|
You still have to pay attention to the physical description of things. You may call it fluff, but the physical description of an item still defines what it is, what its made of (otherwise, barring the special item in Ultimate Equipment, you could make a mithril tower shield, but the physical description of it says its primary wood, and mithril requires something that’s primarily metal), and how it works.
The fact that it is a special designed sling, doesn’t make it “not a sling.” Its still a sling, just a specially designed one.
And by your argument, all swords should be one proficiency. And that is not the case. Swords are swords, but each one has its own proficiency. The only weapon that apparently confers its proficiency to a different type of the same weapon, is Bows. That is not a precedent, that is an exception to the rule.
Additionally, real word arguments have no place in a fantasy setting. Especially since you, yourself, said in a home game, you’d rule that a sling staff could use the trait. This is kinda a disingenuous part of your rebuttal, because if you are so worried about real world physics, you wouldn’t allow it in your home game.
I’m not just being contrary. Just because I don’t interpret the situation the same as you, does not mean I’m just arguing to argue.
The Sling Staff specifically says it’s a sling. Yes a sling mounted on a club, but still a sling.
Lets all FAQ the post that redward made and see what happens.
I’ll bet you a +2 circumstance bonus should I ever run a table you are sitting at.
|
Keep in mind that the physical movements necessary to reload a sling staff are different than the movements to reload a sling; whereas the sling is directly below your hand on a traditional sling, with a sling staff it's actually at least a foot further away. Practice reloading a traditional sling quickly is more likely to cause problems reloading a sling staff than help, as you would be used to dropping the bullet in a different location.
Well if you want to start throwing logic into the argument, it is illogical for the designers to create a sling related racial trait and a sling related racial weapon that can't actually be used together.
Together, the weapon and the trait give halflings a ranged attack option other than a bow that is still on par with a bow. Separately they make make sub-optimal choices slightly less sub-optimal. That is also illogical from a design concept.
|
|
I suspect that asking if all sling-related Feats and Traits apply to all sling weapons will get "no" as answer. There are too many Feats that call out one or more specific sling weapons, and a universal ruling across all those (as well as future) sources would be unlikely.
I do, however, think that Warslinger could and might be clarified to apply to all slings.
|
And by your argument, all swords should be one proficiency. And that is not the case. Swords are swords, but each one has its own proficiency. The only weapon that apparently confers its proficiency to a different type of the same weapon, is Bows. That is not a precedent, that is an exception to the rule.
Actually, that part's not true. Shortbows and longbows are different weapons with different proficiencies. Bards are proficient with shortbows, but not longbows. But a composite version of either counts as the base version of the same type for all feats/traits/proficiencies/whatever, which I believe is the point you were going for.
|
|
Actually, that part's not true. Shortbows and longbows are different weapons with different proficiencies. Bards are proficient with shortbows, but not longbows. But a composite version of either counts as the base version of the same type for all feats/traits/proficiencies/whatever, which I believe is the point you were going for.
And by your argument, all swords should be one proficiency. And that is not the case. Swords are swords, but each one has its own proficiency. The only weapon that apparently confers its proficiency to a different type of the same weapon, is Bows. That is not a precedent, that is an exception to the rule.
yup
|
|
I've hit the FAQ on the referenced page.
Personally, when I see a weapon called out by name, I understand it to apply to the weapon named, not a category of weapons. The source of the problem, of course is the use of the word for both a single weapon and the group. Sling, club, spear, etc. they all share this problem. Shillelagh doesn't apply to great clubs nor maces. War slinger applies to slings, not staff slings, etc.
I'll follow the FAQ ruling if it comes down with no complaint.
Ultimately, stories like someone quitting because of a ruling is best avoided by 1) not using builds that rely on known grey areas, and 2) helping new players get used to conservative rulings. We don't do anyone favors by letting things slide, because there will invariably be someone who doesn't let a liberal ruling apply and then there is much gnashing of teeth. The reverse situation are GMs who tire of being the guy with bad news.
Disclaimer: I'm fairly conservative and tire of being the bad guy; it's never come up with the war slinger trait or its friends.
|
|
Woah slow down there Hoss. Not making a Straw man argument. I never put words in your mouth. I was trying to make an analogy. My attempt apparently failed.
All I'm saying is, there IS enough ambiguity here that table variation is very real.
I get your point about advising and only allowing ambiguous things on the conservative axis. I really do.
But I don't buy your bolded argument. If something is made from something else, it is at least in part that something else. And in this case it isn't a collection of steal and wires called a car. We aren't trying to say the car can be considered a carburetor because that is one of the components.
A sling staff IS a sling mounted on a club. And it uses the word sling in its name. Equating that to calling a car a carburetor is not a very sound argument.
|
|
The real thing with the slingstaff is that it really seems to be one of those golden apples of discord^^
Now, since you can use it as a club, you threaten if you hold it in one hand. That´s something that makes it exotic for everyone but halflings. But it´s not really much of a big deal anyway.
I would let that run with every sling feat you can find there and then some. Why? There are a lot of downsides. Ever carried a lot of sling bullets? Get´s heavy. Then, compared to archers, gunslingers and even crossbows, slings and slingstaffs are no big deal, even if some halfling can reload them with a free action (which permits him from gaining more speed via racial trait).