Halflings are known for their slings. Many a man has met his end laughing at the halfling with the rock. It is a strange sight not uncommonly seen, the halfling standing above a dead enemy, with nought but a length of rope with a cup on it.
So does anyone else find it weird that halflings only deal a d3 of damage with a properly sized [emphasis on properly sized, here] sling? albeit a d4 isn't much better, but a d3 can be a pain to keep track of for some people.
In fact at low levels slings work better for larger races. You add your Str mod to damage (without the expense of buying strength rated composite bows) I have a 18 str half orc who has started using a sling untill the right strength bow is available. With their -2 on Str halflings are less likely to benefit from this. Some of the feats in the Halfings of Golorion can help, I have not tried them yet but they do not appear to make up for the weakness you have identified.
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What weakness? The one of the average damage dropping by 1? That's terrible! Nobody should use a sling! Ever!!!
j/k
Now, instead how about everyone else except the halflings forgets the sling? Why? Well, only halflings can get iteratives with it thanks to the alternative racial option "Warslinger" from the APG. For those others, javelins are a better option. Yes, they are crappier to enchant, but you weren't going to base a ranger character on throwing weapons anyway, were you now?
It is true that with the smaller races you'll see a decrease in maximum strength, but that's often only a -2 drop, which translates to -1 in the damage department -hardly anything to write home about. Small size takes care of the loss to hit. If your character is geared and statted for high Strength, then they have a high Strength. A human slinger might hit harder, if they happen to pick a sling over the godly longbow, but halflings do rapid fire.
Which is why they invented the Sling-Staff that, at small size, outperforms a shortbow?
(Besides which, the drop from d4 to d3 is, on average 1/2 a point of damage per shot)
Also, the "fun" part of slings is that they transfer strength damage -- most martial characters need to save up a while before they can afford a composite bow with a strength rating - whereas the Warslinger halfling is able to inflict bonus (str) damage on day 1.
Elf with longbow - d8+0 = average 4.5
Halfing with Sling and 16 str = d3 + 3 = average 5.
Halfing with Sling and 14 str = d3 + 2 = average 4.
Halfling with Sling-Staff and 16 Str = d6 + 3 = average 6.5.
Halfling with Sling-Staff and 14 Str = d6 + 2 = average 5.5.
Seems pretty good to me?
Now my question is whether or not the Warslinger racial trait lets halflings get iteratives with a sling-staff? I'd rule yes, but that's me.
Which is why they invented the Sling-Staff that, at small size, outperforms a shortbow?
(Besides which, the drop from d4 to d3 is, on average 1/2 a point of damage per shot)
Also, the "fun" part of slings is that they transfer strength damage -- most martial characters need to save up a while before they can afford a composite bow with a strength rating - whereas the Warslinger halfling is able to inflict bonus (str) damage on day 1.
Elf with longbow - d8+0 = average 4.5
Halfing with Sling and 16 str = d3 + 3 = average 5.
Halfing with Sling and 14 str = d3 + 2 = average 4.Halfling with Sling-Staff and 16 Str = d6 + 3 = average 6.5.
Halfling with Sling-Staff and 14 Str = d6 + 2 = average 5.5.Seems pretty good to me?
Now my question is whether or not the Warslinger racial trait lets halflings get iteratives with a sling-staff? I'd rule yes, but that's me.
Well I had an idea for a charismatic halfling gladiator who uses a halfling double sling, kind of like a slingstaff with a cup on either end only it deals a d4 of damage medium and a d3 for small. I was just thinking on it and from all the kinds of descriptions and stories you read about the halfling race, you'd think they could be able to do more damage than a d3. Maybe it's just me. As you showed it means almost nothing in the grand scheme of damage.
On the actual dpr side, it doesn't really matter, because as you say, just go for a longbow when you can, but slings are an iconic weapon for the little dudes. And warslinger probably doesn't, but ammo drop and juggle load from halflings of golarion do.
So does anyone else find it weird that halflings only deal a d3 of damage with a properly sized [emphasis on properly sized, here] sling?
Nope. It's just you.
albeit a d4 isn't much better, but a d3 can be a pain to keep track of for some people.
Why? It's just like any other die.
so about halflings and slings. I know that Fighterman is the benchmark of ranged combat, I have to wonder how far behind, a 20Fighter Halfling slinger would be, by comparison. I mean obviously it'd be inferior, but is there really any optimized way to make it competitive?
Sling staff sized up to medium character makes 1d8 damage with a x2 threat mod. fighter 20 makes it a x3. longbow would be a x4 at 20, but it's the same die and all that. same number of attacks, and a slightly cheaper weapon
Halflings can get the Warslinger racial trait which allows them to reload their slings as a free action. It makes them better at using slings than any other race at higher levels. It also makes the sling a better option than a composite shortbow, in my opinion, since you don't have to buy a new one when your strength increases.
It's not great, but it's not terrible, either.
Halflings are a weak race when compared to the other core races so I give them +1 atk, +1 dmg with slings and thrown weapons.
For information, Halflings had a +1 racial bonus to hit with slings and thrown weapons in AD&D 2nd edition.
You can use that as a racial trait if you want.
Of course, it doesn't change the damage, but hitting more often is still good.
Halflings are a weak race when compared to the other core races so I give them +1 atk, +1 dmg with slings and thrown weapons.
I've heard that they are too weak. I've heard that they are too powerful.
That means they're probably just fine.
Halflings are a weak race when compared to the other core races ...
*facepalm*
Seriously they are just fine.
EDIT About javelins and enchantment - weren't there some sticks that not only alwed the javelin to be thrown further and with greater force, but also happened to treat javelins as ammo? ;)
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Halflings can get the Warslinger racial trait which allows them to reload their slings as a free action. It makes them better at using slings than any other race at higher levels. It also makes the sling a better option than a composite shortbow, in my opinion, since you don't have to buy a new one when your strength increases.
It's not great, but it's not terrible, either.
so...they can do multiple attacks with a sling then, and if you don't take the trait then it takes two feats to do the same?
ie: ammo drop/ammo jugglewhat the hell.
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Halflings can get the Warslinger racial trait which allows them to reload their slings as a free action. It makes them better at using slings than any other race at higher levels. It also makes the sling a better option than a composite shortbow, in my opinion, since you don't have to buy a new one when your strength increases.
It's not great, but it's not terrible, either.
so...they can do multiple attacks with a sling then, and if you don't take the trait then it takes two feats to do the same?
ie: ammo drop/ammo jugglewhat the hell.
I know this was like five months ago - but the essential wording in ammo drop and ammo juggle is: "You can load a sling or one end of a double sling with one hand as a swift action or move action"
'With one hand' is a huge deal.
weren't there some sticks that not only alwed the javelin to be thrown further and with greater force, but also happened to treat javelins as ammo? ;)
You may be referring to the atlatl.