Katana
The katana was once the symbol of the military class and of the prestigious lords of feudal Japan. The katana was more than just a sword; it was a statement that spoke to an individual samurai’s style and spirit. The character of the smith was said to be burned into the folded steel, and the wielder could purportedly sense the spark of life hidden within each blade. The blades were versatile in both offense and defense, providing the warrior with a dynamic ebb-and-flow in battle. The blade could block an attack from on-high or down-low. If the blade penetrated the defense, the edge could split an opponent’s skull in two. The katana was an instrument of deadly alacrity and precision.
And now, you can buy katanas in shopping malls and on the Internet.
The katana has attained an almost fetishistic resonance in modern pop culture, showing up in movies like Highlander, The Matrix Reloaded and Kill Bill as well as in comic books, anime and television shows. As such, these swords are now prominently sold (along with a number of martial arts weapons) to collectors and pop culture aficionados. These swords might be beautiful, but they’re not meant to be used as weapons. They are, instead, meant to hang on walls or rest in display cases, nothing more. As such, the majority of katanas sold suffer from the Decorative Weapons rules mentioned above, with Damage 2(L) and Durability 2. These swords can be used in combat, but they certainly shouldn’t. They are of lower cost, however (Cost ••).
Some actual smiths still produce genuine katanas. The weapon chart Traits apply to these swords in particular, and not to the kind of katana one might purchase at a flea market. Weapons-grade katanas are well-balanced and sharp, and have the folded steel technique that helps to make these swords particularly special and tough (Durability 4). Ultimately, the sword’s Durability is really its only key advantage over European-style swords.
And now, you can buy katanas in shopping malls and on the Internet.
The katana has attained an almost fetishistic resonance in modern pop culture, showing up in movies like Highlander, The Matrix Reloaded and Kill Bill as well as in comic books, anime and television shows. As such, these swords are now prominently sold (along with a number of martial arts weapons) to collectors and pop culture aficionados. These swords might be beautiful, but they’re not meant to be used as weapons. They are, instead, meant to hang on walls or rest in display cases, nothing more. As such, the majority of katanas sold suffer from the Decorative Weapons rules mentioned above, with Damage 2(L) and Durability 2. These swords can be used in combat, but they certainly shouldn’t. They are of lower cost, however (Cost ••).
Some actual smiths still produce genuine katanas. The weapon chart Traits apply to these swords in particular, and not to the kind of katana one might purchase at a flea market. Weapons-grade katanas are well-balanced and sharp, and have the folded steel technique that helps to make these swords particularly special and tough (Durability 4). Ultimately, the sword’s Durability is really its only key advantage over European-style swords.
Item type
Weapon, Melee
Size: 2/L
Durability: 4
Cost: •••