Sling and STR bonuses

[Kae'Yoss]

I just made a sling for the monk character in my game....


I call it the Halfling War Sling.

First off it's a masterwork weapon so it's +1 to hit.

Second, it is designed so that the force of the users strength is added to the damage. This one was tailor made for the half-dragon(gold)/halfling monk who was instrumental in defending the town and the island from an army of evil invaders. His STR bonus is +5 so this "mighty" sling is +5 to damage.

Why not just call it Masterwork Mighty Sling?

I would give halflings their bonus to slings, too.

BTW, WotC has also created a Halfling Warsling. They are an exotic weapon with crit x4, and do 1d6 damage if skiprocks are used as ammunition (if you're proficient with both, you can also make them ricochet with the sling). There's even a PrC for that weapon combo.

 

[cptg1481]

Why not just call it Masterwork Mighty Sling?

I would give halflings their bonus to slings, too.

BTW, WotC has also created a Halfling Warsling. They are an exotic weapon with crit x4, and do 1d6 damage if skiprocks are used as ammunition (if you're proficient with both, you can also make them ricochet with the sling). There's even a PrC for that weapon combo.

Cool, thanks I guess at some point its all been done before...I often find something I've "made-up" later in a magazine, book or on line. I guess as a group we temd to think through problems the same way, I mean applying the same thought processes to the game and its enhancements.

Anyway, where is this Halfling Warsling? I'll go ahead and give my player the good news about the critical and 1d6 damage thing. He'll be pleased.

 

[SevenSir]

The force of a blow from a sling stone comes more from the speed of the swing and the size/shape of the stone rather than the strength of the weilder. I would not allow a STR bonus, but might allow for a halfling attack bonus as a house rule.

The speed of the swing come from the user's strength. Stronger people can swing the sling faster. It's reasonable to apply a STR bonus to damage.

Second, it is designed so that the force of the users strength is added to the damage.

How the heck does it do that? Is it somehow capable of swinging around faster, or what? A sling is two strips of leather with a pouchlike flap between them. There's not a whole lot you can do to a sling to help it take advantage of a user's strength. Masterwork is allowable (better material, a more consistent swing), but I can't imagine how a even master craftsman could manipulate such a simple design for a change like adding Mighty.

What makes your Halfling War Sling different enough to give it your STR bonus?

I feel that DM's need to decide whether to allow a STR bonus or not for slings. Either they all do or they all don't. I'd allow it if one of my players asked, but I can see the reasoning for not allowing it. Maybe you've decided that a high strength, usually good for breaking doors and smashing stuff with a hammer, can't just be applied to such a dexterity-intensive activity as using a sling.

 

[Painfully]

F = M x A

It doesn't get any simpler than that. I will agree that strength can aid in the speed of a sling, but I have seen Palestinian kids that have used slings all their lives hit targets at distance with great accuracy. I guarantee if Arnold Schwartzenager learned to use a sling he wouldn't do much better.

I suppose it's in the wrist more than the entire body. A greater strength will allow you to use heavier stones. In that case, just increase the damage die of the sling stone or make it +1 for attack/damage.

I'd love to see giants that use bowling ball sized sling stones.

 

[hong]

BTW, WotC has also created a Halfling Warsling.

A sling that shoots halflings?


Hong "I'll take that, Bob!" Ooi

 

[Darklone]

A sling that shoots halflings?

Hong "I'll take that, Bob!" Ooi

 

[Kae'Yoss]

A sling that shoots halflings?


Hong "I'll take that, Bob!" Ooi

Don't let our party druid hear that! He's already used by halfling parents as a threat to make children do what they're told. "You're home at sundown, listen? Or Aramil will lead you into the woods, and all we find of you is a stain...."

Anyway, where is this Halfling Warsling? I'll go ahead and give my player the good news about the critical and 1d6 damage thing. He'll be pleased.

It's in Races of Faerûn. It's d6 only if you use halfling skiprocks, which are also described in RoF, and also in Sword and Fist. With normal bullets, it's only d4. If you're proficient with both the warsling and the skiprocks (both exotic weapons), you can make the skiprocks skip even when shot from the sling.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

I know it's not quite a rules source, but every 2e video game I ever played, from the original Pool of Radiance to Baldur's Gate 2 gae a strength bonus to sling damage. I would allow it, since you first spin the sling, then shoot your arm forward in the release, kind of like throwing a baseball, except its more of a wrist motion.

Anyway. My 2 coppers.

 

[Sian]

But is the 3.5 Halfling going to get familiarity in either the skiprock or the warsling? hmmmmmm.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

But is the 3.5 Halfling going to get familiarity in either the skiprock or the warsling? hmmmmmm.

If they put those weapons into the core rules, that could be possible.