Stephen White's page

Actually, the bat is an even worse option than it appears to be.

Page 169 of the core rulebook:
"A medium or heavy load counts as medium or heavy armor for the purpose of abilities or skills that are restricted by armor."

Page 162 of the core rulebook:
"Flying mounts can't fly in medium or heavy barding."

I've been reading up on this on the message boards, and the consensus seems to be that medium/heavy loads have the penalties of the respective armour but are not armour, so do not count as coming under the barding flying retrictions.

Also is it just me or is giant vulture all around better?

Apart fron the Blindsense, appears to me to be so. The starting Strength of 9 makes a light load max of 30lb, less than the weight of a goblin so going straight to at least a medium load. I still want a bat for the story element, though.

Sorry, please ignore me. Just noticed the light load limit was made obsolete in Pathfinder.

Has anybody else tried a Goblin Alchemist Winged Marauder? As the Dire Bat is meant to be a mount/animal companion, I'm having problems with the strength 9 meaning a light load of up to 30lb (to be able to fly). This is less than the weight of my goblin, even naked. Am I missing something?