Sling v Boomerang

[Jdvn1]

Compare the Sling to the Boomerang (a la Eberron).
They each do the same damage. The sling has a longer range. The sling has to be reloaded. The boomerang requires an attack roll to catch it (which means you can botch eventhough it's an easy DC).

They seem to be about equal--the sling might be a little better since you don't have to catch the ammo. And yet the boomerang requires an exotic feat to use. ... Why? Am I missing something? I like using campaign-specific items for flavor, but why are you making me waste a feat on a sub-par weapon?

 

[Babylon Knight]

All flavor and no nutrients

 

[Storyteller01]

I like using campaign-specific items for flavor, but why are you making me waste a feat on a sub-par weapon?

Same reason you use any Exotic Weapon feat: the weapon is difficult to use or learn.

That, and the boomerang can be enchanted with just about any enchantment available, and it returns without magical assist. To get effective use out of the sling, you have to use enchantments that can be passed on to the ammunition (a Defending sling does sound a bit odd... ).

AAANNNNNDDDDD .... A boomerang is effectively a bent club. If my interpretation is correct (and I'm looking to normal clubs and their rg inc as an example) you can bludgeon the guy next to you w/o creating AoO opportunies. The sling doesn't have this type of versatility.

 

[Corsair]

Talenta boomerange is not exotic to a Talenta halfling.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Does D&D have a disk version of a boomerang? Sorta like a sawblade?

 

[Jdvn1]

Same reason you use any Exotic Weapon feat: the weapon is difficult to use or learn.

Like what Babylon Knight said. The problem is that the flavor hurts the mechanics. Ideally, both should be balanced. It seems like they want me to not use the boomerang.

That, and the boomerang can be enchanted with just about any enchantment available, and it returns without magical assist. To get effective use out of the sling, you have to use enchantments that can be passed on to the ammunition (a Defending sling does sound a bit odd... ).

AAANNNNNDDDDD .... A boomerang is effectively a bent club. If my interpretation is correct (and I'm looking to normal clubs and their rg inc as an example) you can bludgeon the guy next to you w/o creating AoO opportunies. The sling doesn't have this type of versatility.

The problem with the returning of a boomerang is that you have to roll for it. If it came back automatically, that'd be fine. Or, possibly, if it were a simple weapon and the feat made it so that you didn't have to roll for it.

And I'm not sure where you get the impression it can be used as a club, but I imagine a lot of GMs would allow the boomerang to be used like a small club. It's still supposed to be a thrown weapon, though. Attack someone next to you via melee might be like using a bow as a club or staff.

 

[Babylon Knight]

Does D&D have a disk version of a boomerang? Sorta like a sawblade?

I believe the term is Chakram.

And I think Oriental Adventures has that, or something similar to that.

 

[Jdvn1]

I believe the term is Chakram.

And I think Oriental Adventures has that, or something similar to that.

Yeah, I think there's also one in the Complete Warrior, but I'm not sure. I remember seeing it either there or in one of the Races books.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Not in Complete Warrior, Races of Stone, or Races of the Wild. But it is in Oriental Adventures.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Makes sense that boomerangs are sub-optimal weapons to me. The only advantage they have over simply tossing a weighted stick at someone is that if you screw up and miss you might be able to retrieve your weapon easier. Historically slings have been much more frequently used in combat than boomergangs, in fact slings had been an effective and cheap weapon for thousands of years.

If you really just want to balance out the two just increase the damage of the boomerang or make it not require an exotic weapons proficiency.