Load Affecting Flying Creatures

[doktorstick]

Howdy. I don't have my materials with me, so please excuse this post if it is covered in the core books and easily referenced.

How does load affect flying creatures? IIR, the Monster Manual mentions carrying capacities of flying creatures, especially those that can be mounts. Does this affect their flight speed or maneuverability at all? Thanks.

/ds

 

[Dr. Zoom]

The MM says that creatures with a fly speed can fly at the listed speed with up to a medium load. It does not say what happens with a heavy load. I would assume something similar to the fly spell and heavy armor (2/3 speed).

 

[Conaill]

Medium load sounds way too much actually. My alchemist is looking for a familiar right now. Let's look at the bat: STR 1, but it's Diminutive, so load is only 1/4... medium load is up to 1.5 lb. Alchemist's Fire weighs 1 1/4 lb. Can you say "air support"?

Now, a bat is about the wimpiest flying critter you can think off... do you really think it's plausible to see one flying around with a flask of alchemist's fire in it's tiny little claws without any impared flight speed?

More reasonably, I would say at most Light load or even half Light load to avoid any penalties. That means you could still have a hawk or owl (Light: 10lb) carrying a tanglefoot bag (4lb), but the paladin may have to look for some mithral equipment to fly around on his pegasus mount (STR 19, Large, so Light load is 232 lb).

 

[Sir Hawkeye]

I think that Masters of the Wild changed that to maximum light load. The rule is all or nothing, IIRC. Up to light load: Full flight. Medium load: no flight.

A bit simplistic, really.