Sling vs. Hand Crossbow?

[gribble]

Given that the most famous use of a sling ever was by a small shepherd boy against a giant, I don't think I'd make it a "heavy thrown" weapon that gets its bonus from strength.

And I think I'd give it lots of damage on a crit.

Well, I don't want to get into a debate about how "real world" that example is, but I think it's fair to say that a stronger person would be able to generate more momentum with a sling than a weaker one. I certainly think it'd be as or more important than your dexterity.

 

[Starbuck_II]

Slings should also have as long or longer range than most bows.
But D&D has never done this.

Should proably have increased range and be a military ranged weapon.

Star Wars Saga did. But than Saga was awesome. Loading to shoot again is a free action for Slings just like Bows.

They probably assumed no one but Primitive users would care since they had laser blasters.

But my Ewok sure cared. Sling bullets don't even have cost in Saga.


Anyhoo, I'm giving sling High Crit I think in 4th.
It fits their image in fantasy (David versus Goliath).

 

[Aust Diamondew]

I find it hard to believe a sling could hurl a projectile with lethal velocity as far as a good longbow. Or any kind of decent recurve for that matter.

Perhaps not.
However,
Xenophon states in his book, the Anabasis, that the greek slingers from Rhodes using lead bullets could out distance the Persian slingers using fist sized stones. These slingers in turn out ranged the Persian archers, who themselves out ranged the Greek archers from Crete.

This is a good argument for slings using bullets to have equal range to short bows in D&D I think.
Of course I won't be concerned enough about simulation to make such I change when I run 4e, unless perhaps at player request (with other restrictions to balance it too).

 

[Nikosandros]

Slings should also have as long or longer range than most bows.
But D&D has never done this.

Should proably have increased range and be a military ranged weapon.

In AD&D a sling has a range almost equal to that of a long bow and greater than a short bow.