@chupie, I took your princess slide and did an experiment by moving her closer to the trebuchet in 5 pixel increments. They all almost have the same outcome but some funnier than others! On the 30 pixel closer test, she hits something above the trebuchet!
30 pixels closer
8~p_t:422,397|fs_w:432,354|ws_s:314,396|fs_w:499,419|c_p:349,304|fs_w:432,335|w_i:489,-428|fl_w:392,343|
25 pixels closer
8~p_t:427,397|fs_w:437,354|ws_s:319,396|fs_w:504,419|c_p:354,304|fs_w:437,335|w_i:494,-428|fl_w:397,343|
20 pixels closer
8~p_t:432,397|fs_w:442,354|ws_s:324,396|fs_w:509,419|c_p:359,304|fs_w:442,335|w_i:499,-428|fl_w:402,343|
15 pixels closer
8~p_t:437,397|fs_w:447,354|ws_s:329,396|fs_w:514,419|c_p:364,304|fs_w:447,335|w_i:504,-428|fl_w:407,343|
10 pixels closer
8~p_t:442,397|fs_w:452,354|ws_s:334,396|fs_w:519,419|c_p:369,304|fs_w:452,335|w_i:509,-428|fl_w:412,343|
5 pixels closer
8~p_t:447,397|fs_w:457,354|ws_s:339,396|fs_w:524,419|c_p:374,304|fs_w:457,335|w_i:514,-428|fl_w:417,343|