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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lost Soul" data-source="post: 7224363" data-attributes="member: 81242">Umm you are wrong. Heavy armor is assumed to take the impact of weapon hits because you cannot add your dexterity to AC. The armor either absorbs the hit or doesn't unless the attack roll is so low (i.e a 1-4) that narratively it would be a clear miss. The attack roll is assumed to consist of thrusts, swings, parries, etc. and your D20 roll is the opening that your character has to inflict some damage.  Also, weapons are graded on their effectiveness in a melee situation where people are aware of each other so the damage roll incorporates effects of reach,  type of weapon, weight, etc. A dagger is very dangerous against an unarmed opponent. So much so that gang battles had rules that allowed chains, baseball bats and brass knuckles but not knives because knives are inherently lethal due to puncture and bleeding wounds. If we are judging a katana strictly by its optimal ability to do damage to a typical heavily armored D&D knight then it would most likely do a measly D6 of damage to account for the fact that it really cannot penetrate heavy armor and chainmail is standard fare for 1rst level fighters, paladins and clerics of war, storms and life. The humble short sword of the Roman Legions killed far more people than a katana ever did and built an empire. Unlike a katana it could pierce chainmail.</blockquote>