Sling

[Li Shenron]

Taa daa! Every 6 months or so I come up with this thread, because I am never sure...

HOW DOES A SLING WORK???

1. How many hands do you need to LOAD a sling?

2. How many hands do you need to FIRE a sling?

3. How long does it take to LOAD a sling?

My opinion on 2. is that you can fire it with 1 hand (it's a sling, not a slingshot). I am not sure on 1. but I allow my players to load it with 2 hands even if they have something in the other hand (but not while grappled or pinned).

More importantly 3. since from it depends how many attacks per round you can make. In PHB there is NO word about it, and no action "load a sling" is ever quoted, so I use slings as bows (even if I can agree that I doubt that someone can fire a sling five times in 6 seconds, even if it's a 20th level fighter with Rapid Shot). ANYWAY, in the NPC tables in DMG, characters with a sling show only 1 number for attacks, as well as chars with the crossbow.

 

[kreynolds]

1. How many hands do you need to LOAD a sling?

Two, just like any other ranged weapon that uses ammo, unless it specifically states otherwise.

2. How many hands do you need to FIRE a sling?

One, just like a crossbow, only there's no penalty for using one hand. Also, it's a small weapon.

3. How long does it take to LOAD a sling?

EDIT: Just found it in the FAQ. Slings don't require an action to reload.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

I allow my players to load it with 2 hands even if they have something in the other hand

I would not do this. Make them sheath their weapon or drop it, and make them loose that large steel shield in order to load the sling. Otherwise, I agree with Kreynolds' answers.

 

[Coredump]

Despite what is seen on TV, it does *not* take a lot of whirling to use a sling. It often doesn't even go a full 360, and can easily be used in less than 720. Looking at shows, it seems like you need to twirl it around 10-20 times before letting go, which would make it seem to take a longer time to use.