Improving katanas?

Wolfarus · Post by **Wolfarus** » Mon May 31, 2004 3:19 pm

In their description, they are stated to be the "pinnacle" of the sword makers art, which suggests they are the best basic 1-handed sword type you can get or make.

So with this in mind, would it be possible to change the stats on it a bit? If its the best one handed sword out there, maybe make the dam 1d12 instead of 1d10? Or increase the crit. threat to x3 instead of x2. Just an idea to match the sword stats to its description. (that, and i like playing a katana guy. heh)

DrakhanValane · Post by **DrakhanValane** » Mon May 31, 2004 3:36 pm

They already are the best.

Post by **TGPO** » Mon May 31, 2004 3:44 pm

Technicaly speaking a Katana is a hand and a half (or [censored]) sword not a long sword. Because of its singularly unigue fighting style what would be more appropriate would be anyone specializing in it should take a minus in any other weapon because of the dedication and practice that this particular sword requires to stay in top form with it.

Also while the pinnacle of Japanese sword crafting it is not the quintessential "best". That distinction goes more to personal preferance based on fighting style.

This doesnt even begin to cover things like the inclusion of the shorter Wakazashi which serves as a shield sword and the game engine does nothing to take that into account either.

AndrewCarr · Post by **AndrewCarr** » Mon May 31, 2004 3:49 pm

imo, the katana might've been the best in asia, but i don't see how it could've been suited to European battlefields with plate armor. I mean, take a razor sharp thing and knock it against metal armor instead of wood, and i believe you'd get a completely different effect than the one desired by the maker.

Wolfarus · Post by **Wolfarus** » Mon May 31, 2004 3:57 pm

LOL this is all based on a GAME description. IN GAME, its descirbed as the best 1 handed sword around. As such, i think it should have a bit more extra damage then a [censored] sword, or have an improved crit threat range. If you wanna talk about full plate vs any melee weap, no melee weap (save maybe blud. dam) should do much of anything against a guy wearing full plate and a shield.

Teh Panda · Post by **Teh Panda** » Mon May 31, 2004 4:58 pm

In (3.0E DMG) PnP a katana is a masterwork [censored] sword. (+1 bonus attack). And just because the description (which is flavor text) says it is the best sword-type ever made doesn't mean it is better than any other weapon in the game. That would be unbalanced.

rkanodia · Post by **rkanodia** » Mon May 31, 2004 5:44 pm

What he said. You can argue about descriptive text and historical (in-?)accuracy until you're blue in the face, but ultimately it's about gameplay. If katanas offer a mechanical advantage over [censored] swords without having any drawback, then everyone who would have used [censored] swords will use katanas instead, and they still aren't 'special'. If katanas are going to be made distinct, it has to work both ways. Perhaps less damage but higher crit range, or +2 attack vs light/no armor, -2 attack vs heavy armor could work.

DrakhanValane · Post by **DrakhanValane** » Mon May 31, 2004 6:40 pm

My opinion is that Kats should simply be better than Bastards in every way. But as it is they're mechanically identical... so kats are still better because they aren't ugly.

TastyTreat · Post by **TastyTreat** » Mon May 31, 2004 10:20 pm

You could always just settle for a higher crit ranger and/or 3x crit multiplier to reflect their 'razor sharpness'. I would love to have the distinctions between various weapons be more than their appearance, katanas and [censored] swords are just one example of this.

dond · Post by **dond** » Mon May 31, 2004 10:26 pm

sharp weapons don't work well against heavy armor. (heavy weapons do though)

you should be blaming bioware for this in any case!
look at what they did to whips

DrakhanValane · Post by **DrakhanValane** » Mon May 31, 2004 11:03 pm

Whips are the same as in 3e.... as far as they can be. They're much weaker in PnP. While being a ranged weapon with a 15' range, the 1d2 damage is subdual damage and thus is ineffective against anything with +1 armour AC or +3 natural AC.

garrykasparov · Post by **garrykasparov** » Mon May 31, 2004 11:16 pm

A weapon with d10 damage base, 19-20 crit range and x3 damage would be extremely unbalanced, btw. There would be little reason to use pretty much any other slashing weapon, exotic or no. If you wanted to make subtle distinctions between katana and [censored] sword you could simply add a small bonus to some form of skill for all katanas (ex. discipline to reflect the inherently superior defensive nature of the blade) and something else to all [censored] swords (an extra point of slashing damage, perhaps).

Post by **Lokey** » Mon May 31, 2004 11:59 pm

Hehe, then be glad there isn't Mercury swords in basic NWN.

I'd do something with katanas, but the model is just soooo ugly...

Thanos · Post by **Thanos** » Tue Jun 01, 2004 1:39 am

If any sword needs a upgrade its 2 handed sword(great sword). Another problem with Katana and [censored] swords is you can duel weild them. I would like to see any swordsman in the world duel weild [censored] swords. If you want to make them different thats cool but lets not make the 2 handed sword even more useless then it is now.

IcemanXV · Post by **IcemanXV** » Tue Jun 01, 2004 4:40 am

Thanos wrote:If any sword needs a upgrade its 2 handed sword(great sword). Another problem with Katana and [censored] swords is you can duel weild them. I would like to see any swordsman in the world duel weild [censored] swords. If you want to make them different thats cool but lets not make the 2 handed sword even more useless then it is now.

It's not.

[censored] sword: 1d10 + Str damage

-30 Str char: 1d10 (avg 5) + 10

-5+10=15

-Avg 15 Damage

Greatsword: 2d6 + Str 1/2 damage

-30 Str Char: 2d6 (avg 7) + 15

-7+15=22

-Avg 22 Damage