Guild Wars 2

I’m willing to bet any real swordsman will have objection to you using a katana with only one hand and no offhand. I know you have a stylized idea in your head about ninjas, I’m just saying it’s not realistic. :P

Xenon.4537:

I’m willing to bet any real swordsman will have objection to you using a katana with only one hand and no offhand. I know you have a stylized idea in your head about ninjas, I’m just saying it’s not realistic. :P

I’m no sword or martial arts expert but I’m pretty sure there are accounts of one-handed uses for Katanas or other swords of that nature (I have no idea what any of the names are – Katana’s just a term that everyone who follows pop culture can still understand).

Getting down to nitpicking the dynamics of names applies to a narrow margin of people that, realistically, most of us don’t give two kittens about.

We haven’t even got a two handed Katana (yet – if at all!) and we’re already asking for a one handed one?!

But yes, I agree that if the Two-Handed ones (whatever the proper name is supposed to be) are available to players in the future, it’s only fair to have a one handed one for thieves too.

One of the greatest swordsmen of all times, Miyamoto Musashi, would often dual wield swords or use unconventional techniques. He even created a kenjutsu technique that used a katana and a wakizashi (niten ichi-ryu). Admittedly, his style by all accounts was to ignore tradition if another way allowed you the victory, but I am sure many others would eschew traditional styles when necessary.

My issue would be that most of the swordfighting animations in GW2 would be wholly incompatible with the techniques of Japanese sword use. Jian and Dao (Chinese swords) may be another matter altogether.

penelopehannibal.8947:

We haven’t even got a two handed Katana (yet – if at all!) and we’re already asking for a one handed one?!

But yes, I agree that if the Two-Handed ones (whatever the proper name is supposed to be) are available to players in the future, it’s only fair to have a one handed one for thieves too.

nodachi/odachi = greatsword
katana = long sword
wakizashi = short sword
tanto = dagger

Just a FYI.

Alternatively (I know this doesn’t help thieves), they could make a second greatsword that’s the same style but shorter. Heck, use the same model for a one-hander as well.

Castrin.8972:

penelopehannibal.8947:

We haven’t even got a two handed Katana (yet – if at all!) and we’re already asking for a one handed one?!

But yes, I agree that if the Two-Handed ones (whatever the proper name is supposed to be) are available to players in the future, it’s only fair to have a one handed one for thieves too.

nodachi/odachi = greatsword
katana = long sword
wakizashi = short sword
tanto = dagger

Just a FYI.

you forgot kodachi

Use the same model as a one-handed sword. It’s fantasy anyway, right? Why not have some Sephiroth and Cloud swords running around?

Xenon.4537:

I’m willing to bet any real swordsman will have objection to you using a katana with only one hand and no offhand. I know you have a stylized idea in your head about ninjas, I’m just saying it’s not realistic. :P

Many weapons and armour, let alone some of the actual weapon skills are not realistic, what’s the point?

sorudo.9054:

you forgot kodachi

Kodachi is pretty much just an old model of a wakizashi.

I think Anet will release those skins soon enough, and things like a Naginata as underwater spear and stuff

EDIT: Yeah, you CAN use a katana one-handed if you pratice ken-jutsu you leaan how to use a katana+wakizashi technique, the wakizashi is pretty much just to parry in that situation but still used.

GuzziHero.2467:

One of the greatest swordsmen of all times, Miyamoto Musashi, would often dual wield swords or use unconventional techniques. He even created a kenjutsu technique that used a katana and a wakizashi (niten ichi-ryu). Admittedly, his style by all accounts was to ignore tradition if another way allowed you the victory, but I am sure many others would eschew traditional styles when necessary.

My issue would be that most of the swordfighting animations in GW2 would be wholly incompatible with the techniques of Japanese sword use. Jian and Dao (Chinese swords) may be another matter altogether.

As I understand, he created those techniques after he stopped dueling.

Anyway, there’s nothing inherently wrong with a katana, or blade which is curved in that angle, and with that point. We already have blades which roughly match what most people would think of as a katana anyway, in the Ceremonial Scimitar.

sorudo.9054:

you forgot kodachi

Heh, I could have included Nagamaki, Uchigatana, and Tachi but tried to keep it simple.

hannah mee.7925:

Use the same model as a one-handed sword. It’s fantasy anyway, right? Why not have some Sephiroth and Cloud swords running around?

Have you seen the Norn and Vigil greatswords? Pretty close I’d say.

hannah mee.7925:

Xenon.4537:

I’m willing to bet any real swordsman will have objection to you using a katana with only one hand and no offhand. I know you have a stylized idea in your head about ninjas, I’m just saying it’s not realistic. :P

I’m no sword or martial arts expert but I’m pretty sure there are accounts of one-handed uses for Katanas or other swords of that nature (I have no idea what any of the names are – Katana’s just a term that everyone who follows pop culture can still understand).

Getting down to nitpicking the dynamics of names applies to a narrow margin of people that, realistically, most of us don’t give two kittens about.

Yes, indeed there are several one handed swords that were used in feudal Japan. It’s just that nowadays in western culture “katana” has become the general term to refer to any type of japanese sword.
However, the classic two-handed sword wielded by samurai was called Tachi, later on replaced by the Uchigatana. While the most common one-handed types included Wakizashi (the auxialiary sword or “finisher” of a samurai) and Ninjato (the straight bladed variant shortsword used by ninjas) among others.

I believe 1 handed katana called Kodachi.

penelopehannibal.8947:

We haven’t even got a two handed Katana (yet – if at all!) and we’re already asking for a one handed one?!

But yes, I agree that if the Two-Handed ones (whatever the proper name is supposed to be) are available to players in the future, it’s only fair to have a one handed one for thieves too.

‘for thieves too’ funny. thieves can have tanto skins. although it’s cool you only said for thieves.

Castrin.8972:

penelopehannibal.8947:

We haven’t even got a two handed Katana (yet – if at all!) and we’re already asking for a one handed one?!

But yes, I agree that if the Two-Handed ones (whatever the proper name is supposed to be) are available to players in the future, it’s only fair to have a one handed one for thieves too.

nodachi/odachi = greatsword
katana = long sword
wakizashi = short sword
tanto = dagger

Just a FYI.

Just AN FYI.

We use ‘an’ before a vowel sound, as the ‘f’ sound starts with /e/.

Xenon.4537:

I’m willing to bet any real swordsman will have objection to you using a katana with only one hand and no offhand. I know you have a stylized idea in your head about ninjas, I’m just saying it’s not realistic. :P

I’d say not
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyamoto_Musashi