[DF] Slingshot launched pixies?

[Anders]

Are pixies small enough to be launched from a sling? What damage would they do if, say, armed with a longspear?

[mhd]

European or African pixies?

[gilbertocarlos]

The damage a slingshot would do, at +1 and impaling probably.

[Anders]

What would happen to the Pixie?

[mlangsdorf]

Pixies weigh 1-2 lbs, versus sling ammo of 0.05 lbs. So generally no.

Low-Tech introduces the Heavy Sling, capable of chucking 1 lb rocks for sw +2/cr damage. I'd probably use that, reduce the range for a fully equipped delving pixie, and change the damage to sw+2/im for his long spear.

I'd also require both the slinger and the pixie to make attack rolls, with a fair penalty for the pixie (presumably dizzy after being whipped around a bit). If the slinger hits but the pixie misses, treat it as a slam attack by the pixie; if both hit, the pixie manages to align the spear and do the sw+2/im damage.

[d_ns]

Yeah, the dizziness is the main issue, and the forces the pixie would endure.

I recommend an atlatl or other spear/javelin lever device instead. Gives a nice bit of leverage without those other issues.

[Bruno]

Pixies are already very dense for their volume (approaching the density of steel). I suspect they can endure g-forces far in excess of what a human could ever survive. They don't have Acceleration Tolerance on their character sheets, but it's DF, that's the kind of trait I'd expect to see stripped out as "almost never mattering", don't spend points on it.

I would give someone with a spear-thrower a skill penalty though - a pixie is not a carefully crafted and balanced dart or spear. A -2 seems roughly appropriate - a pixie is worse than even a Cheap spear/dart, because it's not even approximately the right shape.

A staff-sling might be a better plan.

[mlangsdorf]

I'm not sure that staff-slings have enough lift to lob a pixie. I looked very briefly in Low Tech to see if there was something about using them to lob grenades, but I didn't see anything.

I don't think Improved G-Tolerance is the advantage the pixie needs here. We're not worried that his body is going to get crushed. We're worried that he's going to come out of the launcher all disoriented and end up hitting the target face-first or something. I'd suggest 3-D Spatial Sense as the relevant advantage, or maybe just a Perk "Doesn't get dizzy."

[Anders]

For some reason I see the Pixie in the dart thrower wearing a gigantic pickelhaube. *giggle*

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by mlangsdorf

I'm not sure that staff-slings have enough lift to lob a pixie. I looked very briefly in Low Tech to see if there was something about using them to lob grenades, but I didn't see anything.

They're used IRL to hock half bricks and road cobbles at government forces, along with the regular slingers. Which is mostly ineffective as the government forces do have helmets and the missiles mostly come in from overhead, but I have to salute their chutzpa.

Originally Posted by mlangsdorf

I don't think Improved G-Tolerance is the advantage the pixie needs here. We're not worried that his body is going to get crushed.

d_ns said "and the forces the pixie would have to endure", which is what I was addressing :)

Originally Posted by mlangsdorf

We're worried that he's going to come out of the launcher all disoriented and end up hitting the target face-first or something. I'd suggest 3-D Spatial Sense as the relevant advantage, or maybe just a Perk "Doesn't get dizzy."

Oh, that's the skill Body Sense :)