My level 13 party will soon venture into the desert where they will encounter various desert-themed creatuers. Eventually I also hope to do a pyramid dungeon crawl here. I found it very fitting to place a Carpet of Flying in the end-of-dungeon loot.
They will most likely be either level 14 or 15 when they reach that point.
I was wondering, if any of you have experience or tips for things to keep in mind when giving your PC's an item like that. I have seen in multiple places that people think it might completely break the game, but i wanted to see what you guy's experience with that is.
Please let me know any and all thoughts you have about this, Thanks!
Given the weight limits, I don't think it's that much of an issue, although it will certainly make some things much easier - like traversing a chasm or exploring things vertically much quicker.
However, given the level your characters are at, I think it seems like quite an appropriate item to enhance their capabilities. Obviously, if they have had no flying abilities at all before, it might become a big change in how the group approaches some challenges.
I currently have a PC with a Broom of Flying and another with Winged Boots, and by all the doomsayers in here my game should have crashed long ago.
In my experience, these items aren't useful/used as frequently as some would suggest. There are limitations on weight, speed, and number of passengers that these items will allow for. Stick to those allowances, and you will likely steer your players away from methods of abusing them. Players also tend to forget that the PCs have the abilities and items in their inventory. At times, I've reminded my players that they have items that might be useful to aid in their problem solving arsenal.
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“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
I’d think it wouldn’t be a big deal. At level 15 they have access to 8th level spells. At level.14, they can be teleporting if they want. Letting them fly more easily is pretty reasonable.
As others have said, there’s weight to consider. And beyond that, there’s falling to worry about. Probably it won’t kill them at that level, but it will still hurt.
My PCs are level 11. At level 10 they got rewarded with a Huge sized spirit-falcon that carries the whole party around. Giving your party easy group flight does mean that they'll no longer be challenged by a lot of terrain issues (e.g. tonight they're likely to want to ascend a mountain, and can just fly up it) but once they reach level 10+ they really shouldn't be troubled by things like climbing up a steep hill, crossing a river etc. Those are lowbie party issues.
I mean, if a Carpet of Flying is a problem how on earth do you deal with Teleport?
Note, a smaller carpet has more potential for abuse than a larger one. None of them require attunement.
The smallest is 3x5, fitting in one square, only carries one person but moves at 80 ft. So now it is very useful in combat, particularly for a ranged attacker (Arrow/Bolt/Spells). Even at 10th level, moving at 80 ft is a huge benefit.
The larger one takes up two squares, can carry 4 people of weight and only moves at 30 ft. That is not abusive at all once you hit 10th level.
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Dear Dungeon Masters,
My level 13 party will soon venture into the desert where they will encounter various desert-themed creatuers. Eventually I also hope to do a pyramid dungeon crawl here. I found it very fitting to place a Carpet of Flying in the end-of-dungeon loot.
They will most likely be either level 14 or 15 when they reach that point.
I was wondering, if any of you have experience or tips for things to keep in mind when giving your PC's an item like that. I have seen in multiple places that people think it might completely break the game, but i wanted to see what you guy's experience with that is.
Please let me know any and all thoughts you have about this,
Thanks!
Given the weight limits, I don't think it's that much of an issue, although it will certainly make some things much easier - like traversing a chasm or exploring things vertically much quicker.
However, given the level your characters are at, I think it seems like quite an appropriate item to enhance their capabilities. Obviously, if they have had no flying abilities at all before, it might become a big change in how the group approaches some challenges.
I currently have a PC with a Broom of Flying and another with Winged Boots, and by all the doomsayers in here my game should have crashed long ago.
In my experience, these items aren't useful/used as frequently as some would suggest. There are limitations on weight, speed, and number of passengers that these items will allow for. Stick to those allowances, and you will likely steer your players away from methods of abusing them. Players also tend to forget that the PCs have the abilities and items in their inventory. At times, I've reminded my players that they have items that might be useful to aid in their problem solving arsenal.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
I’d think it wouldn’t be a big deal. At level 15 they have access to 8th level spells. At level.14, they can be teleporting if they want. Letting them fly more easily is pretty reasonable.
As others have said, there’s weight to consider. And beyond that, there’s falling to worry about. Probably it won’t kill them at that level, but it will still hurt.
My PCs are level 11. At level 10 they got rewarded with a Huge sized spirit-falcon that carries the whole party around. Giving your party easy group flight does mean that they'll no longer be challenged by a lot of terrain issues (e.g. tonight they're likely to want to ascend a mountain, and can just fly up it) but once they reach level 10+ they really shouldn't be troubled by things like climbing up a steep hill, crossing a river etc. Those are lowbie party issues.
I mean, if a Carpet of Flying is a problem how on earth do you deal with Teleport?
Note, a smaller carpet has more potential for abuse than a larger one. None of them require attunement.
The smallest is 3x5, fitting in one square, only carries one person but moves at 80 ft. So now it is very useful in combat, particularly for a ranged attacker (Arrow/Bolt/Spells). Even at 10th level, moving at 80 ft is a huge benefit.
The larger one takes up two squares, can carry 4 people of weight and only moves at 30 ft. That is not abusive at all once you hit 10th level.