D&D 5E Katana in 5th edition - finesse?

[Xodis]

...how would 5e represent a superior, but nonmagical weapon?

Im thinking just Brutal 1 or +1 damage. Anything else like + to hit seems very powerful in this low bonus type of game.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

To ensure the katana gets the respect it deserves, proficiency in it is only granted after gaining the 11th level of the Iajitsu Master class. Iajitsu Master is entered with the prerequisites of STR 20, DEX 20, WIS 20, CHA 16, 10 levels of Iajitsu Journeyman, and 20d10 Hit Dice. Iajitsu Journeyman of course requires 10 levels of Iajitsu Novice, which requires 5 levels of Iajitsu Apprentice.

 

[JonWake]

Just to flog that dead horse even more, the design of the katana was a solution to an engineering problem: how to make a resilient blade when you have access to crummy materials? Japanese steel was terrible (in fact, the impetus for the attack on Pearl Harbor was the US cutting off steel supplies to Japan). So they they came up with a way to fold different levels of crappy materials together to make a better whole. It's pretty brilliant, but incredibly labor intensive and expensive-- hence the birth of sword culture in Japan.

Here's some fodder for your RPG loving brains-- in the 1850's, Japanese swordsmen were falling out of fashion. So they ended up getting work on Siamese pirate ships, raiding India and the Middle East. There were frequent clashes with British, India, and Turkish navy forces.

Siamese Samurai Pirates.

You're welcome.

 

[Xodis]

Siamese Samurai Pirates.

You're welcome.

Pretty sure these guys win the Pirate vs. Ninja contest.

 

[1of3]

In fact, the Katana was finesse in one of the playtest versions.

 

[Ainamacar]

In general, folks have made a good point - the super-duperness isn't really in the weapon. It is in the skilled person holding it. It isn't the katana that is awesome, but *samurai* that are awesome. So, feats and class features are the way to go to model this.

That's a vicious lie! The right sword will make me awesome, you'll see!

First step, getting a credit card out of my wallet without dropping it.

 

[Thaumaturge]

I'm thinking Ainamacar's Prodigious Denial is a good spell name.

Ainamacar's Prodigious Denial
1st level enchantment
Casting time: 1 reaction, used when someone uses logic to dash your hopes.
Range: Self
Components: V
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes.

Through copious amounts of self-talk, you just avoid believing someone else's dirty, dirty lies. If you maintain concentration for the duration of the spell, the effect becomes permanent.

At Higher Levels.When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, an additional person overhears, and is protected by, your self-talk.

——
Should be balanced. I'm sure someone will run the numbers.


Thaumaturge.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

While I've heard that personal experience is usually poo-pooed on the internet, I've got some experience with Katanas.

I'd say that what people think of as the "dexterity" part of "finesse" is often mistaken for "skill" or "training".

The fact is, ALL swordsmanship requires dexterity. Also strength. Also constitution. Also intelligence, wisdom, and charisma. You want to be good? You use everything you've got.

Katanas no more use dex than longswords, but longswords DO use dex.

Heck, BOWs use strength. I'd argue more than they use dex, but that's not how D&D does it.

It's one of the unfortunate side-effects of keeping-it-simple and going for one ability modifier. It might not always jive with the way you imagine it. Sometimes it's because you don't imagine it quite right, either what the reality of the skill is, or what the mechanical element means. Sometimes the designers make the same mistake.

 

[Talath]

I support katanas being the mechanical equivalent of longswords if for no other reason than it will cheese certain people off.

 

[Manbearcat]

I don't always swing swords. But when I do...I prefer Katanas.

Kill things and take their stuff, my friends.

One of the many times I regret not having Photoshop skills, to put a katana hilt over the Dos Equus man's head.

Edited for your viewing pleasure.