Straight Swords for Samurai?

[EaraGrace]

Well, Weapon Design Contest winners are out, so here's my "Straight Swords for Samurai" submissions at long last:





First was intended to be "European" themed, second "Asian", based on Chinese Jian, and the third was... kind of a sloppy last-minute submission (which shows)

Looks great even still!

[Droxybrobotnik]

I'll take this chance to point out that many european swords that could match katanas in cutting power existed.
And please bear in mind, if you argue against giving samurai swords not adhering to the samurai fantasy then you are also disqualified from and argument that every class should be able to glam any armor.

[CaptainLagbeard]

Since this thread was made before EW and now came back, I would like to point that Blade of Divine Light from EW's Extreme trials is basically an European styled sword as a SAM weapon.

[Tsiron]

Looks great even still!

Thank you!

I'll take this chance to point out that many european swords that could match katanas in cutting power existed.
And please bear in mind, if you argue against giving samurai swords not adhering to the samurai fantasy then you are also disqualified from and argument that every class should be able to glam any armor.

Based on my understanding katana and longswords had quite a bit in common, both in terms of context (sidearms for a noble warrior class) and use (as nimble, two-handed swords), yeah... but with stuff like this around I somehow suspect historical accuracy isn't (and shouldn't be!) really a concern.

Since this thread was made before EW and now came back, I would like to point that Blade of Divine Light from EW's Extreme trials is basically an European styled sword as a SAM weapon.

gonna have to wait for next expansion before I can get it but yeah I quite like its design, several nitpicks aside (the scabbard overall, a spike pointing straight at your character's crotch when held etc.)

[HisShadowX]

... or rather, more of them? Can't say I have a convincing argument ready for why they should, so I'll just say it's something I'd personally like if they did! Chinese Jian are one possibility (Seiryu uses one), as are European longswords! To my understanding, there's quite a bit of overlap between Katana and Longsword techniques, since they occupied a similar niche and all. I tried to express as much in the recent Weapon Design Contest by submitting some myself, we'll see how that pans out!

I know the job is called Samurai, which conjures up a specific aesthetic, but this is also a sci-fantasy game where swords and magic exist alongside mechas and Star Wars-looking gunships we're talking about. Our character is an adventurer who never stays put for long, so I don't think it feels out of character for them to choose more... unorthodox weaponry, right? They're no longer beholden to any teacher at this point either, having basically outperformed them all. And, at the end of the day, I think we can all agree the odds of them adding another sword DPS are slim to none at this point, so I feel like this isn't too much to ask? They're certainly not shy when it comes to

I've noticed they've started referring to SAM weapons as "Samurai Blades" or simply "Blades", which gives me hope that these less specific terms are going to be reflected in the sorts of weapon designs we get, also!

So Katana's differ from different time periods. Katana's were originally much larger due and used on horseback. Originally Samuri's weapon of choice was the bow. This evolved, however and when Japan first came into contact with Europeans during the 1500s there was a huge cultural exchange, for example Samauri's traveled to Europe to meet the Pope and various European leaders. Japanese Samurai famously traveled to the New World during this time and famously cut down an Indian/Native American for being rude and ungrateful. During this time the Japanese switched from Katana's to the Tanegashima Gun.

Eventually a revolution took place within Japan and banned Christianity and only allowed Dutch and English Tradesman. There was a Sword Gun (Gun Control) and the guns were mostly removed and many swords. The Katana has been influenced by many events even to how its worn to help ease with traffic on roads.

[Kolsykol]

I'll take this chance to point out that many european swords that could match katanas in cutting power existed.
And please bear in mind, if you argue against giving samurai swords not adhering to the samurai fantasy then you are also disqualified from and argument that every class should be able to glam any armor.

Katanas were heavier for their size than people think and how they're portrayed in media too ( as super fast that even the human eye can't see ultra warriors ), which helps with cutting power too.
Tbh at the risk of upsetting some people I guess, Katanas are just kinda inferior overall imo.
They bend and stay bent and chip easier, only one side is sharpened which limits you quite a bit, generally speaking they were shorter than a Longsword which was the closest equivelant, the point is more pronounced on a Longsword and lined up with the grip which makes it better at thrusting, and Longswords has a more functional handguard I'd fear for my hands with a Katana.
While Longswords were a bit heavier a Katana of equal length would be heavier and Longswords with its two-sided edges can easily and faster cut on the way '' back '' from a slash without having to twist the blade.

I like Katanas from a visual standpoint and I like the Eastern '' spiritual warrior '' thing, same with Berserkers in Norse Mythology.
But if I was to be transported into the past and be forced to fight in a battle and got to choose between a Longsword or a Katana I'd pick the Longsword every time I'd trust it far more to not fail me.

[Ritsuka-55]

just make a double edge sword dps, easy. hate that they always go with sword and shield.

[Tsiron]

I'm definitely with you on that but, between PLD, DRK, GNB, RDM and SAM, I don't see them adding anymore sword Jobs, so I think this would be a good enough compromise?

[Theodric_Thorne]

Super bummed that the entry I submitted to the design contest didn't even rate. It was a moon-themed cruciform sword inspired by and named after the (at time of entry not yet used in FFXIV) classic FF PLD weapon called Lightbringer. Of course only a short time after I submitted it, they add Lightbringer as the next PLD relic, so I knew my entry was immediately not going to get any traction. I just can't help but feel a little bitter about it because of the two winning entries, one feels like a katana we already have 50 of, just with a lot of really intricate detailing and the addition of a cosmetic backup sword strapped to the sheath.

[Tsiron]

Hey that's not too bad! Reminds me of the Garo PLD weapon, actually... if only that were available to SAM, especially since it's got a scabbard and there's no Garo weapon for the Job, either...

Yeah I'm kinda with you on the designs they picked (in general), feels like a lot of them were things that were already in-game one way or another?