GameBanshee Forums

As it appears to be more of a speak your mind kind of thing if you want to discuss:- Why the Katana should not be considered a sword. or how Lawful Good works in the real/unreal/fantasy world. Lets do it here.

First an apology :- I thought the whole 'it's not a sword' was just a little bit of humour. It has gotten seriously out of hand (one handed or two handed... ). It is just a game, forum, etc.

Secondly :- As those who frequent here well know Lawful Good - Good - Paladin has been beaten around the boards so many times that if anyone actually said anything new it would be a miracle.

The Katana is not a sword because (as modelled in BG2) a sword doesn't do as much damage. There is no justification for this in the game or in reality. In fact sword 'experts' claim that in the real world the finest blades made anywhere at any time (before the Industrial Revolution) were made in Damascus around the time of the Crusades. These were mainly long swords, broad swords and Scimitars (can anyone say 1d8?).

Speaking his tiny mind - Curdis

Firstly paladins: I think the whole paladin class is a misstake. A paladin should be a fighter and laws of conduct etc should be roleplayed, not be the part of a class. I could be able to accept paladin as a prestige class though. But imo there are already far to many classes in D&D, particularly with the new multiclass rules.

Swords and damage: Since there are no realism justification for anything in D&D i think considerations in the matter should only involve game balance and general coolnes, and in a balance perspective there is no reason for the katana to be d10.

Lawful good: The alignment in D&D have nothing to do with real-life either. its a part of a world were there are two major forces at work, good and evil. and the only diference between these forces are how they act against thier own kind. imo as the worlds built on D&D have grown more complex the alignment system should be abandoned.

AHHRG double posts... sorry

[ 10-30-2001: Message edited by: Dottie ]

Well, I'm with you, Dottie, double post or no. Paladins are a sort of unnecessary clerical kit, IMO.

With the Katana, you have to remember (I don't know if anyone else has said this) that you have to take an EXTRA feat to use it effectively, the payoff of using an extra feat is better damage. Remember this game is a fantasy world and things can't be done randomly...

With the Paladin, it's my favourite class!! It's sort of like the hero of the people, the chivalrous warrior who saves the damsel in distress or kills the dragon plaguing the countryside, whats wrong with a class like that?

I shall refrain from commenting on the other 2 issues,but my little contribution goes to the real life swords,since I happen to know a few things.Japan was a very secluded society and even today there are very few students of their ironmomgery.The Damascus scimitars,widely known through the Arab conquests,were finely crafted weapons,few of which can still be found today in private collections and/or museums.They were made from seven thin sheets of steel and they were superbly balanced for one-hand use.
The katana,on the other hand was made from ONE sheet of steel,rolled around itself,and its balance allowed one or two hand use.I have stared for hours at one, kept at the Nagoya Monastery,made by the famous master Yoshinobo,for the Tokugawa Shoguns.Another beautiful thing about the katana.It can be used in backhand,swan,cobra or any other fighting style.Hope that was ellucidating.