Except that darts have 3 attack/round. Sling doesn't. And it makes quite a huge difference, when you compare how much damage you are able to make. (and BTW, I'm not sure that slings have the STR bonus either, but I might be wrong)
Hm, in game str bonus doesn't work for darts, throwing axe and throwing daggers, but does work for sling. Game has need correction in character screen descriptions.
Coming from a logical point only weapons that are being thrown or pulled should have any sort of attribute bonus from STR. Those being throwing axes, daggers, darts, slings and bows. A crossbow should not receive any bonus as the projectile is not at all affected by your physical strength - its all in the gears.
D&D 2nd says hurled weapons receive a STR bonus to damage, ie., throwing axes. I don't see why that wouldn't include throwing darts and daggers.
Even if darts and throwing daggers only say received a 1/2 strength bonus (rounded up I guess) it would still go a long way to making them more viable. I mean as it stands now a fighter wielding a dagger up close does a lot more damage per/round than using darts because of the strength bonus, especially at 19+ strength. Plus it wouldn't actually provide much of a benefit for non-fighter classes, unless you had strength modifying items (only really an issue in BG2).
Missile Combat is defined as any time a weapon is shot, throw, hurled,...
Strength Modifiers: A character's Strength modifier is always applied to melees and attacks with hurled missile weapons ... This modifier is always applied to melees and attacks with hurled missile weapons (a spear or an axe).
Missile Attack Adjustment is used to modify a character's die roll whenever he uses a missile weapon (a bow or a thrown weapon). ...
I take from that:
STR ATK bonus should apply to throwing axes and daggers. DEX ATK bonus applies to ranged and thrown weapons
So, darts should get the the DEX missile bonus and that's it. Currently in BG:EE Darts receive a DEX THAC0 bonus and no STR bonus, so the game is correct regarding darts.
Slings in BGEE receive a DEX ATK bonus and bullets receive a STR DMG bonus.
BG:EE seems to have it correct regarding Darts, Slings, and Bullets.
What weapons *should* have the Str damage bonus applied? This is far from clear
afaik (how it's somewhat "logical", and has been in all IE games*) only throwing axes and hammers receive str dmg bonus, and nothing else - no throwing daggers, no 3 darts per round doing 70 dmg a round, no slings.
and ranged attacks always used dex bonus to thac0.
*except one "intentional" sling in BG2, several more bugged ones, and iirc sling received str bonus in the original BG1
Throwing daggers and throwing axes get the str bonus to damage. Darts shouldn't.
Only 2 Slings, found in BG2 should have a str bonus. (Sling of Everard actually is supposed to have the str bonus, it was left off description but is in effect in game, it's mentioned in the collector's edition read me errata)
Though after some quick double checking, EVERY ranged weapon except bows and x-bows in BG1 (classic) gets a strength bonus, and bows/Xbows apply their enhancement bonus to damage.
In Baldur's Gate 2, only the previously top mentioned items have a str bonus, and bows/Xbows only apply their enhancement bonus to hit.
Comments
(and BTW, I'm not sure that slings have the STR bonus either, but I might be wrong)
Game has need correction in character screen descriptions.
Added to tracker.
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/7073/darts-and-other-thrown-weapons-gaining-str-bonus-to-damage/p1
STR ATK bonus should apply to throwing axes and daggers.
DEX ATK bonus applies to ranged and thrown weapons
So, darts should get the the DEX missile bonus and that's it. Currently in BG:EE Darts receive a DEX THAC0 bonus and no STR bonus, so the game is correct regarding darts.
Slings in BGEE receive a DEX ATK bonus and bullets receive a STR DMG bonus.
BG:EE seems to have it correct regarding Darts, Slings, and Bullets.
and ranged attacks always used dex bonus to thac0.
*except one "intentional" sling in BG2, several more bugged ones, and iirc sling received str bonus in the original BG1
Only 2 Slings, found in BG2 should have a str bonus. (Sling of Everard actually is supposed to have the str bonus, it was left off description but is in effect in game, it's mentioned in the collector's edition read me errata)
Though after some quick double checking, EVERY ranged weapon except bows and x-bows in BG1 (classic) gets a strength bonus, and bows/Xbows apply their enhancement bonus to damage.
In Baldur's Gate 2, only the previously top mentioned items have a str bonus, and bows/Xbows only apply their enhancement bonus to hit.