Mage hand: can it fly?

[lukelightning]

You can move mage hand 5 squares as a minor action... but can you move it UP? It floats around, right?

 

[Syrsuro]

Why not? Subject to a range of 5, of course.

Carl

 

[doctorhook]

You can move mage hand 5 squares as a minor action... but can you move it UP? It floats around, right?

I can't see why not. I've never imagined Mage Hand as "Thing" from the Addams' Family, or at least, not as an earthbound "Thing", like on the show.

If it's going to be crawling around, it's gonna need at least twice the range, and a climb speed in order to ever get used for anything other than creeping NPCs out, or tickling prone foes.

In short: I'm with the guy above. Mage Hand can move 5 squares, straight up!

 

[Falling Icicle]

It says that the hand floats, so I don't see why it shouldn't be able to move up into the air (up to 5 squares).

 

[Larrin]

It is pretty reasonable to allow it to fly. in order to pick things up, etc, its already changing its elevation slightly. Its perfectly reasonable

However: The power specifically states "you may move it 5 squares as a move action", and there are several other powers with identicle wording (flaming orb for example, stinking cloud too i think) bear in mind if you allow mage hand to "fly" you are opening the door to all of these powers to fly. I'm not convinced that is intended, but i'd have to see it in play before i could say wether or not its a bad thing.

I think that in the most restrictive sense, no it isn't supposed to fly, it says move, and move is used mostly for ground movement, fly is for 3D movement, and it doesn't say it can fly thus it can't. But i think anyone could poke enough holes in this intrepretation that i personally wouldn't fight players on it.

 

[Mahali]

I think a little use of common sense can allow Mage Hand to fly but not all spells that say "may move x squares". If a player argues why x spell can't when Mage Hand can, simply "reply common sense and balance" and move on.

 

[Wepwawet]

It says that the hand floats, so I don't see why it shouldn't be able to move up into the air (up to 5 squares).

What, does this power create a floating hand??
I always thought the name "Mage Hand" was a metaphor for telekinesis.
At least that's how it always will work on my games. No hands crawling around. Just the object picked floating.
And yes, up and down too.

Flaming Sphere should also fly up and around. Otherwise it would be useless against flying foes.

 

[Majushi]

along a similar train of thought:

What can a Mage Hand with a Dagger do? Could you attack with it?

Also, if the Wizard is proficient with daggers would the attack gain the proficiency bonus? I mean, it is the Wizard controlling the attack no?

 

[DracoSuave]

along a similar train of thought:

What can a Mage Hand with a Dagger do? Could you attack with it?

Also, if the Wizard is proficient with daggers would the attack gain the proficiency bonus? I mean, it is the Wizard controlling the attack no?

No, you cannot attack with a Mage Hand. 20 pounds of force isn't enough to be any sort of combat threat.

Mage Hand, however, reading it, can be a substitute for Quick Draw for Wizards, allowing the use of the power to swap items in hand with minor actions... that's nice.

 

[lukelightning]

What, does this power create a floating hand??

I believe it is a conjuration effect, so yes, it creates a magic floating hand.