Difference between revisions of "Sling"

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A '''sling''' is a [[weapon]] that allows you to [[throw]] projectiles such as [[rock]]s, [[gem]]s, and [[gray stone]]s. Slings are often dropped by [[hobbit]]s; in addition, the [[Caveman]] [[role]] starts with one.
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A '''sling''' is a type of [[weapon]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]'', and is a [[launcher]] designed for [[rock]]s, [[gem]]s, and [[gray stone]]s, which can be [[multishot]] if [[fired]] with a sling.
  
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[[Gem]]s, pieces of [[glass]], and [[rock]]s can be [[multishot]] with a sling.
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==Generation==
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Weapons comprise 10% of all randomly-generated items in the main dungeon, 0% in containers, 12% on the [[Rogue level]], and 20% in [[Gehennom]]. There is a 4% chance that a randomly spawned weapon object will be a sling.
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== Sling skill ==
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* [[Hobbit]]s have a unique 1 in 3 chance of a sling in their [[monster starting inventory]].
  
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==Sling skill==
 
{{sling skill table}}
 
{{sling skill table}}
  
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The sling is the only [[launcher]] to use sling skill. The following types of ammo use it:
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The sling is the only weapon that uses the '''sling [[skill]]'''. The following types of ammo use this skill as well:
  
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* all [[gem]]s
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* all gems
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* all [[gray stone]]s
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* all gray stones
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* [[rock]]s
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* rocks
  
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There are no [[artifact weapon|artifact]] slings, but [[the Heart of Ahriman]] is slightly more effective than a regular [[luckstone]] when slung.
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There are no [[artifact weapon|artifact]] slings; of note is that [[the Heart of Ahriman]] is slightly more effective than a regular [[luckstone]] when slung.
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==History==
 
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Slings appear in all editions of [[D&D]], where they're a common ranged weapon of clerics (who are not allowed to shed blood) and wizards (who are limited in non-simple weapons). The corresponding bullets deal ''1d4'' base damage.<ref>http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Sling</ref>
 
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Slings existed in version three of [[Rogue]], with its corresponding [[rock]] dealing ''1d4'' damage when slung, as in D&D.<ref>http://rogue.rogueforge.net/vade-mecum/</ref>
 
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In the first version of [[Hack]], slings instead fired ''sling bullets'', which dealt ''1d4'' versus large monsters, and ''1d6'' versus small<ref>http://homepages.cwi.nl/~aeb/games/hack/1.0.2-part1</ref> (compared to the ''d6'' in all cases of the [[arrow]]). In this release the [[rock]] item did not exist, and these sling bullets would weigh seven units (the same as arrows and bolts). Sling bullets no longer exist in [[NetHack 3.2.0|3.2.0]] and subsequent releases, having been replaced by the more powerful [[flint stone]] which does ''1d6'' damage to monsters of all sizes.
 
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Canonical D&D does have a rule that improvised stones (that is, non-bullets) do a size category less damage--which is to say, ''1d3'' instead of ''1d4''. This may explain the damage reduction in the current version.
 
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==Generation==
 
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Weapons comprise 10% of all randomly-generated items in the main dungeon, 0% in containers, 12% on the [[Rogue level]], and 20% in [[Gehennom]]. There is a 4% chance that a randomly spawned weapon object will be a sling.
 
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* [[Hobbit]]s have a unique 1 in 3 chance of a sling in their [[monster starting inventory]].
 
  
 
==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
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* [[Cavemen]] start with a sling and large stacks of [[rock]]s and [[flint stone]]s. If they avoid using the flint stones until they have maximum luck, they can bless the flint stones rendering them durable enough to last for a significant portion of the game. [[Rangers]] can also benefit from using a sling on less threatening monsters in the early game, partially preserving arrows or bolts until they can be made almost [[Projectile#Breakage | unbreakable]]. However, it is obviously not worth dying because of unwillingness to use good ammo early.
 
* [[Cavemen]] start with a sling and large stacks of [[rock]]s and [[flint stone]]s. If they avoid using the flint stones until they have maximum luck, they can bless the flint stones rendering them durable enough to last for a significant portion of the game. [[Rangers]] can also benefit from using a sling on less threatening monsters in the early game, partially preserving arrows or bolts until they can be made almost [[Projectile#Breakage | unbreakable]]. However, it is obviously not worth dying because of unwillingness to use good ammo early.
  
