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Flying Through Water

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
MasterNamer
May 13, 2015 6:51:11 Would a magical fly speed allow a character to move through water? Both water and air have similar properties in terms of objects moving through them, but have a clear density difference. Aside from the issue of breathing would something like a fly speed from the fly spell allow a character to superman through water?
#2
OoftaMeg
May 13, 2015 8:17:20
It's not covered by any rule that I know of, but I would rule that someone "flying" through water would fly at half speed to account for the density of the water.

You are effectively swimming with no need for an athletics check.

#3
Synjin
May 13, 2015 8:28:55
As an aside...anyone ever rule that Freedom of Movement, when used underwater, negates all of the water's friction and density, therefore a PC would fall to the bottom of the sea/lake/river as if falling from the sky?

#4
jaelis
May 13, 2015 8:42:55
OoftaMeg wrote:
(Reply to #4)
OoftaMeg

jaelis wrote:
#6
jaelis
May 13, 2015 9:27:31
Right, I'd require a check for any kind of movement if circumstance dictated. I don't think I would treat "swimming using your flying speed" and "swimming using your walking speed" any different in that regard.

#7
Synjin
May 13, 2015 9:46:43
PHB #182

Climbing , Swimming , and Crawling
While climbing or swimming, each foot of movement
costs 1 extra foot (2 extra feet in difficult terrain), unless
a creature has a climbing or swimming speed. At the
DM’s option, climbing a slippery vertical surface or
one with few handholds requires a successful Strength
(Athletics) check. Similarly, gaining any distance in
rough water might require a successful Strength
(Athletics) check.

#8
Filksinger
May 14, 2015 2:00:02
If it helps, "Flying at half speed through water" has precedence in earlier editions of D&D - though it was not dealt with in the main books. The 3.0 version of Manual of the Planes (which also applied to 3.5 since they didn't write a 3.5 version) had this in the entry on Movement for the Elemental Plane Of Water (p.77). In addition to being at half speed you also lost one maneuverability grade.