Slings

[slaughterj]

I see that Slings are listed in the Ranged Weapons category, meaning that without a Strength rating, they do not get to add in the user's Strength modifier to damage and AP. I see nothing in the text that enables a Sling to have a Strength rating. But it seems to be a Sling should get a bonus to damage, etc. based on the user's Strength, either as an exception of crossing over into the Thrown Weapons category for those purposes. (BTW, here is an interesting article on the sling, which apparently has great range compared to bows at the time: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sling_%28weapon%29)

Thoughts?

 

[Foxworthy]

My thoughts are they are missing this from the srd

Your Strength modifier applies to damage rolls when you use a sling, just as it does for thrown weapons. You can fire, but not load, a sling with one hand. Loading a sling is a move action that requires two hands and provokes attacks of opportunity.

I base this on the fact that nowhere in the Conan book does it say the type of action required to reload a sling, despite mentioning that it does need an action under the ranged weapons entry.

 

[sbarrie]

I don't have the rules in front of me, but I've always felt that slings should:
1) Do as much or more damage than arrows.
2) Have poor or no armour penetrating ability.
3) Be somewhat harder to use than a bow (require a higher level of proficiency?).

 

[Trodax]

For some reason (I really don't know why), the sling doesn't feel very "Hyborian Age" to me. Is there ever any mention in Howards tales of anyone using a sling?

 

[Lord Jolly the Scribe]

For some reason (I really don't know why), the sling doesn't feel very "Hyborian Age" to me. Is there ever any mention in Howards tales of anyone using a sling?

Good question. Is it even in the AE book? Or is it from another supplement? Could it be in Tito's Trading Post?

Also slaughterj brought up something I was wondering about too: do Hunting Bows get Strength bonuses and AP bonuses, cause it says in the amin book that all bows have strength ratings. Does it get a bonus to AP and damage from Strength? :?:

 

[Krushnak]

lord jolly hunting bows can benefit from the strength bonus its just that they dont have to have one like all the regional bows.

and although they dont say in any of the books i have i treat the sling like a throwing weapon and allow the user to add his strength to damage and ap.

 

[slaughterj]

My thoughts are they are missing this from the srd

Your Strength modifier applies to damage rolls when you use a sling, just as it does for thrown weapons. You can fire, but not load, a sling with one hand. Loading a sling is a move action that requires two hands and provokes attacks of opportunity.

I base this on the fact that nowhere in the Conan book does it say the type of action required to reload a sling, despite mentioning that it does need an action under the ranged weapons entry.

Where did you come up with that quote?

IIRC, you can add STR to Sling damage in DnD, right?

 

[slaughterj]

For some reason (I really don't know why), the sling doesn't feel very "Hyborian Age" to me. Is there ever any mention in Howards tales of anyone using a sling?

I don't recall a reference off-hand, but read the link I posted - it is one of the oldest weapons developed, and developed everywhere but Australia, so I think it is reasonable to assume it is in the Conan world.

 

[slaughterj]

For some reason (I really don't know why), the sling doesn't feel very "Hyborian Age" to me. Is there ever any mention in Howards tales of anyone using a sling?

Good question. Is it even in the AE book? Or is it from another supplement? Could it be in Tito's Trading Post?

Sling is in the main rulebook.

Also slaughterj brought up something I was wondering about too: do Hunting Bows get Strength bonuses and AP bonuses, cause it says in the amin book that all bows have strength ratings. Does it get a bonus to AP and damage from Strength? :?:

The sidebar regarding bows and STR ratings says ALL bows get it, so even though the text for Hunting Bow doesn't say so while all the others do, I let Hunting Bows have STR ratings.

 

[slaughterj]

and although they dont say in any of the books i have i treat the sling like a throwing weapon and allow the user to add his strength to damage and ap.

I may do this as well, though I am currently creating NPC sheets along the lines of those made by Vincent a while back, and want to do things according the rules in those, so I'm looking for a basis for STR to apply to Slings.

Note, I just checked the SRD and it says the following:

Sling
Your Strength modifier applies to damage rolls when you use a sling, just as it does for thrown weapons. You can fire, but not load, a sling with one hand. Loading a sling is a move action that requires two hands and provokes attacks of opportunity.

