Are Casters 'still' way better than noncasters after level 6?

[gamerprinter]

Actually I've never understood why a bastard sword is considered an exotic weapon, especially since katana is considered a bastard sword (I've never understood that either.)

OK, sure bastard sword kind of sits between long sword and greatsword, but neither of those are exotic weapons either - why bastard?

Sure not everyone is playing an oriental setting, but if you were and considering that katana is the most prevalent sword in a Japan-like setting. It doesn't make sense that every samurai has to take exotic weapon feat, when its unlikely they'd have access to any other kind of large sword (wakizashi being equivalent to a short sword.)

And why is wakizashi considered a short sword (a non exotic weapon), yet katana, which larger, but practically identical to a wakizashi, just longer is an exotic weapon?? While its blade is shorter than a katana, both sword's hilts are the same, you can even wield a wakizashi with two hands (who'd want to, but you could...)

In my samurai build, I gave 'exotic weapon' feat for katana as a bonus 1st level feat to accomodate this strange ruling. They shouldn't need to take that feat - just don't understand.

GP

 

[Shisumo]

You only have to spend the feat if you want to be able to wield it one-handed. Most traditional kenjutsu is indeed two-handed style, which is covered under a generic martial proficiency. You might have to house-rule that Weapon Focus and its follow-on feats don't specifically require the EWP to take (it's a grey area in the rules for certain), but if you want a Japan-ish setting with katana-wielding samurai around every corner, you're welcome to do so; only the ones who want to go all nito ichi about it need to take the EWP.

 

[gamerprinter]

Musashi wielded two katana (single handed each), though a master swordsman in old Japan, I consider his technique unique, relatively speaking compared to the majority of samurai.

So this works better, as my samurai build (kind of an early APG like variant class, I based on Ranger) has (so far) five different samurai combat styles, one of which is nito ichi, the others 2-handed, 2-weapon (Musashi), kyujutsu (master of daikyu/hankyu), and naginata wielding.


GP