Slings: Projectile or Thrown?

[Zhure]

Slings aren't really twirled around one's head. They are spun on on partial rotation before being loosed. A slinger can put them in a loop, so they are spun to hold the stone in place, but it's the same technique a roper (one using a lariat, not the monster) uses to keep a lasso in motion before a toss.

The actual slinging part is only one rotation, and usually less than a full rotation.

Mechanically, I like to treat slings as thrown weapons even though that's a house rule.

Historically the sling was more powerful than a bow and easier to make and the ammunition was cheaper, but training a slinger is even harder than training an archer. Plus slings don't penetrate armor as well as bows do, which isn't really reflected in the 3e mechanics.

Greg

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Well as I already mentioned, it seems to me that someone who is really strong could throw a stone from a sling a lot harder than someone who was weak.

Actually, they can. Those with a Str penalty subtract it from the damage roll, just like they do with bows. But you don't benefit from a Str bonus with either, unless it is a mighty bow.

Unlike the other projectile weapons, this one seems to be based completely on your strength.

Yes and no. You have to have at least a Str of 10 to use it most effectively, because you subtract your Str penalty from the damage roll if your Str is 9 or lower. But you don't take advantage of greater Str because most of the "punch" comes from the slinging action, not your raw strength. Perhaps you could have "mighty" slings in your campaign, similar to mighty composite bows.

 

[melkoriii]

This is one thing I house rule.

By the Book Slings are projectile weapons.

In real life, slings are thrown weapons.

Going by physics, like a Spear’s goat foot, a sling extends the length of your arm giving you more leverage to throw a stone or bullet farther.
More Str = more damage and farther range just like a spear thrown with a goats foot.

A Sling is to a stone nothing more then a goat foot is to a spear.

p.s
A Goats foot is a piece of wood or bone shaped like a spoon where the cup part fits on the heft of a spear.
When you throw the spear, you use the goat’s foot to push the spear after you let it go. This gives more force behind the throw.

 

[coyote6]

The "stronger guy=>sling rock harder=>hurts more when hit" theory made sense to me, so I split the difference -- I let sling users add half their Str bonus to damage. But that's a house rule.

 

[Legildur]

(Just to throw the cat among the pidgeons... I tried to post a couple of days back, but, you know...)

Not that I necessarily agree with the response, but this is what I got back from customer service at WotC back in February 2002:

Yes slings are considered thrown weapons and you do get your strength bonus.

Thanks and Happy Gaming!
****************************************************
Alex W.
Wizards of the Coast - Game Support
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-----Original Message-----
Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2002 4:09 PM
To: Wizards Customer Service
Subject: Slings and Thrown Weapons


Page 42 of Sword and Fist discusses Halflings as Fighters. It states that their attack bonus with thrown weapons makes a sling (among other weapons) a good choice (why Halflings are not automatically proficient with slings as elves are with bows is another point!).

If a sling is considered a thrown weapon for the purposes of the Halfling's racial attack bonus, does a character's strength bonus apply to the damage inflicted by a sling bullet or stone?

 

[Caliber]

(Just to throw the cat among the pidgeons... I tried to post a couple of days back, but, you know...)

Not that I necessarily agree with the response, but this is what I got back from customer service at WotC back in February 2002:

Hehe! I knew I remember someone posting that message!

I'm not crazy after all! At least, not for this reason! Hehe!

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Hehe! I knew I remember someone posting that message!

I'm not crazy after all! At least, not for this reason! Hehe!

Nope, you're not crazy, Caliber, but Alex W. from WotC Game Support most definately is crazy.