Ok, got an interesting discussion piece here... Has anyone else spotted the actual SLING-SHOT that was pictured in the GM's Guide on page 122?
So given that the real world characteristics of the sling and the sling-shot are a bit differing, what do you guys say would be the mechanical information on a Sling shot?
Personally, I would think increased range and/or lighter ammunition for same effect... But with a Sling-shot, you'd have to build them specifically for greater strength to get the strength bonus, like a composite bow.
So what do you guys say on this one? The hotline is open, so let's sound off.
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Well, Ultimate Equipment illustrates the halfling sling-staff as a long slingshot similar to the kender hoopak so, it being a fantasy world, who says you've got to have vulcanized rubber?
True, the sling-staff may rely more on the flexible wood snapping back into place after the shooter pulls it back, but what if the band is some fantastical rubber alternative or just plain old rubber developed through alchemical means? I think choker skin would make a pretty good rubber substitute. It's flexible, springy and durable. There are probably other monsters or fantastic plants out there that could produce rubber-like materials.
As the slingshot does only need one hand to shoot the picture showing it as a slingshot has to be wrong.
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Well, Ultimate Equipment illustrates the halfling sling-staff as a long slingshot similar to the kender hoopak so, it being a fantasy world, who says you've got to have vulcanized rubber?True, the sling-staff may rely more on the flexible wood snapping back into place after the shooter pulls it back, but what if the band is some fantastical rubber alternative or just plain old rubber developed through alchemical means? I think choker skin would make a pretty good rubber substitute. It's flexible, springy and durable. There are probably other monsters or fantastic plants out there that could produce rubber-like materials.
The wooden staff on a staff sling does not "snap back". It is not pulled. You use the staff to whirl the sling in larger arc than you would a hand held sling. It gathers more energy that way. You then release the strap and the sling stone / bullet is flung by the rotational energy with more force than a hand held sling and a longer range of course. It's the same mechanism as an atlatl (spear thrower) which essentially acts as an extension of your arm.
As a personal aside, I think I'll leave the rubberized sling shots for more modern times...
As the staff sling does only need one hand to shoot the picture showing it as a slingshot has to be wrong.
That's what I wanted to write.
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Sling-shot: 1d3(S); 1d4(M); 19-20/x2; 50ft range; B and P damage
Bullet, Sling-shot (10)
Requires two-hands to shoot. Strength modifier to damage. Loading a sling-shot is a swift action that requires two hands and provokes attacks of opportunity. Rapid Reload (Sling-shot) reduces to free action. Can be used while mounted, can't be used while prone.
Can be used like an improvised whip against adjacent creatures?
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The wooden staff on a staff sling does not "snap back". It is not pulled. You use the staff to whirl the sling in larger arc than you would a hand held sling. It gathers more energy that way. You then release the strap and the sling stone / bullet is flung by the rotational energy with more force than a hand held sling and a longer range of course. It's the same mechanism as an atlatl (spear thrower) which essentially acts as an extension of your arm.
I get that. I was just saying the illustration in Ultimate Equipment doesn't match what I normally think of when I think of a sling-staff (this thing.) They actually drew it as a Y-shaped stick with a small slingshot-style pocket at the fork similar to this. Could be the artist was just more familiar with the hoopak design that, from what I remember, is fired as if you were flinging food from a spoon.
What do I care though? I'm not using contemporary slingshots in my game either.
I get that. I was just saying the illustration in Ultimate Equipment doesn't match what I normally think of when I think of a sling-staff (this thing.) They actually drew it as a Y-shaped stick with a small slingshot-style pocket at the fork similar to this. Could be the artist was just more familiar with the hoopak design that, from what I remember, is fired as if you were flinging food from a spoon.What do I care though? I'm not using contemporary slingshots in my game either.
I winced when I saw the illustration in UE. On the other hand I've done that a lot over the years. Paizo's artwork is attractive,they really do a bang up job, but a lot of contemporary fantasy art makes me twitch. My favorite example is the spikey armor which came in with 3.0 art and seems designed to trap points and edges. Kind of like suicide by armor if it were used in real combat. Looks "cool" but I tend to imagine my armor to be more practical / historical in appearance... but it is a fantasy rpg and to each their own.
I would treat a slingshot in every aspect as a bow but with damage one step lower.
It's roughly the same mechanic and helps use another weapon and get some of the bow love.
- no reload time, no AOO for inserting stone (like with a bow)
- full attack like with a bow
- use manyshot and every other cool bow feat.
I've always seen slingshots as one size smaller than slings but with double the range and needing to fire and reload with two hands. I think it's a good trade-off. Everything else I treat the same.
Slingshots are small, cheap, short-ranged projectile weapons. I think it's in...Peru? The native peoples use them to hunt small game.
There are absolutely rubbery plant materials that a medieval or even more primitive culture could access to make them.
Stat-wise, I'd say...1d4 bludgeoning, 30ft range, can benefit from a high Strength score like a bow, ×2 critical, and...reloads like a bow.
That last part is stretching it. But so are the normal bow rules.
It should be an inferior weapon in most situations, useful in a few ways (small size, impromptu ammo, relatively silent).
Since someone already rose this thread from it's 5-year slumber:
I like to use the sling statistics for slingshots.
An actual sling in my games is a martial weapon with more range and a higher damage die that has damage scaling with strength.
And since it is a lesser offense, I'll re-resurrect this topic after another year of burial.
I'll reiterate some sentiments. In a fantasy world having an equivalent to galvanized rubber is not much of a stretch. And given that Golarion has Alchemists, it's even less so.
Slingshots can indeed be used to hunt small game, but after a cursory search, I also found out that you can use a slingshot to launch arrows big enough to hunt medium game, too.
Personally, I think using the sling stats with a step down in damage, STR to damage like a bow, and increased range increment feels like just about the right stats. Oh, and 2 hands to fire and load, too.