Aerial Movement
Weather Conditions
* Hurricanes occur only if the previous day's weather was gale. If not, treat the result as a gale.
| 2d6 Roll | Spring/Fall | Summer | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Becalmed | Becalmed | Becalmed |
| 3 | Becalmed | Becalmed | Light breeze |
| 4 | Light breeze | Becalmed | Light breeze |
| 5 | Favorable | Light breeze | Favorable |
| 6 | Favorable | Light breeze | Strong winds |
| 7 | Strong winds | Favorable | Strong winds |
| 8 | Storm | Favorable | Storm |
| 9 | Storm | Strong winds | Storm |
| 10 | Gale | Storm | Gale |
| 11 | Gale | Gale | Gale |
| 12 | Hurricane* | Hurricane* | Hurricane* |
Aerial Movement Modifiers
| Condition | Modifier |
|---|---|
| Hurricane | Not possible |
| Gale | x1/4 |
| Storm | x1/4 |
| Rain or snow | x1/2 |
| Strong winds | x1/2 |
Aerial movement rates are handled according to the normal movement rules, with clear sky being treated as clear terrain. A detailed system of aerial movement during the round can be found in Chapter 9: Combat. The only special consideration that must be given to aerial movement is the weather condition. Weather is, for al practical purposes, the terrain of the sky.
As with sea movement, the weather for any particular occasion can be chosen by the DM or determined randomly. If determined randomly, the DM should first roll a wind condition (as found on the Weather Conditions table).
Next, the DM rolls 1d6 to determine precipitation (although storms and hurricanes have automatic precipitation). During summer and winter, a 6 on the die indicates rain or snow. In spring and fall, a 5 or 6 is rain. Clearly the DM must adjust this according to the terrain of the region. There is little need to make precipitation checks when flying over a desert, for example.
Be aware that this is only a very simple method for determining the weather, and judgment should still be used. The effects of weather on aerial movement can be found on the Aerial Movement Modifiers table.
These modifiers are cumulative. Thus strong winds and rain are the equivalent of a storm, while a gale with rain is worse than a storm. Flight during a hurricane is just about impossible without some type of magical protection.
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