Martial Arts Campaign

whswhs · 03-11-2010, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nymdok

1500-1700 points is quite a bit to start for a new GM! I recomend something a little closer to 150-250.

From the context, I took this to mean the years 1500-1700.

Bill Stoddard

Nymdok · 03-11-2010, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whswhs

From the context, I took this to mean the years 1500-1700.

Bill Stoddard

DOH! I read that as '1500-1700 starting points'

Nymdok

p.s. Depending on the era Hakagure(sp?) might be a book worth flipping through. If your not a big reader, sit down and watch 'Ghost Dog'.

sgtcallistan · 03-11-2010, 10:25 AM

On the sources for a Samurai game; at the risk of seeming silly, I suggest the comic book 'Usagi Yojimbo' by Stan Sakai.

Yes, he's a rabbit; but the details, clothes, mythology, background, names, places, stories, ideas and visuals are all inspirational.

I recommend it for games that contain magic, intrigue, and interesting characters.

There was even a rpg book for it.

Dionysius · 03-11-2010, 11:04 AM

lol!!! Af friend of mine gave me that book for a couple of weeks for the same reason...We wanted to start Oriental Adventures (2nd ed. D&D)....but i am trying to convince him to use Gurps ;)

Dionysius · 03-12-2010, 03:07 AM

Okay...found a 2nd edition Gurps book about Japan!! :)

2 questions: Why is the Katana not MUCH more damaging than a regular longsword?

Why isn't the wakizashi statted in the martial arts book (at least i didn't found it)?

Gr.

archypetro · 03-12-2010, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dionysius

Okay...found a 2nd edition Gurps book about Japan!! :)

2 questions: Why is the Katana not MUCH more damaging than a regular longsword?

Why isn't the wakizashi statted in the martial arts book (at least i didn't found it)?

Gr.

1) Katanas are not statted to be much more damaging than regular longswords, simply because they're not. If someone swung a long sword at you
and someone swung a katana at you.. you'd probably estimate that the overall damage is roughly along the lines of "oh no, i'm hurting very badly"

All this stuff about katanas being super sharp, well it may well be true.. but so were longswords.

2) When you consider the fact that a katana is essentially a thrusting bastard sword with slightly less thrusting reach, is it not easy to infere that a wakazashi would be a short sword, named differently.

Dionysius · 03-12-2010, 04:33 AM

Hmm okay...i really thought Japanese weapons had other stats than Western weapons. I thought they were much sharper and had other features...

SuedodeuS · 03-12-2010, 10:15 AM

I think the main difference between a katana and bastard sword (aside from the fact that the latter is far better for thrusting) is that the katana slices, whereas the bastard sword hacks. Slicing is better for causing damage, whereas hacking is better for transmission of trauma through armor (or so I've heard). I just started a thread discussing this (with a possible houserule for it) here. I had originally written it as a reply to this thread, but figured it probably warranted its own.

Dionysius · 03-12-2010, 02:46 PM

Okay, i guess you have some more 'knowledge' about these weapons than i have. Unfortunatly in Philosophic discussion, i totally agree with you. (as great fan of Nietzsche & Kant ;) )

So, instead of wakizashi, you can use short sword stats. I bought the book of the five rings, and started reading it today.

I can only thank you for your help and must mention that the Gurps community is totally different than the D&D community :)

Greetings from the Netherlands

Dionysius

archypetro · 03-13-2010, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuedodeuS

I think the main difference between a katana and bastard sword (aside from the fact that the latter is far better for thrusting) is that the katana slices, whereas the bastard sword hacks. Slicing is better for causing damage, whereas hacking is better for transmission of trauma through armor (or so I've heard). I just started a thread discussing this (with a possible houserule for it) here. I had originally written it as a reply to this thread, but figured it probably warranted its own.

What's your definition of 'hacking' and 'slicing'? Bastard swords were doing well at slicing also. and the difference between something bring more or less bludgeoning (i assume hacking is a more even mix of cutting/bludgeoning) is dependent on sharpness. Katanas and medieval swords were no doubt similar in sharpness. Maybe the katana had the edge (hahah, i rock) but not significantly so.

03-11-2010, 10:25 AM	#3
sgtcallistan Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chatham, Kent, England	Re: Martial Arts Campaign On the sources for a Samurai game; at the risk of seeming silly, I suggest the comic book 'Usagi Yojimbo' by Stan Sakai. Yes, he's a rabbit; but the details, clothes, mythology, background, names, places, stories, ideas and visuals are all inspirational. I recommend it for games that contain magic, intrigue, and interesting characters. There was even a rpg book for it.

03-11-2010, 11:04 AM	#4
Dionysius Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sittard (Netherlands)	Re: Martial Arts Campaign lol!!! Af friend of mine gave me that book for a couple of weeks for the same reason...We wanted to start Oriental Adventures (2nd ed. D&D)....but i am trying to convince him to use Gurps ;) __________________ "Einsamer, du gehst den Weg zu dir selber! Und an dir selber führt dein Weg vorbei an deinen sieben Teufeln!" (Nietzsche: Also Sprach Zarathustra)

03-12-2010, 03:07 AM	#5
Dionysius Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sittard (Netherlands)	Re: Martial Arts Campaign Okay...found a 2nd edition Gurps book about Japan!! :) 2 questions: Why is the Katana not MUCH more damaging than a regular longsword? Why isn't the wakizashi statted in the martial arts book (at least i didn't found it)? Gr. __________________ "Einsamer, du gehst den Weg zu dir selber! Und an dir selber führt dein Weg vorbei an deinen sieben Teufeln!" (Nietzsche: Also Sprach Zarathustra)

03-12-2010, 04:33 AM	#7
Dionysius Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sittard (Netherlands)	Re: Martial Arts Campaign Hmm okay...i really thought Japanese weapons had other stats than Western weapons. I thought they were much sharper and had other features... __________________ "Einsamer, du gehst den Weg zu dir selber! Und an dir selber führt dein Weg vorbei an deinen sieben Teufeln!" (Nietzsche: Also Sprach Zarathustra)

03-12-2010, 10:15 AM	#8
SuedodeuS Join Date: Sep 2008	Re: Martial Arts Campaign I think the main difference between a katana and bastard sword (aside from the fact that the latter is far better for thrusting) is that the katana slices, whereas the bastard sword hacks. Slicing is better for causing damage, whereas hacking is better for transmission of trauma through armor (or so I've heard). I just started a thread discussing this (with a possible houserule for it) here. I had originally written it as a reply to this thread, but figured it probably warranted its own. __________________ Quos deus vult perdere, prius dementat. Latin: Those whom a god wishes to destroy, he first drives mad.

03-12-2010, 02:46 PM	#9
Dionysius Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sittard (Netherlands)	Re: Martial Arts Campaign Okay, i guess you have some more 'knowledge' about these weapons than i have. Unfortunatly in Philosophic discussion, i totally agree with you. (as great fan of Nietzsche & Kant ;) ) So, instead of wakizashi, you can use short sword stats. I bought the book of the five rings, and started reading it today. I can only thank you for your help and must mention that the Gurps community is totally different than the D&D community :) Greetings from the Netherlands Dionysius __________________ "Einsamer, du gehst den Weg zu dir selber! Und an dir selber führt dein Weg vorbei an deinen sieben Teufeln!" (Nietzsche: Also Sprach Zarathustra)