How does animal actions with a Ranger work if it is flying?

[CyberThread]

Hawks and the like don't have the ability to float in the same location. If the rules say that an animal can only move when given instruction by the ranger, and it takes up the rangers action space. How does a bird in midflight get handled, if the ranger gives it no instructions ?

[cobaltstarfire]

I'd say a bird would hover, find a safe place to land nearby, or circle within their 5 foot square .

There are plenty of birds that are able to hover IRL, just not for a really long time since it's really hard work. Birds like Kestrels and Terns can "hover" by flying against the wind and controlling their speed such that they stay in place. Smaller birds can hover without flying against the wind, but not for a long time.

I guess if the bird hovered it would only be able to do so for a turn or so before having to be commanded or needing to land.

[Shadow]

How does a bird in midflight get handled?
It doesn't.
Midflight means the flight hasn't ended, which means it continues the flight or lands next round.
Remember, everyone's actions in a round happen simultaneously. The turns only exist to give the chaos of combat a bit of order for game purposes.
It doesn't hover in place. It continues its movement on the next round or it lands somewhere.

[CyberThread]

How does a bird in midflight get handled?
It doesn't.
Midflight means the flight hasn't ended, which means it continues the flight or lands next round.
Remember, everyone's actions in a round happen simultaneously. The turns only exist to give the chaos of combat a bit of order for game purposes.
It doesn't hover in place. It continues its movement on the next round or it lands somewhere.


So if something is moving 90ft and takes 3 turns to get to the location tje ranger can do nothing for 3 turns?

[cobaltstarfire]

Actually checking on the rules directly.

"On your turn, you can verbally command the beast where to move (no action required by you)."

So you can tell the bird where to go, and still also move yourself, and take an action.

[CyberThread]

Actually checking on the rules directly.

"On your turn, you can verbally command the beast where to move (no action required by you)."

So you can tell the bird where to go, and still also move yourself, and take an action.



It just can't attack?

[Shadow]

It just can't attack?

Correct.
And that's a balance thing, which is why it takes one of your attacks. For those two entire levels between when you get the companion and when you get extra attack, the beast's attack is almost invariably better than your own anyway (due to rider effects), so there is really nothing to complain about as far as I'm concerned.