Straight Swords for Samurai?

[Lunalepsy]

... yes, I know the class is literally called Samurai, but some variety would be nice for a change, right?

PLD gets swords of all shapes and curvatures, as does DRK (to a lesser extent?), so I think it's only fair SAM get some of that attention, too. I'm currently using the Katana of Althyk on my character, but I keep noticing things about its design that are 'off' and it's driving me crazy lol

and i'm too anxious to go back to playing DRK. And yes, I know iai techniques make no sense with a straight blade but c'mon..

Show them what kind of swords do you want!

[Tsiron]

Show them what kind of swords do you want!

Yeah I probably should've done so to begin with. I've edited a quote of my reply from last page into the original post now

[ItMe]

Samurai use katanas, katanas have a more-or-less-fixed shape, the game is made in Japan.

Go figure the math.

Want a straight blade, become a Paladin.

Not necessarily.
Media may present one shape to the katana, but there are straight blade katanas. The curve is actually something that was added over time, as the Chinese sword the katana evolved from had a straight blade. This does mean that straight blade katana are generally much older, and thus rarer, but they most definitely existed and not just as an oddity.

Either way, the way Ronkans or Allagans make their katana doesn't need to mirror the way they've been made IRL. I agree with OP. Some variety would be good.

[Tsiron]

Tsiron's current weapon glam, the Ravel Keeper's Blade, is clearly based on what's known as a Shashka, while another one I homed in on but ended up not liking as much, the Crystarium Samurai Blade, would best be described as a Swiss Sabre? So they're not entirely averse to referencing non-japanese weaponry, and that's good! It's a (debatably) fantasy game while our character wanders all over, so it's not unreasonable they'd pick up some more unorthodox weapons along the way despite ostensibly being a "samurai", y'know?

[TeraRamis]

The closest you're going to come, OP, is a Chokutō - the Japanese straight-sword that represents the earliest design innovation on the islands following the introduction of the Chinese double-edged sword. And the best example of that, as others have pointed out, is the Tsukuyomi sword.

Also, the Ravel Keeper's blade just looks to me like a big tachi with no tsuba.

[Tsiron]

At present, yeah, but who knows what kinds of designs we'll get in Endwalker!

[TeraRamis]

I have a theory that the reason they seem to do crossover weapons for the tanks (the samurai sword [whose name escapes me] for the DRK; the 'cricket bat' for the PLD, and so on) is to entice people to play those classes more. I, too, would like to see more diversity in weapons - particularly a big broadsword for warriors (because... why not), and a mace for paladins (because YES), but some regular swords for Samurai would be okay, too.

The problem is, I think they - unsurprisingly - hold the Samurai as kind of a culturally sacred class, and thus may be reluctant to meddle with its aesthetic too much. You're right - Endwalker will definitely tell us more.

[Vencio]

I, too, would be delighted to see open weaponry for all classes, s’long as it retain the job’s respective identity & more akin to it.

Basicalky it would be nice to see far more variety of weaponry,

Paladin: Mace, Morning Star, or Gladius

Warrior: Giant swords, hammer, or an unusual weapon that’s perfectly deemed able for warriors without taking DK’s identity away

Dark Knight: Hard to say what else could be included but definitely deserves a variety

Samurai: Although Katana it’s its main meme, It would be great to see other weaponry

It’s difficult at the same time because most jobs are heavily impronted with weapons that majes them more iconic & it would be a tough process upon how to maintain that without breaking its imagery away.

I like your idea & support it,

While also I won’t deny it isn’t a simple process & a tough road for developers to do ongoing brainstorming.

Maybe perhaps certain jobs may have an exception & leave other’s as it is, yet that would also lead to the public calling it “unfair” & “but what about me!?”,

Can’t please everyone unless we acknowledge & just take what we have & still enjoy the game nonetheless

[ItMe]

The problem is, I think they - unsurprisingly - hold the Samurai as kind of a culturally sacred class, and thus may be reluctant to meddle with its aesthetic too much.

Not to mention that the curved look is so iconic and identifiable.
I think you're right on the money.

[Uvi_AUT]

Straight is considered a Microgression. Its called a Cisgendered sword.
Check your privileges dude!