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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mhd" data-source="post: 1430077" data-attributes="member: 16805">Erm, while I agree that the ninja-to is mostly a product of modern fiction, I'd have to disagree with the assumption that carrying around a "honking big piece of metal" wasn't done or is that stupid.Due to folk myths, modern "practitioners" spreading misinformation and disagreeing scholars, it's not as easy getting a balanced view about "ninjas", but it's not all just an invention of modern western movies, making japanese bogeyman into a reality...It seems that the view of ninjas as highly-trained assassins raised in secret societies is mostly wrong. Usually they were low-class samurai for special occassions where less compunctions and honor was needed. Some kind of Samurai special forces. So you can assume they were all trained with swords, why not use on a not-so-stealthy mission. When you and your compatriots get caught in the fortress of the enemy, what you're gonna do? Do everything with shaken and chains? You're probably carrying enough equipment already, a blade on your back wouldn't be that cumbersome.Apparently the mostly were shorter, but it's not like wakizashis and katanas had specified lengths. Shorter blades just are less cumbersome and easier to draw, quite a surprise when you hide them in longer scabbards and your opponent thinks that at this distance you're not dangerous...Crudely forged straight blades just for ninjas shouldn't be dismissed altogether. They are rather easy to come by (but with all the battlefields in the sengoku era, that shouldn't be a problem), and they would allow some stuff that you shouldn't do with a katana. Using it as a prybar, for example. Or actually parrying -- which you usually don't do with the real swords. If the metal is a little softer, you could use it to break the katana with it. Unless your opponent has a very good blade and is strong enough to just cut through your little toy...But hey, quite a long post about reality when you consider that most weapons straight from the PHB have no straight historical precedent. I'm not even talking about dire flails and double axes...If your ninjas have ninja-to's, fine. I still find it hard to classify them as exotic, but it sure helps the players get a sense of mystery about the ninjas. If you need black-clad assassins, why not? Surely no worse than orcs, double-bladed axes, vikings in medieval settings or castles that are built within eight weeks...</blockquote>

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