Katana - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Katana

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
squarecircle
Jun 27, 2008 3:28:49 Final Thoughts:
After deliberation and discussion, here are my proposed house rulings:

Treat certain Japanese weaponry as equivalents to weapons in the PHB, as follows:

Tanto: dagger
Wakizashi: short sword
Chisa katana: longsword
Katana: bastard sword
No-dachi / Odachi: greatsword

------------Original post below:

I was searching the forums hoping that someone had created a house rule for this, but all I found was a thread making fun of said house rules (ironically).

So-- are there any good house rules for katana stats?

I'm personally thinking of making it exactly like the bastard sword, except change the weight to 3 lbs to more accurately reflect the weight of the katana. I don't think the change in weight would be terribly unbalancing, especially with the reduced emphasis on encumberance in 4e (I still see players largely choosing one or the other based on flavor, not the katana's slight drop in weight).

Anything wrong with this?

Also-- any suggestions or other house rules for the katana in your campaigns?

PEACH.
#2
docaquatic
Jun 27, 2008 7:29:58 I'd say that's a fair assessment of a katana. I'd probably treat it as a longsword myself, just so characters wouldn't need to drop a feat to get the proficiency bonus (Since they could use bastard swords/katana without the exotic proficiency in 3.X, just not as well).

In my own games, I typically tend to equate a non-european culture's archetypal sword to the longsword and go from there if I want to play characters or run a game in a non-european background. It gives room for the bigger swords (Like odachi and the like) to fit the bastard sword role.
#3
Cadwyn
Jun 27, 2008 7:43:15 Personally, if the world was to my bidding, the katana would have the following stats:

Superior Melee One-handed
+3 Prof, 1d8 Damage, Price 30gp, weight 4lb, Heavy Blade, Versatile, Highcrit
#4
squarecircle
Jun 27, 2008 13:49:33
I'd say that's a fair assessment of a katana. I'd probably treat it as a longsword myself, just so characters wouldn't need to drop a feat to get the proficiency bonus (Since they could use bastard swords/katana without the exotic proficiency in 3.X, just not as well).

In my own games, I typically tend to equate a non-european culture's archetypal sword to the longsword and go from there if I want to play characters or run a game in a non-european background. It gives room for the bigger swords (Like odachi and the like) to fit the bastard sword role.

Hm, you actually make a good point. I'll have to mull this over some more.

I've been treating it like the longsword so far, a la 3.x, but unlike 3.x, masterwork weapons are gone-- which is partly why I thought about treating it like the bastard sword, to make it "feel" different. But also, it's going to be used by a 2-handed weapon fighter, and I don't want her character to be under-powered because she chose a "weaker" weapon.
#5
AaronOfBarbaria
Jun 27, 2008 14:00:45
Hm, you actually make a good point. I'll have to mull this over some more.

I've been treating it like the longsword so far, a la 3.x, but unlike 3.x, masterwork weapons are gone-- which is partly why I thought about treating it like the bastard sword, to make it "feel" different. But also, it's going to be used by a 2-handed weapon fighter, and I don't want her character to be under-powered because she chose a "weaker" weapon.

Make sure it isn't "weaker," by showing the difference between various swords from japan

short sword = wakizashi
Long sword = one of the shorter varieties of katana
Bastard sword = one of the longer katanas that can be used in one hand if needed
Great sword = a no-dachi or similar sword not balance properly for one handed use
#6
rentauri
Jun 27, 2008 15:00:51 I would say

Dagger - Tanto
Short Sword - Wakizashi
Long Sword - Chisakatana
Bastard Sword - Katana
Great Sword - No-dachi
#7
ninetail
Jun 28, 2008 2:27:09
So-- are there any good house rules for katana stats?

I'm personally thinking of making it exactly like the bastard sword, except change the weight to 3 lbs to more accurately reflect the weight of the katana.

Weight's not much of an issue, no.

I can see two approaches here. If you're going for the more "realistic" approach, go with the bastard sword equivalency.

