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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kae'Yoss" data-source="post: 3666222" data-attributes="member: 4134">I'm not sure how much of this is fiction, but at least in Rokugan the norm is fighting with the Katana in two hands and not using the wakizashi much, except maybe for a backup - and of course in seppuku. Only the Dragon clan uses two blades at once, and they wield the katana in one hand. This niten-stile uses the wakizashi defensively while attacking with the katana.The D&D representation of the katana as masterwork bastard sword is spot on for this, since you usually use it two-handed, but some go for some special training to use it in one.That battle of wills would probably part of the iaijutsu/iaido duel. Before a duel starts in earnest, the two combatants will size each other up. If one finds the other to be clearly superior in skill, he can surrender without losing face (of course, if the duel was to be fought to the death, he'll commit seppuku). If neither backs down, they will duel, which has two phaces: focus and strike. During the focus phase, you'll concentrate to focus all your being into the perfect strike. That strike combines drawing the blade and striking in one smooth movement. That should definetly get some coverage for a samurai. The Iaijutsu Focus skill works well for this, but many of the B9S manoeuvres fit the flavour, so you could create a warblade character and call him samurai (that's what I've done for a game I'm playing in currently)Another facet that should be in is the fact that samurai aren't just fighting men - they're lords, the ruling nobility, and expected to be well-educated. Your average samurai has to know the intricacies of the court, etiquette, and many learn some art or craft like calligraphy, origami, flower arranging, poetry, or the crafting of katanas.Then there's bushido - the way of the warrior. It has several tenets, foremost among them honour. A samurai who disregards bushido brings dishonour to himself and others.Of course, part of the code is "death before dishonour".A samurai's ancestral swords - the long katana and the shorter wakizashi - also play part of the codex, and might get some representation in the rules (like the OA samurai's ancestral daisho ability).</blockquote>

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