I don't think it does... more informatively, I think they are rare enough not to be a major tactical weapon, more an occasional shock weapon for skirmishers. Slingers can't afford to get caught in melee, so they have to keep out of the way and harass the enemy. When the enemy gets fed up of being pelted by stones, and rush at you, blast them with a thunderstone & get well away while they rethink things. They COULD be effective short-range artillery, and many Orlanthi would be skilled in sling (although it's not in any occupational keyword as far as I remember...) as a small game/foul hunter's weapon, but I personally see them more as a rare surprise. Remember, too, that sling 'stones' need not be little pebbles - ancient slingers carried a variety of lengths of sling for different ranges, and a variety of weights & types of missile for different ranges & targets, up to massive fist-sized lead cubes to smash shield walls at close range (with lots of corners & edges to improve damage).
Wulf
Powered by hypermail