[Scarlioni]

I'm new to these forums as I was really supposed to be figuring out how to load my pretender into my first mp game but have been distracted for three hours catching up on this thread. I just have to share my own opinions and knowledge on the subject.

Firstly I'd like to discuss slings. Slings are mentioned prominately by Homer, Xenophon, Ceaser and others. It was consdered a very effective weapon in the ancient world.
The term bullet comes from medievel french for lead sling stones. Lead sling stones being mentioned first by Xenophon in the Retreat of the Ten Thousand. I believe a lead sling stone could easily penetrate an unarmored persons body and crack skulls. Even against armored foes it was effective, the vaunted Spartans lost an engagement because sling armed skirmishers got on their flanks during a battle.

Indeed slings seem to be a weapon used exclusively by skirmishers, and not even professional soldiers at that. One of the advantages of the sling is it is one handed meaning that one could carry a shield. Additionally as mentioned previously in this thread, slings do not lend themselves to formation fighting. This combination of loose formation and shields meant that professional slingers were terribly effective against archers(reference Xenophon)and were used thusly by the Greeks and Persians. One has to consider that while Xenophon is only discussing the greeks in asia, everyone who faced massed archers from the egyptians to the chinese probably had professional slingers. Indeed I've seen Egyptian reliefs showing "chariot runners" armed with slings.

As mentioned earlier in the thread slings were probably favored for their utility more than firepower. Afterall one wouldn't use expensive lead bullets when bagging game, but more likely a well worn stone from a stream. That said, it's use by children and it's cheapness meant that in times of war there would be a rather large pool of proficient slingers about. Just give them some lead bullets and shields. Instead of a rabble you have a threat, albeit a threat with low morale. Even with just stones a bunch of thirteen year olds had to be dealt with.

The decline of the sling coincides with the rise of calvary. Before the rise of calvary massed formations aided in shock attack. After horses got big enough to ride soldiers had to remain in formation for survival.

An interesting variation of the sling is the staff sling. I know of no ancient reference of there use. According to wikipedia it does appear in ancient art. In the movie Apocalyto a staff sling is shown tossing a head sized rock about fifty feet. Of course it's hollywood but the scene made an impression on me.

In game terms (I never expect these changes to be applied) sling armed troops should fight in loose formation and given bonuses for dodging arrows. Actually this dodge should apply to any skirmishers in the game what ever they're armed with. The actual mechanics of both melee combat and ranged combat within dominions3 would make this quite accurately in my opinion.

The biggest shortcoming for sling armed (and javelin armed troops) in dominions3 is their battlefield performance. I've given up fielding these units. The short range and lack of precision are, in my opinion accurate. When I try to deploy them behind my infantry they do not advance towards the enemy with the infantry. This results in the before mentioned sling/javelin armed troops standing still and showering my own troops as much as the enemy. this really hurts since Mictlan's troops get hammered by friendly slings due to low armor as opposed to the enemy who actually wear armor.

You know what?! I just realized I might get the response I want if I place these troops on attack closest instead of fire closest orders. I shall experiment.

Almost all slingers should be given a shield, only none nation specific slingers would be without shields as they represent unprofessional youths armed with slings. The actual stats of the non nation specific slingers I agree heavily with. As I do with the slings of Mictlan. Abysia should gain AP for they're use of lead bullets?

Anything statement not backed by a specific reference is my own opinion and probably wrong.

My next post will be on bows.