Caltrops as sling "stone"

[Wippit Guud]

Would it work, and how much damage you think they'd do?

 

[hammymchamham]

sling does 1d4 blug. damage. using a caltrap sounds like 1d4 piercing.

 

[Drawmack]

Wouldn't the caltrop slice up the sling while you were spinning it around? Also aren't caltrops a lot heavier then sling stones?

But what if you loaded a catapult with about 10,000 caltrops and shot it at the aproaching army?

 

[Pax]

Caltrops (I own one, made by a blacksmith friend-of-a-friend) don't have the mass to do appreciable damage as sling or catapult ammunition.

Using the catapult to SPREAD caltrops across areas of the ground would be creative, though.

Next, regardless of damage ... caltrops are nowhere NEAR balanced properly for use as an accurate projectile.

No, they wouldn't cut a sling up (whey're not that sharp) ... it's the TIPS that're spike-sharp, they work like a d4 ... ever stepped on a mess of d4's in bare feet? Now picture them made of steel, two inches high off the ground, with spearpoint-sharp tips. However, the caltrop might get fouled in the sling's CORD, causing it to go in a wildly WRONG direction.

...

I wouldn't allow a sling to be used to "fire" a caltrop at anyone. I might allow a size-large creature to "throw" a "handful" of caltrops -- enough for one 5x5 square -- using a sling, but it'd only be to get the caltrops into a distant square, not to hit any creature directly. And I'd still set the AC higher (to avoid scattering them TOO far), limit it to only the first range increment, AND, use grenade-like missile rules.

Even then, I'm not sure I'd allow it at all.

 

[Xarlen]

I'm reminded of a novel where catapults with caltrops were used against flying mounts.

And, I'm also reminded of Herculese The Legendary Journeys, where they built hte 'ULTIMATE WEAPON' which was a catapult that was loaded with leaf-like blades, and launched.

Of course, this was Hercules, the show, so I took it with a grain of salt.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Of course, this was Hercules, the show, so I took it with a grain of salt.

You got something you want to say about Hercules?



-Hyp.

 

[Xarlen]

You got something you want to say about Hercules?
.

If I do, I'd end it with saying atleast it was better then Zena.

 

[Hypersmurf]

If I do, I'd end it with saying atleast it was better then Zena.

Hey, those shows put me through university!

-Hyp.

 

[Xarlen]

Hey, I'm not saying they were BAD. Some of the episodes were rather Good. But near the end, they just started going Down Hill.

 

[Li Shenron]

I wouldn't allow a sling to be used to "fire" a caltrop at anyone. I might allow a size-large creature to "throw" a "handful" of caltrops -- enough for one 5x5 square -- using a sling, but it'd only be to get the caltrops into a distant square, not to hit any creature directly. And I'd still set the AC higher (to avoid scattering them TOO far), limit it to only the first range increment, AND, use grenade-like missile rules.

Even then, I'm not sure I'd allow it at all.

I agree on your ideas