Sling madness!

[Borthos]

Can you use a sling to fire off Alchemist fires or other small flasks of stuff? or even thunderstones? Stuff like that?

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I don't know if there's a rule for it, my gut reaction would be "Yes, with a -4 improvised weapon penalty." Although that makes it an extremely good idea for any attacks with said items not done at extremely close range...

EDIT: Slings also let you use rocks instead of bullets, but with a -1 to hit because they're less aerodynamic or whatever (and lower damage because rock is less dense, but that's not as relevant), so an additional -1 or more penalty on the attack roll is also probably warranted.

 

[Borthos]

So anywhere between a -2 to a -4 would be applicable under your idea? ok. I might run that under my DM

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

More like -5 or -6. The improvised weapon penalty and extra -1 or so would stack. Maybe wait and see if someone else knows any actual rulings on this by WotC before you go to your DM, though.

 

[Rakusia]

well with the flasks and what not couldnt you go to an artisan or something and have them create aerodynamic bullits out of hollow glass so it could be filled with your chouce of bad fluids.

there is some precedent to this type thing in cleric quintet when caddrly has crossbow querrels made to hold his oil of impact

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

More like -5 or -6.

That doesn't make too much sense to me; if it's an improvised weapon (as in, completely unsuitable for use as a weapon under normal circumstances), you take a -4 penalty.

Launching flasks with a sling is no worse than launching, say, baseballs with a sling, and should not be penalized more.

The rocks get a -1 penalty because, while they *are* improvised weapons, they are especially well-suited improvised weapons (and drop the normal penalty you'd otherwise suffer from -4 to -1).

So, if you're going to treat the flask as an improvised weapon, it should take the -4 penalty. It should not, on top of that, take an additional penalty for being unsuitable for use as sling ammo; you've already covered that with the improvisational penalty.

 

[frankthedm]

(as in, completely unsuitable for use as a weapon under normal circumstances), you take a -4 penalty.

The text is "not crafted to be", a far cry from "completely unsuitable" to be weapons.

Improvised Weapons
Sometimes objects not crafted to be weapons nonetheless see use in combat. Because such objects are not designed for this use, any creature that uses one in combat is considered to be nonproficient with it and takes a -4 penalty on attack rolls made with that object. To determine the size category and appropriate damage for an improvised weapon, compare its relative size and damage potential to the weapon list to find a reasonable match. An improvised weapon scores a threat on a natural roll of 20 and deals double damage on a critical hit. An improvised thrown weapon has a range increment of 10 feet.

 

[anest1s]

The text is "not crafted to be", a far cry from "completely unsuitable" to be weapons.

Improvised Weapons
Sometimes objects not crafted to be weapons nonetheless see use in combat. Because such objects are not designed for this use, any creature that uses one in combat is considered to be nonproficient with it and takes a -4 penalty on attack rolls made with that object. To determine the size category and appropriate damage for an improvised weapon, compare its relative size and damage potential to the weapon list to find a reasonable match. An improvised weapon scores a threat on a natural roll of 20 and deals double damage on a critical hit. An improvised thrown weapon has a range increment of 10 feet.

A chair isn't crafted to be a weapon too...."completely unsuitable" means it is just worse than just "not crafted to be a weapon", not a different bonus (penalty).

Well that would make sense to me, but I bet that if your DM doesn't want you to do it, then it will be -5 anywayz

 

[TanisFrey]

Look in the Arms and Equipment Guide, p. 32. It has section for Special and Superior Items. Listed are the following items for you:
Bullet, Acid 10 gp
Bullet, Flame 20 gp
Bullet, Priest's 25 gp

These are over sized hollow sling bullet that impose a -2 to hit and deal an extra 1d4 points of energy damage in addition to the base damage. The entries include DC to create and weight.

Also listed are 6 grenade-like weapons and around 20 additional alchemical items.

 

[Diamond Cross]

You realize you can't use ammo with a Holy sling.