Asian Weapons and Armor [Archive] - Wizards Community

Asian Weapons and Armor [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Khaldune
12-31-06, 02:33 AM I am looking for stats on asian weapons such as tanto, Wakizashi, Katana, Naginata ... also on the samurai armor as well. If there is a site out there with this informantion I would appreciate the help.
narukagami
12-31-06, 03:22 AM Tanto = Dagger, wakizashi = shortsword, katana = bastardsword OR 1d8 18-20/x2 w/bastard handedness mechanics (don't start), naginata = glaive.

Armor can be found in Oriental Adventures.

In before uninformed bullsh*t, idiots thinking there was wood armor, and trolling.
Norsesmithy
12-31-06, 03:29 AM You would have been better served posting this on the Oriental Adventure boards.

I think that the best plan would have been to post the question there, and then vet the answer by posting the stats, and ideas, here.
nonsi
12-31-06, 10:26 AM naginata = glaive

Not even close.
Ask anyone with some martial arts background and he'll tell you that the Naginata is one of the most efficient face to face weapons ever designed. It's comparatively very light, it's as deadly as any, it has reach, it can trip easily and it functions wonderfully even in tight areas.

The only reason not adding it to the weapons' list is related to balance.
narukagami
12-31-06, 01:39 PM one of the most efficient face to face weapons ever designed. It's comparatively very light, it's as deadly as any, it has reach, it can trip easily and it functions wonderfully even in tight areas. Oddly enough you also just described a glaive, funny, that. :rolleyes:

Compare them side by side, they look very much alike.
Compare their real life use, they're almost exactly the same.
Consider we're converting them to generic D&D stats, and they're both similarly-sized curved blades mounted on a pole.

Lets look to (shudder) wikipedia.
Glaive: "A glaive is a polearm consisting of a single-edged blade on the end of a pole. It is similar to the Japanese naginata. However, instead of having a tang like a sword or naginata, the blade is affixed in a socket-shaft configuration similar to an axe head."

Naginata: "Naginata (なぎなた, 長刀 or 薙刀) is a pole weapon that was traditionally used in Japan by members of the samurai class. It has become associated with women, and in modern Japan, it is studied by women more than men. It consists of a wood shaft with a curved blade fashioned onto the end, and is similar to the European glaive."

Note: The socket mounting vs tang matters not in D&D.

Also, every book I can find a reference in relates the two. Every notation on use finds them to be effectively the same

For all intents and purposes, its a Glaive.
Surgo
12-31-06, 02:04 PM Not even close.
Considering how we're converting to generic D&D statistics, saying a naginata is one of the martial reach weapons with different flavor is perfectly acceptable.

A glaive makes a good fit. If one of my players wanted to call his ranseur or guisarme or Talenta sharash (Eberron) a naginata instead, that would be perfectly fine too. The statistics for those weapons are all balanced, the only difference is flavor.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Khaldune 12-31-06, 02:33 AM	I am looking for stats on asian weapons such as tanto, Wakizashi, Katana, Naginata ... also on the samurai armor as well. If there is a site out there with this informantion I would appreciate the help.
narukagami 12-31-06, 03:22 AM	Tanto = Dagger, wakizashi = shortsword, katana = bastardsword OR 1d8 18-20/x2 w/bastard handedness mechanics (don't start), naginata = glaive. Armor can be found in Oriental Adventures. In before uninformed bullsh*t, idiots thinking there was wood armor, and trolling.
Norsesmithy 12-31-06, 03:29 AM	You would have been better served posting this on the Oriental Adventure boards. I think that the best plan would have been to post the question there, and then vet the answer by posting the stats, and ideas, here.
nonsi 12-31-06, 10:26 AM	naginata = glaive Not even close. Ask anyone with some martial arts background and he'll tell you that the Naginata is one of the most efficient face to face weapons ever designed. It's comparatively very light, it's as deadly as any, it has reach, it can trip easily and it functions wonderfully even in tight areas. The only reason not adding it to the weapons' list is related to balance.
narukagami 12-31-06, 01:39 PM	one of the most efficient face to face weapons ever designed. It's comparatively very light, it's as deadly as any, it has reach, it can trip easily and it functions wonderfully even in tight areas. Oddly enough you also just described a glaive, funny, that. :rolleyes: Compare them side by side, they look very much alike. Compare their real life use, they're almost exactly the same. Consider we're converting them to generic D&D stats, and they're both similarly-sized curved blades mounted on a pole. Lets look to (shudder) wikipedia. Glaive: "A glaive is a polearm consisting of a single-edged blade on the end of a pole. It is similar to the Japanese naginata. However, instead of having a tang like a sword or naginata, the blade is affixed in a socket-shaft configuration similar to an axe head." Naginata: "Naginata (なぎなた, 長刀 or 薙刀) is a pole weapon that was traditionally used in Japan by members of the samurai class. It has become associated with women, and in modern Japan, it is studied by women more than men. It consists of a wood shaft with a curved blade fashioned onto the end, and is similar to the European glaive." Note: The socket mounting vs tang matters not in D&D. Also, every book I can find a reference in relates the two. Every notation on use finds them to be effectively the same For all intents and purposes, its a Glaive.
Surgo 12-31-06, 02:04 PM	Not even close. Considering how we're converting to generic D&D statistics, saying a naginata is one of the martial reach weapons with different flavor is perfectly acceptable. A glaive makes a good fit. If one of my players wanted to call his ranseur or guisarme or Talenta sharash (Eberron) a naginata instead, that would be perfectly fine too. The statistics for those weapons are all balanced, the only difference is flavor.