Alternate weapon stats for the sling

[Lincoln Hills]

All right, some comments regarding the Sling have me thinking that altering the weapon stats wouldn't hurt my game any...

Sling: Martial ranged weapon; Small damage d4, Medium damage d6; Range increment 40'; Weight -; Cost 1 sp; SQ: ranged maneuver option

I upgraded it to martial after becoming convinced that throwing a knife or shooting a crossbow accurately... although both have their little difficulties... are both easier than hurting someone (other than yourself) with a sling. Won't matter much, since most folks with 'all simple weapon proficiencies' already ignore the sling.

'Ranged Maneuver Option' is based on the fact that the bolas from the CRB allow a Trip attack at range; essentially it'd allow a sling user fond of trick shots to take certain improved maneuver feats (Improved Dirty Trick springs to mind) and then (only then) apply them to sling attacks. Yes, I know it has some potential for abuse, but it gives slings a 'niche' - they aren't champions of range or damage, and this will give folks who have a fondness for the weapon something to shoot for. (Get it?)

Tell me what you hate!

[Mark Hoover]

Hate? NOTHING! You must've read either my thread or my mind, because trick shots in my opinion are what's missing from slings. I think the kinds of maneuvers should be limited; Disarm, Dirty Trick, Sunder and maybe, as a stretch Trip re-flavored as hitting a knee or ankle to make the victim stumble and collapse.

What about some unique alchemical/magically enhanced ammo besides Magic Stone?

[Lincoln Hills]

Yeah, I read your thread. I thought a new thread where folks present how they'd "improve" the sling was worthwhile. You know, in 3.0's Arms & Equipment Guide they had the gnome calculus, which was a sling-like device geared toward hurling larger items like alchemical flasks. But it was an exotic, and when your ammo costs at least 10 gp a shot, people don't take an EWP very often...

[Yora]

I agree pretty much. Damage really needs to be beefed up to d6.

However, I would keep it a simple weapon, because it's one that is easy to make and any person who wants to train with it can do so. With martial weapons, access is usually highly restricted, either because of prices or laws, so only professionals ever have the opportunity to train with them.
(Yes, that means handaxes should be simple weapons as well, and crossbows should be martial weapons.)

[Lincoln Hills]

An alternate way to get "trick shooters" - one only peripherally related to the sling per se - would be a set of house-ruled feats along the lines of:

Trick Shot (Fighter)
Prerequisites: Weapon Focus (any thrown or ranged weapon)
Effect: Select one thrown or ranged weapon in which you have Weapon Focus. You have the capacity to attempt certain Combat Maneuvers as a standard action when using that weapon to fire at a target within the first range increment or 30 feet, whichever is less. If the weapon does Bludgeoning damage, you may attempt a Disarm, Dirty Trick, Sunder, or Bull Rush maneuver. If the weapon does Slashing damage, you may attempt a Disarm, Dirty Trick or Sunder maneuver. If the weapon does Piercing damage, you may attempt a Disarm, Dirty Trick or Bull Rush maneuver. Making this attempt uses one piece of ammunition for a ranged weapon and inflicts no damage.

Greater Trick Shot (Fighter)
Prerequisites: Weapon Focus (any thrown or ranged weapon), Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Trick Shot
Effect: As Trick Shot, except that you may attempt this maneuver to a maximum range of 60 feet or the weapon's second range increment, whichever is less. Additionally, if the maneuver succeeds, you inflict normal weapon damage in addition to the normal effects of a successful maneuver. Note: Since this is a Combat Manuever check, not an attack roll, you cannot score critical damage when using this feat.

[Mark Hoover]

In 3.5 there was a specific feat called Ranged Disarm that allowed that maneuver at range. In my home game my GM is going to allow me to use that and a homebrewed feat called Ranged Dirty Trick (essentially Ranged Disarm w/a different maneuver). I decided not to go Sunder since I'll never do that much damage.

Another one I'd love to get approved would be ranged versions of Cleave and Great Cleave. Since slingers generally don't get Rapid Shot and never get Manyshot these new feats would allow a slinger to use a single piece of ammo to at least hit multiple targets with a rebounding shot.