actions to taken care of the flyby attacking harpy. If you want to get really mean, ready a grapple action. They should be pretty easy to take down, given their unamazing strength.
runestar 10-15-07, 12:04 AM	Depends. Some monsters with flight, such as dragons, tend to have excellent range. You aren't going to be able to grapple them if they stay out of your reach, as might be the case for a dragon using flyby attack to get into a more advantageous position to use its breath weapon for example. I would never have a harpy enter melee combat anyways.:P
Doctor_Grumpus 10-15-07, 11:56 AM	OK, I agree it's all based on the situation. But I wasn't talking about a dragon's ranged attack, I was referring to a harpy's melee attack using the flyby attack feat, as originally posted. And as for grappling a dragon? I only do it on the old ones: The young ones are just too darn strong. You have to wait until they get old and frail. Everyone knows that! (Do I really need to insert these --> :rolleyes: Eh...just to be safe...)
Empirate 10-15-07, 12:17 PM	You should also keep in mind the maneuverability of the harpy in question, as well as how much downward movement, upward movement, and turning take out of its flying movement-per-round allotment. I'm currently DMing for a flying character, too, and you have to be careful there. It can easily happen to you that you simply don't have enough move left to pull out again after the attack.
jaelis 10-15-07, 12:38 PM	I think Flyby Attack has been pretty well explained: it lets you perform any standard action in the middle of your move. Pretty flexible, but doesn't help with AoOs. Improved Flyby Attack negates the attacks of opportunity your your target if you use Flyby to make a melee attack. Also, there is nothing to prevent a flying creature from using plain old Spring Attack.
1 ton ghost 10-16-07, 02:25 AM	in a nutshell, Spring Attack in x, y, and z axis, provokes attacks of opportunity but contingent on flight maneuverability. strategies vs... -typically overcome w/ a reach weapon or natural reach of said creature -readied action to interupt w/in intercept zone considering attacking reach -tanglefoot bag grounds often (paticularly useful at higher altitudes forcing crash, however, range increment is hectic), any entangling FX really -hold person/monster -concealment, forces them into smoke/fog/etc. to find quarry -weather; high wind and the like hamper this oh, related: is there a current ruling on dmg and flight? that is, i thought there was an old rule stipulating a threshold on HP loss of a creature and it no longer being able to fly. thought it was like 1/2 HP or less, no fly.
Someone 10-16-07, 01:15 PM	oh, related: is there a current ruling on dmg and flight? that is, i thought there was an old rule stipulating a threshold on HP loss of a creature and it no longer being able to fly. thought it was like 1/2 HP or less, no fly.I don't think so, the current hp system leaves you fully functional until you hit 0. But yeah, I kinda vaguely remember an old rule like that myself...