Japanes Sword Additions and Corrections

[paulewaug]

Personally I think that mmu1, aurance, and Anubis all make some very good points. (Basically I agree what they said.)

I also think that it was very helpful of cptg1481 to post the info about the "Pu Dau." (Hey if it's not what you wanted then no big deal, right?)

Have you checked out some of the various d20 equipment books that are around? From Stone to Steel might have some info about this kind of thing.
I do have to say that I don't have it so I can't say if it does, but that I had bought it and ended up taking it back to my FLGS for exchange because just about all the weapons in it matched existing PHB weapons with regards to their specifications.
I was disapointed by this because I could have done that myself! But it does also go along with the idea that the basic weapons available in the PHB pretty well cover the spread.

Now all that having beed said, it's your game and if you want to house rule that the Katana and No-Dachi are better weapons
what do you think about making the damage for the Katana 2-10 (1d6+1d4 hehe nobody ever thiks of doing this.. )
and the No-Dachi could do 3-12 (3d4) this keeps in close to the same damage spread as the Euro versions but offers a highler "low" and good average damage.

Well I just wanted to put that out there. Hope you get what you want! Cheers.

p.s. I just wanted to slip in that I feel the same way about Rapiers and how they are presented in the PHB vs. how I feel they should be done, as you seem to feel about the Katana.
Now having said that, I simply use the PHB_rapier's stats for an Estoc or foil and use the Longsword for a "True Rapier".
Not that that has anything to do with this.

 

[Caspian]

A katana length blade on a stick in japanese would be a nagimaki technically. A naginata blade is more wakazashi length if that.

The generalization for the katana and other ethnic weapons is good, generally these things come down to too much romaticization on how sharp or hardcore the samurai were. Only thing I'd personally do with the katana is lower its hitpoints and weight.



Jonathan

 

[Aaron2]

OT, but here's one of my favorite pieces of 13th century art showing a guy using a long handled great sword on horseback to cleave a dude in half.

http://www.thehaca.com/arttalk/at1NEW.htm

Note the love and care devoted to drawing the victim's intestines.


Aaron

 

[Shadowrun Man]

I dont know why people think the steel in Japan was not of high quality back then. Sure there where some poor quality steel back then in japan, but that can be said for some steel in europe too. It all depends on the person who made the steel, and how experienced the said person is. I am no metallurgy specialist or anything, but I do know there are a great number of variable that could impact the quality of the steel.

I agree with most of you on the fact that the cutting edge of a Katana was not deigned for the abuse of real combat. This is why I dont under stand why people insist on using them in real combat outside of dueling of course. I can see some Samurai using there Katanas in combat, but most never used them in combat, they used battle sword which the Japanese name leaves me at the moment.

I dont agree with most when it comes to the No-Doshi being a great sword version of a Katana, the No-Doshi does not have the aggressive curve, but does have a slaight curve to it though. It is also about 10 inchs longer then a standard great sword, but maybe the length varied from owner to owner much like the Katana.

Anyways thanks for the links Aaron2, and Aurance, they where very helpfull in my project

 

[Azure Trance]

I'm not a metellurgist.

But: I'm pretty sure that the constant, constant, constant, constant, constant refolding of the blade upon itself slowly but surely pounded all the impurities out of the metal.

At least, that's how I remember it from the last time I looked up on the subject.

 

[Frank_Vinneti]

Originally posted by Shadowrun Man
I dont agree with most when it comes to the No-Doshi being a great sword version of a Katana, the No-Doshi does not have the aggressive curve, but does have a slaight curve to it though. It is also about 10 inchs longer then a standard great sword, but maybe the length varied from owner to owner much like the Katana.

You understand that a standart DnD Greatsword measure 180cm, which is 72inches, so it would make it 82inches (205cm), or six feet and ten inches long.

I don't think thats right, since japanese people are rumored to be short (I can't say for sure, 'cause I don't know any japanese man/woman). Even I, who is very tall (about 2 meters tall) wouldn't be comfortable of using such swords, even on an horse. But I sure am no expert.


Frankto

 

[Aaron2]

I dont know why people think the steel in Japan was not of high quality back then. Sure there where some poor quality steel back then in japan, but that can be said for some steel in europe too.

Its not that the steel was bad, but that Japan has a very limited supply of high quality iron deposits (the best being magnetite). Japanese developed techniques to overcome this but it was very labor intensive. The smith Masahide claims that "there is no iron that cannot be made into good steel." However, he goes on to say that starting with better quality metal can save a smith a lot of time and effort.

There is a great japanese sword exhibit at the Royal Armories in Leeds where they discuss in length the Japanese smithing methods. I recommend this museum to any gamer. Its awesome.

I can see some Samurai using there Katanas in combat, but most never used them in combat, they used battle sword which the Japanese name leaves me at the moment.

I think what your remembering is the Tachi. But there are a couple of problems. First, the tachi is from an ealier period and, secondly, the same sword blade could be a tachi or a katana depending on how it was mounted and worn. The sword was always a secondary weapon, either to the bow or the spear. Still, a samurai would wear his swords into battle; they were too valuable, and important, to be left at home.


Aaron

 

[cptg1481]

Whoa there Franki-San

A No-Dashi is a big katana. Peroid.

A Daisho is the common name given to the Samurai's swords set (Katana, Wakizashi and sometimes Tanto); I also heard it meant Big small ( 大小 ).

Note: You will need the Japanese Text font in order to see the symbols for Daisho.


Frankto

No one's calling you out on your samarai lore dude, just posting something I found that was interesting...

Don't be so sensitive...we all think you know your Japanese stuff...

So for effect...I remember the scene in Shogun where the Samari Lord throws the guy down an pee's on his back for talking back?

Consider it done...I have learned my lesson man.

Why so defensive?

 

[Frank_Vinneti]

I didn't mean to appear so aggressive, sorry if I did. I was just pointing some things, and didn't intend to brag about "my japanese knowledge", which is not so impressive when you reconsider.



My appologies,
Frankto

 

[paulewaug]

The sword was always a secondary weapon, either to the bow or the spear. Still, a samurai would wear his swords into battle; they were too valuable, and important, to be left at home.

Aaron

And with that in mind it's kind of funny that the spear is such an under-used weapon in so many games.

I mean it is one of the oldest weapons appearing in most, if not all, (porbably all) cultures. What a great weapon!

I guess it's just not "cool"/kewl enough to be a great hero's weapon compared to the heroic image of the sword...