>then allow him to get the
>first "attack" on you by making you fly, since it obviously
>can't be cast in combat. To my mind, this is not a "weakness"
>that is going to come into play often at all, and there're
>plenty of ways to avoid the situation entirely or prevent the
>fly.


An invoker can fly the paladin in the middle of a fight (edited):


*** BEGIN SNIP ***
441hp 273m 683mv 31500tnl>
Aginal parries your searing light.
Your searing light wounds Aginal.
Sparks fly as a beautiful silver claymore named 'Hope' strikes Aginal's shield of electricity.
Aginal fades into existence.
Aginal's burning touch devastates you!
Aginal has some small but disgusting cuts.

<411hp 273m 683mv 31500tnl>
Aginal gets a "special wand" from the girdle of endless space.
Aginal has some small but disgusting cuts.

...

<528hp 233m 683mv 31500tnl>

Aginal stops using the cube of force.
Aginal holds a "special wand" in his hands.
Aginal has some small but disgusting cuts.

<528hp 233m 683mv 31500tnl>
Aginal zaps you with a "special wand".
Your feet rise off the ground.
Aginal has some small but disgusting cuts.

...

<564hp 217m 734mv 31500tnl>
Aginal utters the words, 'bjyyzh'.
Aginal buffets you with a controlled blast of air!
Aginal's blast of air sends you flying!
On the Docks


A dockworker is busily moving cargo to and from the docking ships.
A dockworker is busily moving cargo to and from the docking ships.
You flee from combat!
Aginal's buffeting ANNIHILATES <<< you!
That really did HURT!

*** END SNIP ***


Personally, I thought that was a bit screwy when I first saw it, as well. And an invoker being able to "cast" fly in the middle of combat is in no way effective solely against paladins with champions stand. It gives an automatic "vuln" against storm giants, for example.