Level 1 Pseudo-Flight?

[ben-zayb]

So here's the deal. I was looking at some possible soulmelds to pick for the Share Soulmeld feat on one of my L1 Binder character, when I realized that the Soulspark Familiar feat essentially provides a tiny flying familiar.

So, if I were to choose a small-sized race, have the familiar grapple me, and then have it spend its actions moving me around (since we're grappled), the binder practically has his own flight method. Plus, some supernatural abilities don't require available body parts and are at will, so those should be usable by RAW correct?

Alternatively, the Summon Elemental feat using Earth Elemental to Burrow, Water Elemental to Swim, and Air Elemental to Fly should work too, correct? (assuming the character can survive without air)

[Deophaun]

The soulspark familiar is tiny with a strength of 10. How are you proposing to get your character's weight, including gear, to under 16.5 lbs?

[Curmudgeon]

The familiar has to win every grapple check, and you're not allowed by the rules to let it; you have to follow the grapple check formula.

Grappling Consequences
...
No Movement: You can’t move normally while grappling. You may, however, make an opposed grapple check to move while grappling.
...
Move: You can move half your speed (bringing all others engaged in the grapple with you) by winning an opposed grapple check. This requires a standard action, and you must beat all the other individual check results to move the grapple.
With its low grapple check modifier, that's just not going to fly. :smallwink:

[Grinner]

Alternatively, use the local militia's trebuchet and cast Feather Fall.

[ben-zayb]

The soulspark familiar is tiny with a strength of 10. How are you proposing to get your character's weight, including gear, to under 16.5 lbs?
The only rule I got related to that is for Lifting and Dragging (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/carryingCapacity.htm#LiftingAndDragging). Which can be as much as maximum load. So STR10 gives us up to 67-100 lbs. That's overhead. Merely carrying the Binder off the ground, STR10 could go just a little over double before getting staggered, placing it at around 134-199 (?)

The familiar has to win every grapple check, and you're not allowed by the rules to let it; you have to follow the grapple check formula.

With its low grapple check modifier, that's just not going to fly. :smallwink:
I was banking on the fact that the Binder character itself has only around STR 6, and is small (-4). I'd probably get heavy armor too (ACP for non-proficiency).

But that also means, no intentionally failing grapple check then? :smallsigh:

[Deophaun]

The only rule I got related to that is for Lifting and Dragging (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/carryingCapacity.htm#LiftingAndDragging). Which can be as much as maximum load. So STR10 gives us up to 67-100 lbs. That's overhead. Merely carrying the Binder off the ground, STR10 could go just a little over double before getting staggered, placing it at around 134-199
No. Stupid message length requirements.

Most creatures can’t fly if carrying a medium or heavy load. A creature’s description takes precedence over these general rules.

[ben-zayb]

No. Stupid message length requirements.

There we go. I guess I really should buy Rules Compendium. :smalltongue:

[Curmudgeon]

There we go. I guess I really should buy Rules Compendium. :smalltongue:
No, you really don't need that. The information is available online here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#fly) and here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/glossary&term=Glossary_dnd_fly&alpha=F).
Fly

A creature with a fly speed can move through the air at the indicated speed if carrying no more than a light load. You just need to know where to look.