Rock Musician

[Blind Mapmaker]

Thanks for letting me use Hailah in a public context.

Originally Posted by martinl

With the caveat of similar TLs, maybe, but the acc loss is not trivial. High point totals where high ST and unrealistic skill are both available are a big deal here but are also cinematic.

That said, the thrust/swing divide is a bigger GURPS problem than the sling/bow divide.

I think in this case the sling damage does not quite make up for lack of higher skill / accuracy. Against DR 4 bow and sling are roughly equivalent on average. At higher DR the sling gets an edge, but the swingier bow (yeah, it's fun when you think about it) gets the upper hand sometimes and rules at low or no DR. Also a skill 17/18 archer with a composite bow can use that acc bonus to try and put an arrow through an eye with a half-way reasonable chance to end even a boss-type enemy. A slinger won't usually attempt this until they get to skill 20 at the very least.

But the fact that she is not quite as in the same way is good niche protection. Hailah feels very different from a standard scout for whom good equipment matters a lot. With another three points in Armoury she can probably quickly scrounge up all her weapons in the average forest she's been dumped in.

[stranger38]

Originally Posted by Anders

Slings easily outclass any other missile weapon if you have the strength. Except possibly thrown axes. The swing/thrust divide is brutal.

I ALWAYS put at least 2 points in Axe throw. Can`t beat swg+2 cutting.

All fights start with an axe throw or a crossbow shot

[martinl]

Originally Posted by Blind Mapmaker

Against DR 4 bow and sling are roughly equivalent on average. At higher DR the sling gets an edge, but the swingier bow (yeah, it's fun when you think about it) gets the upper hand sometimes and rules at low or no DR. Also a skill 17/18 archer with a composite bow can use that acc bonus to try and put an arrow through an eye with a half-way reasonable chance to end even a boss-type enemy. A slinger won't usually attempt this until they get to skill 20 at the very least.

The bow acc is equivalent to 4 skill points, which costs experts 16 CPs. The sling does about 4(WM)+3.5(thrust vs swing) more damage on average. Increasing thrust damage by 7.5 is gonna cost more, especially if the GM limits access/levels on partial ST advantages. [1]

As for damage, vitals shots are only -3 and x3 damage for both pi and imp, which reduces the relative benefits of the bow. [2] [3] [4]

[1] WM bonuses being per die is a big deal here, and one of the reasons WM strongly encourages swing-based attacks. I sometimes think that most muscle powered "bonus per die of damage" rules in GURPS should be "Bonus per die of THRUST damage" or something similar to reduce this problem.

[2] To be fair, in DF the vitals hit location is probably a little less reliable than eyes, since there's a lot of wierd stuff where the eyes are visible but the location of giblets are hidden behind skill rolls.

[3] Vitals are often more armored than eyes as well, although IIRC these days a full faced helmet give the eyes 1/2 DR instead of no DR.

[4] x4 is also better than x3, but if DR is the same the extra -6 to hit is probably not worth it.