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== Origin ==
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==History==
 +
The first versions of [[Jay Fenalson's Hack]] and [[Andries Brouwer]]'s [[Hack 1.0]] were used to fire sling bullets<ref>[http://homepages.cwi.nl/~aeb/games/hack/1.0.2-part1 Hack 1.0.2 partl] (objects.h, line 620), Andries Brouwer @ cwi.nl</ref>  - rocks did not yet exist in the former game, and were first included as objects in the latter. In NetHack 3.0.0, the sling bullet was removed from the list of objects in [[Source:NetHack_3.0.0/objects.c|objects.c]], and rocks effectively took over their role, whole [[NetHack 3.2.0]] introduced the [[flint stone]] and moved both to the "Gems/Stones" section of the [[inventory]].
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==Origin==
 
{{wikipedia|Sling (weapon)}}
 
{{wikipedia|Sling (weapon)}}
 
[[File:Weapon Sling 1.jpg|thumb|150px|Shepherd's sling]]
 
[[File:Weapon Sling 1.jpg|thumb|150px|Shepherd's sling]]
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Real-world shepherd's slings, which are the most likely type of sling the [[DevTeam]] meant, are nowhere near as dinky as ''NetHack'' would make them out to be. Slings remained an important weapon in hunting and warfare despite the advent of the [[bow]], where a skilled slinger could still easily trump the speed at which a skilled bowman could fire [[arrow]]s. The hurled [[Rock|stones]], themselves, were also nowhere near as puny as they're often portrayed—sling and bullet can often be as dangerous as bow and arrow.
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The sling is a widespread weapon dating back to Neolithic cultures (if not still-older ones), and is typically used for hunting and combat - it is incredibly inexpensive and easy to build and use, and was thus incredibly common among shepherds, hunters and other "common" folk. As a result, while man-made sling bullets and rocks used as sling ammunition are frequently salvaged during archeological expeditions, intact slings are much harder to find. Slinging is a tradition among the peoples of the Balearic Islands, who are known since classical times as proficient mercenaries.
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This problem can be traced to most games, books, and any media, in fact, that contain a sling. Media portrayals of slings tend to greatly understate their abilities, viewing it as a pathetic weapon. This is quite far from the truth, and seen in most games that have any sort of sling weapon, least of all ''NetHack''. This misconception may have come about from the fact that slings and bullets were, indeed, a much cheaper weapon than bow and arrow, using more common materials and less intensive construction. The trade-off, here, being that a sling is actually a rather difficult weapon to use effectively.
 
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A large portion of the uselessness in ''NetHack'' derives from the large [[weight]] of the [[projectile]], making it very [[Encumbrance|encumbering]] to carry the necessary ammunition. The heavy weight of the stones violates much basic sense, where a [[flail]] weighs 15 units, and a simple [[rock]] 10. The arrows used in warfare tended to be very large—a fairer weight would actually have them about the same as [[arrow]]s, [[crossbow bolt]]s, or [[dart]]s. Canonical [[D&D]], from which ''NetHack'' is based, had the weights on par with the others. Though the damage was still puny, they at least weren't a counter-productive weapon as they are in ''NetHack''.
 
  
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Slings remain used to this day, though stones are no longer the primary fodder hurled. In the modern age, slings are instead used to hurl incendiary devices, such as [[wikipedia:Molotov cocktail|Molotov cocktails]], as well as [[wikipedia:Grenade|grenades]]. Their primary function is no longer the kinetic force, but the added range they provide.
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Slinging as a sport is still practiced in the Balearic Islands and other areas in modern times, and is also used as an improvised weapon for wildnerness survival and other hobby purposes. Slings are also used to hurl incendiary devices, such as [[wikipedia:Molotov cocktail|Molotov cocktails]], as well as [[wikipedia:Grenade|grenades]]. Their primary function is no longer the kinetic force, but the added range they provide. A skilled slinger can fire projectiles at distances upwards of 450 meters (1500 feet) at speeds over 250 miles per hour.<ref>http://www.slinging.org/</ref>
  
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== Variants ==
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Slings appear in all editions of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' as a common ranged weapon for clerics (who ''NetHack'' players know as [[Priest|Priest(esse)s]]) - they cannot use other non-blunt projectiles, due to being forbidden from shedding blood. Their corresponding [[sling bullets]] deal ''1d4'' base damage.<ref>http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Sling</ref> ''Dungeons & Dragons'' also has a rule that improvised stones do one size category less in damage, i.e. ''1d3'' instead of ''1d4'' - this may be reflected by the lower damage in modern ''NetHack''. Slings also appear in the third version of ''[[Rogue]]'', with its corresponding rock dealing the same damage as in ''D&D''.<ref>http://rogue.rogueforge.net/vade-mecum/</ref> The usefulness of slings in other media tends to vary, but it tends to be considered somewhat more useful than it is perceived as in ''NetHack''.
  
 +
==Variants==
 
Many variants strive to make slings more useful, or at least not as much of a burden.
 
Many variants strive to make slings more useful, or at least not as much of a burden.
  

Revision as of 02:23, 25 October 2021

) Sling.png
Name sling
Appearance sling
Damage vs. small d2
Damage vs. large d2
To-hit bonus +0
Weapon skill sling
Size one-handed
Base price 20 zm
(+10/positive
enchant)
Weight 3
Material leather

A sling is a type of weapon that appears in NetHack, and is a launcher designed for rocks, gems, and gray stones, which can be multishot if fired with a sling.

Generation

Weapons comprise 10% of all randomly-generated items in the main dungeon, 0% in containers, 12% on the Rogue level, and 20% in Gehennom. There is a 4% chance that a randomly spawned weapon object will be a sling.