You can hurl ordinary stones with a sling, but stones are not as dense or as round as bullets. Thus, such an attack deals damage as if the weapon were designed for a creature one size category smaller than you and you take a -1 penalty on attack rolls.

In light of this information, I will consider slings to also add STR to damage and AP by extension, unless convinced otherwise.

 

[Krushnak]

dont really see why a sling needs an action to reload. i understand the 2 hands thing but seriously if you can quick load a bow i dont see the reason to not allow that with slings.

 

[slaughterj]

dont really see why a sling needs an action to reload. i understand the 2 hands thing but seriously if you can quick load a bow i dont see the reason to not allow that with slings.

Sure, but maybe this is how they address that it takes longer to fire (i.e., twirling the sling a couple of times, rather than just pull back and release) - not an exact line-up of what should take more time, but may be hard to address otherwise.

 

[Foxworthy]

My thoughts are they are missing this from the srd

Your Strength modifier applies to damage rolls when you use a sling, just as it does for thrown weapons. You can fire, but not load, a sling with one hand. Loading a sling is a move action that requires two hands and provokes attacks of opportunity.

I base this on the fact that nowhere in the Conan book does it say the type of action required to reload a sling, despite mentioning that it does need an action under the ranged weapons entry.

Where did you come up with that quote?

IIRC, you can add STR to Sling damage in DnD, right?

The quote is from the SRD

 

[argo]

For some reason (I really don't know why), the sling doesn't feel very "Hyborian Age" to me. Is there ever any mention in Howards tales of anyone using a sling?

Yes, the story was... uh, "Iron Shadows"? I think I got the title wrong :?

Anyway, yes in that tale a sneakly little pirate fells Conan himslef with a single sling shot to the head! :shock:

I think REH might have also mentioned units of slingers in an off-hand fashion in some of his tales where he is describing the composition of various armies, but I can't recall any particualr refrences off hand.

In any event, yes the sling is very "Hyborian Age".

 

[Strom]

Argo has it right:

"Well, you dogs!" he roared. "I've sent your chief to hell. What says the law of the Red Brotherhood?"

Before any could answer, a rat-faced Brythunian, standing behind his
fellows, whirled a sling swiftly and deadly. Straight as an arrow sped
the stone to its mark, and Conan reeled and fell as a tall tree falls
to the woodsman's ax. Up on the cliff Olivia caught at the boulders
for support. The scene swam dizzily before her eyes; all she could see
was the Cimmerian lying limply on the sward, blood oozing from his
head.

The rat-faced one yelped in triumph and ran to stab the prostrate man,
but a lean Corinthian thrust him back.

----"Iron Shadows in the Moon"-----------

Damn rat faced Brythunian almost killed Conan! :lol:

 

[Lord Jolly the Scribe]

Sling is in the main rulebook

Oh ok, I must have missed it. Thanks.

lord jolly hunting bows can benefit from the strength bonus its just that they dont have to have one like all the regional bows.

The sidebar regarding bows and STR ratings says ALL bows get it, so even though the text for Hunting Bow doesn't say so while all the others do, I let Hunting Bows have STR ratings

Thanks to both for the input. I may have to reread the book to get everything down again. I am glad I have you guys to keep me straight.

 

[Trodax]

argo and Strom; thanks for the sling reference! I feel much better about slings in Conan now; after all, those rat-faced Brythunians must have something to fight with since they ain't man enough to swing a broadsword.

lord jolly hunting bows can benefit from the strength bonus its just that they dont have to have one like all the regional bows.

The sidebar regarding bows and STR ratings says ALL bows get it, so even though the text for Hunting Bow doesn't say so while all the others do, I let Hunting Bows have STR ratings

Thanks to both for the input. I may have to reread the book to get everything down again. I am glad I have you guys to keep me straight.

Whether the hunting bow should have a Str bonus or not is really not very clear in the rulebook, so I understand if you were confused on this. One thing is certain, though; without a Str bonus the hunting bow is an extremely weak weapon, especially if you're trying to shoot someone that has any kind of armor on. It's been discussed in the past; do a Search if you want.