Hand Crossbow vs. Sling

[Mengu]

Many powers work with crossbows and not slings. Ditto feats.

Many? There is one feat that's specific to crossbows. There are no powers with a crossbow, that don't also work with a sling. One is not many.

 

[Mort_Q]

You could in theory carry the hand crossbow loaded, so you don't need a free hand for the first attack.

 

[ShinRyuuBR]

Many powers work with crossbows and not slings.

Really? Please name one.

 

[Mort_Q]

Really? Please name one.

Beware the Ninjas!

 

[Old Gumphrey]

From what I've seen, the point of the sling is to allow 1st-level characters to buy a ranged weapon if they only have 5 gold left from spending on other, more important items.

After that, the hand crossbow is generally superior, because of previously mentioned points. If you think those points are irrelevant, then keep your dumb sling.

 

[babinro]

The paragon feat Steady Shooter is about the only reason I can see wanting a crossbow over the sling. +3 damage is pretty significant and the 'drawback' isn't that bad.

Still, neither is worth using unless you have no alternative.

 

[blargney the second]

You can't hold a sling sideways to shoot.
-blarg

 

[Rith the Wanderer]

You can't hold a sling sideways to shoot.
-blarg

Wow, I actually laughed out loud when I read this. +10 Points to you.

 

[DM_Blake]

In 3e, you needed a feat to use a hand crossbow, and even then it was pretty much identical to a sling. The only difference is that hand crossbows in 3e crit on 19-20.

Hand crossbows were quite lame in 1e/2e, as well, IIRC.

I think the designers of every edition actually hate hand crossbows, since I can't remember an edition where they haven't sucked.

-O

Earth's real history hates them too.

In fact, they're virtually invisible in any historical record.

It seems that the technology of engineering a crossbow that small, with a decent, reliable trigger mechanism, that was still powerful enough to be worth using in a life-or-death situation, was superceded by the rapid spread of firearm technology.

 

[Goumindong]

Many? There is one feat that's specific to crossbows. There are no powers with a crossbow, that don't also work with a sling. One is not many.

I was under the impression the rogue powers didn't work with slings. My mistake.