Sling skill

Sling
Max Role
Basic
Skilled
Expert

The sling is the only weapon that uses the sling skill. The following types of ammo use this skill as well:

  • all gems
  • all gray stones
  • rocks

There are no artifact slings; of note is that the Heart of Ahriman is slightly more effective than a regular luckstone when slung.

Strategy

Improving sling skill is generally a waste of skill slots, but you may wish to use a sling as an unofficial conduct or because a bad ranged attack with effectively unlimited ammo is better than nothing.

  • Gems and glass deal the same damage as 1d3 (avg. 2) rocks, and weigh only 1 unit, compared to the 10 units of rocks.
  • Rocks, gems, and flint stones can disappear when they hit monsters, but other gray stones cannot. None of these projectiles can be enchanted (which is the best way to prevent ammo disintegration), but they can be blessed. Blessed projectiles gain a luck-based bonus to avoid breakage. Blessed ammo used by a character with maximum luck and a luckstone will be very durable and will last quite a while.
  • Flint stones deal 1d6 (avg. 3.5), on par with arrows. However, flint stones are quite rare in the game so it is difficult to collect enough to make multishot useful.
  • Cavemen start with a sling and large stacks of rocks and flint stones. If they avoid using the flint stones until they have maximum luck, they can bless the flint stones rendering them durable enough to last for a significant portion of the game. Rangers can also benefit from using a sling on less threatening monsters in the early game, partially preserving arrows or bolts until they can be made almost unbreakable. However, it is obviously not worth dying because of unwillingness to use good ammo early.

History

The first versions of Jay Fenalson's Hack and Andries Brouwer's Hack 1.0 were used to fire sling bullets[1] - rocks did not yet exist in the former game, and were first included as objects in the latter. In NetHack 3.0.0, the sling bullet was removed from the list of objects in objects.c, and rocks effectively took over their role, whole NetHack 3.2.0 introduced the flint stone and moved both to the "Gems/Stones" section of the inventory.

Origin

Wikipedia
Wikipedia has an article about:
Shepherd's sling

The sling is a widespread weapon dating back to Neolithic cultures (if not still-older ones), and is typically used for hunting and combat - it is incredibly inexpensive and easy to build and use, and was thus incredibly common among shepherds, hunters and other "common" folk. As a result, while man-made sling bullets and rocks used as sling ammunition are frequently salvaged during archeological expeditions, intact slings are much harder to find. Slinging is a tradition among the peoples of the Balearic Islands, who are known since classical times as proficient mercenaries.

Slinging as a sport is still practiced in the Balearic Islands and other areas in modern times, and is also used as an improvised weapon for wildnerness survival and other hobby purposes. Slings are also used to hurl incendiary devices, such as Molotov cocktails, as well as grenades. Their primary function is no longer the kinetic force, but the added range they provide. A skilled slinger can fire projectiles at distances upwards of 450 meters (1500 feet) at speeds over 250 miles per hour.[2]

Slings appear in all editions of Dungeons & Dragons as a common ranged weapon for clerics (who NetHack players know as Priest(esse)s) - they cannot use other non-blunt projectiles, due to being forbidden from shedding blood. Their corresponding sling bullets deal 1d4 base damage.[3] Dungeons & Dragons also has a rule that improvised stones do one size category less in damage, i.e. 1d3 instead of 1d4 - this may be reflected by the lower damage in modern NetHack. Slings also appear in the third version of Rogue, with its corresponding rock dealing the same damage as in D&D.[4] The usefulness of slings in other media tends to vary, but it tends to be considered somewhat more useful than it is perceived as in NetHack.

Variants

Many variants strive to make slings more useful, or at least not as much of a burden.

DynaHack

In DynaHack slings gain bonus damage from strength (usually reserved for attacking from melee or throwing weapons by hand) as well as the sling's enchantment, making slings much more viable as a ranged weapon.

dNetHack

in dNetHack slings also gain bonus damage from strength. Furthermore, there's a new type of sling stone: silver slingstones, which deal silver damage to silver hating monsters, and can be found is small deposits within rock or in large amounts on a certain level in the Neutral quest. Cavemen now also gain a +1 multishot bonus when using slings. Since the strength bonus maxes out at +8 at 25 strength, silver slingstones out-damage even +7 silver arrows. Because of these changes, dNetHack slings are sometimes called "portable meteor launchers."

Encyclopedia entry

And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and
drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward
the army to meet the Philistine.
And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone,
and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that
the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face
to the earth.
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with
a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there
was no sword in the hand of David.

[ 1 Samuel 17:48-50 ]


This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.

It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.4.3. Information on this page may be out of date.

Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-343}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.

  1. ↑ Hack 1.0.2 partl (objects.h, line 620), Andries Brouwer @ cwi.nl
  2. ↑ http://www.slinging.org/
  3. ↑ http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Sling
  4. ↑ http://rogue.rogueforge.net/vade-mecum/
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