If you're going for the cinematic death blade, but still want balance, make it equivalent to the longsword, but tack on the High Crit property and make it a superior weapon. They pay a feat for the extra dice on a crit. (Or for +1 to hit and Versatile, compared to the scimitar.) Damage would be a little lower on the average hit, but greater on a crit.
#8
unundindur
Jun 28, 2008 6:57:38 If you want something custom, i guess changing damage to 2d4 (making it more powerful in combination with certain items) could be an option. Otherwise, I find the advice above very satisfying. Another possibility would be to add it as a superior weapon, akin to longsword but with a +4 proficiency bonus.
#9
rpglucas
Jun 28, 2008 8:03:56 What about making the katana a sword that can be used with proficiency with the longsword, using the longsword stats AND be used with the bastard sword prof with the bastard stats... so you can choose to deal 1d10 qithout the prof bonus if you dont have the bastard feat

and create the extra fluff/crunch in feats:

Iaido (Heroic)
The drawing of the sword is a technique mastered to deal more damage in the first cut
Prereq: Wis 13+, Quick Draw
Benefit: You deal an extra 2 points of damage (3 if you are using a katana) if you attack the enemy in the first round before the enemy's initiative.
Special: This feat can only be used with light blades and heavy blades.

Shiai Training (Heroic)
The extensive combat training that you undergo teaches you to last longer while you hit and are hit back
Prereq: Con 13+
Benefit: Once per round as a free action, you gain 1 (2 if using the katana) temporary hit points. You can only use this if you are hit by the enemy you hit in your turn.

Tell me if you all liked it, i can create some paragon and epic feats.
^_^
#10
squarecircle
Jun 28, 2008 14:32:18 Thanks everyone. So far I am liking Aaron and rentauri's solution best. Simple, effective, and I don't have to worry about throwing anything out of balance.
#11
kinie
Jun 29, 2008 2:41:27 In my 4e campaign, I asked the DM if I could have a katana. After hearing that the katana's stats are exactly the same as the Bastard Sword's stats (Superior Melee, +3, 1d10, 30 gp, 6 lbs., Heavy Blade, Versatile) he agreed. Things have been going pretty well with it too; the damage output - for me at least - is in the range of 6-7 before adding in any modifiers and I haven't even made it a magic weapon just yet.

If you wanted to make more weapons that were also in the same lineage as other samurai swords, look up the sword's size and weight and compare it to what is in the PHB. From what I saw, rentauri's suggestion of what a samurai sword would equal to in the PHB looks right to me.

