D&D 5E A Rock

[Iry]

Born from a discussion amongst friends, would you consider a rock to be an improvised weapon or a simple weapon?

If the latter, would you rule differently depending on the size of the rock? Sling stone vs club sized vs stone giant rock for example.

 

[Tonguez]

Depends I’d consider a random rock to be improvised on the basis that its not balanced for throwing, or hitting things with.

However I’d allow a character to use a polished ‘balanced’ throwing rock as a simple weapon, especially if they had a culture/habit of rock throwing (like giants hurling boulders or halflings skipping stones)

 

[Li Shenron]

Definitely improvised.

I would not consider anything a non-improvised weapon unless it was specifically manufactured to be used as a weapon. I would treat even a large and sharp kitchen knife as improvised.

Edit: now that I think about it, I would also treat ceremonial weapons as improvised.

 

[Shiroiken]

I'd consider it an improvised weapon. It's definitely not designed as a weapon, but could be used as one. As for damage, I'd use the standard rules: if you can use it with only one hand, it's 1d4, but a larger one would be 1d6.

 

[Coroc]

A sling stone is pretty small, unless propelled it would require excellent skill in throwing to do 1d4 in damage.

If you would take roughly round shaped, half a fist sized stones weighing approx. 0,2 kg each then it might be feasible to consider them standard weapons, I mean most clubs are an improvised weapons either if you rule it the other way.

Compromise: Either make them improvised weapons or standard weapons doing 1d2 or so.

 

[Minigiant]

I'd say a rock is a improvised weapon unless you

1. Modify it to work like a simple weapon
2. Have proficiency in a game or sport that involves throwing rocks
3. Have a background feature based on a community or culture of rock throwing.
4. Have proficiency in a weapon that uses rocks as ammunition and use it as the rock delivery method.

 

[Oofta]

Improvised. Unless it's unusually shaped and is similar to a simple weapon such as a broken off stalagmite being used as a club.

 

[Charlaquin]

I'd consider it an improvised weapon. It's definitely not designed as a weapon, but could be used as one. As for damage, I'd use the standard rules: if you can use it with only one hand, it's 1d4, but a larger one would be 1d6.

That’s not the standard rule for improvised weapon damage. It’s a good rule, it’s the one I use, but it’s not the standard rule.

By the standard rule, the distinction between improvised and simple weapon only really matters if you have some feature (like the tavern brawler feat for example) that benefits or otherwise cares about improvised weapons.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Born from a discussion amongst friends, would you consider a rock to be an improvised weapon or a simple weapon?

If the latter, would you rule differently depending on the size of the rock? Sling stone vs club sized vs stone giant rock for example.

Like others, improvised.

For size, as the DM I would rule a small stone would do no appreciable damage (the sling is what propels the stone enough to do damage). At least something the size of a large apple or grapefruit, basically filling your hand, for the 1d4 damage. Unless the character is strong enough (giant strength) to life a giant-size rock, I would keep the damage at 1d4. For super-strong characters with giant-size rocks, I would scale the damage to 2d4 or even 3d4, but at that point we are talking more a boulder than a rock.

 

[Dausuul]

Depends I’d consider a random rock to be improvised on the basis that its not balanced for throwing, or hitting things with.

However I’d allow a character to use a polished ‘balanced’ throwing rock as a simple weapon, especially if they had a culture/habit of rock throwing (like giants hurling boulders or halflings skipping stones)

Yup, this exactly. If you just grab a rock off the ground, that's improvised. If you take a little time to pick one that's suited for throwing, I'd call it a simple weapon doing 1d4 with a range of maybe 10/30. (I wouldn't make it less than 1d4, since that is standard improvised weapon damage; the short range is what makes it inferior to a sling or even a thrown dagger.)