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

[occam]

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.

Right, the thing to remember is that a lot of these design choices are about modeling fiction, not reality. Finesse weapons exist so that you can have lightly armored rogues and swashbuckling fighters effectively using melee weapons in a game where the default melee ability is Strength. It's also the reason that ranged weapons use Dex (good for stealthy elves), and that light armor allows full use of Dex while heavy armor allows none. You don't want the Three Musketeers wearing plate mail, or the Grey Mouser wielding a greatsword, so you design the game with mechanical reasons for Dex-heavy characters to choose light armor and weapons.

So when asking the question about whether a katana is a finesse weapon in D&D, the answer has almost nothing to do with weight or real-world use. It depends on which katana-wielding fictional characters you intend to model in the game. Are they generally physically powerful fighters wearing suits of metal armor, or are they often lean, highly agile, lightly armored combatants? The answer to that question determines how you design the katana.

 

[Stormonu]

I heard the katana cut him into thirds.

Thaumaturge.

Yeah, Reich!

 

[GravyFingerz]

Yeah, Reich!

How did you nazi see that coming?

 

[Henry]

How did you nazi see that coming?

Now you've Dönitz! Once you break Godwin's Law, this thread is Göring, Göring, Gone!

 

[Branduil]

Right, the thing to remember is that a lot of these design choices are about modeling fiction, not reality. Finesse weapons exist so that you can have lightly armored rogues and swashbuckling fighters effectively using melee weapons in a game where the default melee ability is Strength. It's also the reason that ranged weapons use Dex (good for stealthy elves), and that light armor allows full use of Dex while heavy armor allows none. You don't want the Three Musketeers wearing plate mail, or the Grey Mouser wielding a greatsword, so you design the game with mechanical reasons for Dex-heavy characters to choose light armor and weapons.

So when asking the question about whether a katana is a finesse weapon in D&D, the answer has almost nothing to do with weight or real-world use. It depends on which katana-wielding fictional characters you intend to model in the game. Are they generally physically powerful fighters wearing suits of metal armor, or are they often lean, highly agile, lightly armored combatants? The answer to that question determines how you design the katana.

Well, most samurai armor would probably be the equivalent of one of the medium armors.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Back on the subject, why would a katana or the scimitar have a skill / talent / feat attached to it. Finesse to me is part of a fighting style and would better be used as part of a class or sub-class than attached to an object.

 

[Ainamacar]

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.

Hah, awesome! I also look forward to getting on the D&D pronunciation guide.

(Someone please XP that thaumaturgist for me.)

 

[jefersonlucas]

 

[Stalker0]

It's kind of a running joke online that the katana is an almost mythic weapon barely short of the lighsaber in terms of desirability and sheer awesomeness.

What do you mean short of?

Do you think if the Jedi had the noble samurai culture capable of producing katanas, that they would have stuck with the stupid flashlight swords? Heck no!!!

 

[mach1.9pants]

I am no sword expert, just interested in the normal D&D geeky way. But I went to a party where a guy brought all his swords for us to play with. I was not of the internet 'Katana are teh awesome' crowd since I was a teen, but I was out right shocked how heavy and thick it was compared to a long sword/bastard sword - so yeah finesse? I think not, no more than a long sword.

But really if you want that in your game go ahead, especially if in your world all warriors use katanas - cos they are the best there!