Just be sure to clear this with the DM. More than likely he won't mind, since you'll probably need to take a Weapon Proficiency to use the katana (since its a Heavy Blade, just take Weapon Proficiency - Heavy Blade and you'll get anything that falls under the Heavy Blade catagory).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 squarecircle Jun 27, 2008 3:28:49	Final Thoughts: After deliberation and discussion, here are my proposed house rulings: Treat certain Japanese weaponry as equivalents to weapons in the PHB, as follows: Tanto: dagger Wakizashi: short sword Chisa katana: longsword Katana: bastard sword No-dachi / Odachi: greatsword ------------Original post below: I was searching the forums hoping that someone had created a house rule for this, but all I found was a thread making fun of said house rules (ironically). So-- are there any good house rules for katana stats? I'm personally thinking of making it exactly like the bastard sword, except change the weight to 3 lbs to more accurately reflect the weight of the katana. I don't think the change in weight would be terribly unbalancing, especially with the reduced emphasis on encumberance in 4e (I still see players largely choosing one or the other based on flavor, not the katana's slight drop in weight). Anything wrong with this? Also-- any suggestions or other house rules for the katana in your campaigns? PEACH.
#2 docaquatic Jun 27, 2008 7:29:58	I'd say that's a fair assessment of a katana. I'd probably treat it as a longsword myself, just so characters wouldn't need to drop a feat to get the proficiency bonus (Since they could use bastard swords/katana without the exotic proficiency in 3.X, just not as well). In my own games, I typically tend to equate a non-european culture's archetypal sword to the longsword and go from there if I want to play characters or run a game in a non-european background. It gives room for the bigger swords (Like odachi and the like) to fit the bastard sword role.
#3 Cadwyn Jun 27, 2008 7:43:15	Personally, if the world was to my bidding, the katana would have the following stats: Superior Melee One-handed +3 Prof, 1d8 Damage, Price 30gp, weight 4lb, Heavy Blade, Versatile, Highcrit
#4 squarecircle Jun 27, 2008 13:49:33	I'd say that's a fair assessment of a katana. I'd probably treat it as a longsword myself, just so characters wouldn't need to drop a feat to get the proficiency bonus (Since they could use bastard swords/katana without the exotic proficiency in 3.X, just not as well). In my own games, I typically tend to equate a non-european culture's archetypal sword to the longsword and go from there if I want to play characters or run a game in a non-european background. It gives room for the bigger swords (Like odachi and the like) to fit the bastard sword role. Hm, you actually make a good point. I'll have to mull this over some more. I've been treating it like the longsword so far, a la 3.x, but unlike 3.x, masterwork weapons are gone-- which is partly why I thought about treating it like the bastard sword, to make it "feel" different. But also, it's going to be used by a 2-handed weapon fighter, and I don't want her character to be under-powered because she chose a "weaker" weapon.
#5 AaronOfBarbaria Jun 27, 2008 14:00:45	Hm, you actually make a good point. I'll have to mull this over some more. I've been treating it like the longsword so far, a la 3.x, but unlike 3.x, masterwork weapons are gone-- which is partly why I thought about treating it like the bastard sword, to make it "feel" different. But also, it's going to be used by a 2-handed weapon fighter, and I don't want her character to be under-powered because she chose a "weaker" weapon. Make sure it isn't "weaker," by showing the difference between various swords from japan short sword = wakizashi Long sword = one of the shorter varieties of katana Bastard sword = one of the longer katanas that can be used in one hand if needed Great sword = a no-dachi or similar sword not balance properly for one handed use
#6 rentauri Jun 27, 2008 15:00:51	I would say Dagger - Tanto Short Sword - Wakizashi Long Sword - Chisakatana Bastard Sword - Katana Great Sword - No-dachi
#7 ninetail Jun 28, 2008 2:27:09	So-- are there any good house rules for katana stats? I'm personally thinking of making it exactly like the bastard sword, except change the weight to 3 lbs to more accurately reflect the weight of the katana. Weight's not much of an issue, no. I can see two approaches here. If you're going for the more "realistic" approach, go with the bastard sword equivalency. If you're going for the cinematic death blade, but still want balance, make it equivalent to the longsword, but tack on the High Crit property and make it a superior weapon. They pay a feat for the extra dice on a crit. (Or for +1 to hit and Versatile, compared to the scimitar.) Damage would be a little lower on the average hit, but greater on a crit.
#8 unundindur Jun 28, 2008 6:57:38	If you want something custom, i guess changing damage to 2d4 (making it more powerful in combination with certain items) could be an option. Otherwise, I find the advice above very satisfying. Another possibility would be to add it as a superior weapon, akin to longsword but with a +4 proficiency bonus.
#9 rpglucas Jun 28, 2008 8:03:56	What about making the katana a sword that can be used with proficiency with the longsword, using the longsword stats AND be used with the bastard sword prof with the bastard stats... so you can choose to deal 1d10 qithout the prof bonus if you dont have the bastard feat and create the extra fluff/crunch in feats: Iaido (Heroic) The drawing of the sword is a technique mastered to deal more damage in the first cut Prereq: Wis 13+, Quick Draw Benefit: You deal an extra 2 points of damage (3 if you are using a katana) if you attack the enemy in the first round before the enemy's initiative. Special: This feat can only be used with light blades and heavy blades. Shiai Training (Heroic) The extensive combat training that you undergo teaches you to last longer while you hit and are hit back Prereq: Con 13+ Benefit: Once per round as a free action, you gain 1 (2 if using the katana) temporary hit points. You can only use this if you are hit by the enemy you hit in your turn. Tell me if you all liked it, i can create some paragon and epic feats. ^_^
#10 squarecircle Jun 28, 2008 14:32:18	Thanks everyone. So far I am liking Aaron and rentauri's solution best. Simple, effective, and I don't have to worry about throwing anything out of balance.
#11 kinie Jun 29, 2008 2:41:27	In my 4e campaign, I asked the DM if I could have a katana. After hearing that the katana's stats are exactly the same as the Bastard Sword's stats (Superior Melee, +3, 1d10, 30 gp, 6 lbs., Heavy Blade, Versatile) he agreed. Things have been going pretty well with it too; the damage output - for me at least - is in the range of 6-7 before adding in any modifiers and I haven't even made it a magic weapon just yet. If you wanted to make more weapons that were also in the same lineage as other samurai swords, look up the sword's size and weight and compare it to what is in the PHB. From what I saw, rentauri's suggestion of what a samurai sword would equal to in the PHB looks right to me. Just be sure to clear this with the DM. More than likely he won't mind, since you'll probably need to take a Weapon Proficiency to use the katana (since its a Heavy Blade, just take Weapon Proficiency - Heavy Blade and you'll get anything that falls under the Heavy Blade catagory).