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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Yaarel" data-source="post: 9050416" data-attributes="member: 58172">I cant think of an other term for "katana" ... that means katana. Quicksword? Sprysword?In an earlier edition, I might have said "elfsword", but I doubt that would work now when 2024 decouples abilities from species, and my understanding of "elf" never connoted Dexterity anyway.The katana is a proper sword, where the definition of a "sword" is a blade length between 2 and 3 feet. Since the katana is a sword, I would avoid the term "knife". It is mainly its construction and hilt that allow its finesse property.A "knife", including a dagger, has a bladelength less than 1 foot. Thus the longknife that is over 1 foot, counts as a shortsword whose bladelength is between 1 and 2 feet.For polearm, it depends on the type of polearm.A Spear should probably count as a "polearm". It is the original polearm. Any spear or longer (longspear, lance, pike), is used to keep a target away. Probably, the weapon itself should grant an Opportunity Attack at any target that tries to move past the spearhead.Some polearms are designed to pierce armor.When I was thinking about guns in D&D, the bullet pierces the metal armor. To represent how a gun ignores armor, the best mechanic is probably a Dexterity saving throw versus 1d8 Pierce. Thus heavy armor and low Dexterity is less helpful against a gun. For a single bullet, the saving throw is all or nothing. Maybe for a shotgun spray, there might be half damage. Perhaps specially reinforced "proofed" armors grant an advantage to the saving throw.Maybe the armor-bypassing polearms can have a similar mechanic. If thrusting the part of the polearm that is a spear (or similar spike or sword blade at the end of the pole), then it does normal spear damage, 1d8 Pierce. But if swinging the part of the polearm that obviates armor, it does DC 10 Dexterity save, versus 1d8 Pierce or versus 1d8 Bludgeon, depending on the type of polearm. The polearm wielder chooses which part of the polearm to use for each attack.I havent thought much about the axe. Notably, many axes are normal axes, the kind that chop wood. So, at least they are a handy tool, such as to chop thru a door.If you are familiar with a "claymore", that is what a reallife "longsword" looks like. A longsword is "long", with a blade length between 3 and 4 feet. One can wield a claymore one-handed, but it would never count as a "finesse" sword.(Earlier editions employed the term "long sword" improperly. What these called a "bastard sword" is actually what a longsword is. 5e corrected the error, emphasizing that a longsword is long and can be wielded with either one or two hands.)The "sword" is the "normal sword", also known as a knightly arming sword, viking sword, spatha, and other names. It is a one-handed weapon, can "cut and thrust" (Slash/Pierce), and is, in fact, an agile weapon that counts as a 5e Finesse property.The katana is comparable to the Western "sword" but has a long hilt that is typically wielded with both hands. One can wield a katana with one hand.One can use katanas and knightly swords in two-weapon fighting. But those who can do it well are rare. These blades arent "Light". The way 5e requires a feat works great.</blockquote>

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