So, it sounds like it's quite viable to run a Thief CHARNAME (as they're the only ones that can pick the lock containing the 1000 GP gen in Winthrop's) in BGEE with starting pip(s) in Katanas, Swashbucklers in particular might want to do this, as whilst they can out 2 pips into a melee weapon, have limited pips available in BGEE. On the other hand, whilst this would give them an advantage at the start of the game, the best weapon they will be able to obtain is a +1 Katana in BGEE. I think the Devs have judged things about right with Katanas in BGEE - they're a viable choice, but not OP with the limited options available.
It's true it's going to be more difficult for non-thieves to obtain a katana early on without resorting to slaughtering guards in Candlekeep, but at least fighters have more pips to spare, and you can still obtain one reasonably early on, if you feel able to tackle one of the Ogre Mages that now drop them.
To be honest, the whole weapons breaking plotline doesn't really make much sense when you step back and analyse it logically.
The poisoning has only been going on a month or so, and they can't make that many weapons in a month. The sword coast should have plenty of weapons made before the poisoning started which don't break.
Here is your answer. Katanas aren't made from Iron, so the Iron poison doesn't effect it.
What are they made from? Jello for all I care, just not iron so they do not break like all the wooden weapons.
Which raises the issue, during the sword coast iron crisis, why didn't anyone step in selling bronze weapons?
Bronze weapons are very inferior, they bend and break more easily than iron. And Short Sword is the biggest blade that can actually be made of bronze. So while I think it would be cool if a small number of bronze weapons were available, the selection would be limited, and might be just as fragile as the iron anyway!
To be honest, the whole weapons breaking plotline doesn't really make much sense when you step back and analyse it logically.
The poisoning has only been going on a month or so, and they can't make that many weapons in a month. The sword coast should have plenty of weapons made before the poisoning started which don't break.
IIRC a document (perhaps Sarevok's Diary?) reveals that the iron poisoning has been going on for well over a year. I could be wrong, but maybe someone here has got the source to verify this.
To be honest, the whole weapons breaking plotline doesn't really make much sense when you step back and analyse it logically.
The poisoning has only been going on a month or so, and they can't make that many weapons in a month. The sword coast should have plenty of weapons made before the poisoning started which don't break.
IIRC a document (perhaps Sarevok's Diary?) reveals that the iron poisoning has been going on for well over a year. I could be wrong, but maybe someone here has got the source to verify this.
Yeah it's been going on for a while, and apparently spreads from item to item on contact, so when the weapon was made doesn't enter into it. Ideally, armor and helms should be breakable too (and there are mods out there that make them so). I think it would be perfectly reasonable to assume the Iron Throne, being the ones behind it all, might have something they can add to the iron they produce that makes it immune to the corruption. So they could save the day and make a fortune. But also remember that isn't really the end game. Sarevok and his cronies don't even care if they make a fortune, their real interest is causing chaos.
Out of curiosity - does anyone actually use a Wakizashi or a Ninjato?
They have an aura about them as a sort of lesser weapon in comparison to the Scimitar. Yet all three weapons share the same 1D8 for damage. The differences come in the form of the Wakizashi doing piercing damage, as oppose to the slashing damage of the Scimitar and Ninjato. The Wakizashi is the quickest of the weapons with a speed factor of 3. Ninjato clocks in with 4. Scimitar with 5. The Ninjato is actually the heaviest of the weapons with a weight of 5. The Scimitar weighs in at 4. The Wakizashi at 3.
There doesn't appear to be any benefit or detriment between the weapons. Nor is there any gain for dual wielding a Scimitar with a Wakizashi in the off-hand to represent the idea of a smaller, lighter weapon as compliment.
Is the lack of difference between the weapons an oversight? Should there be more variety in what each offers?
My Swashbuckler uses Wakizashi and Ninjato. I don't really see any significant difference in gameplay between them and Scimitars, other than the fact that they never break--so at least in that respect, they are definitely not "lesser" weapons to Scimitars.
As mentioned in their description, ALL Katanas and wakasashis are already slightly magical to a degree due to the method of their construction, which is highly ritualized in Kara-tur, which also makes enchanting them extremely difficult. While not powerful enough to confer a bonus vs creatures requiring magical weapons to strike, they're powerful enough to shrug off contact with a mineral poison.
@atcDave This is all correct. The operation at the Nashkel Mines (and others, all throughout the Sword Coast, mind you) had been ongoing for over a year. You read in the letters after defeating Mulahey that he had failed to maintain discretion and drawn unwanted attention. The mage you ambush at Feldpost's Inn was supposed to be on route to discipline Mulahey for his incompetence.
To jump into the discussion regarding Katanas. Katana's are indeed made out of Iron. The Japanese refine an impure iron sand from the riverbeds in Tottori (approx. 6 hours West of Tokyo) and smelt it with charcoal to draw out the impurities. Only blade made from iron refined in this specific region in Japan, in this specific manner, are considered 'proper' katanas (because the Japanese are huge dicks about the whole xenophobia thing).
Katanas are also quite strong because this process of refining said Iron actually creates two seperate formulas. One stronger but more brittle, one softer but doesn't shatter as easily. They seperate the two types and forge the inner spine from the softer, more malleable compound and the cutting edge from the stronger compound. Curving the blade also helps improve it's durability, by spreading the force of a blow long the whole weapon. Katanas also require extensive polishing to eliminate any surface grooves that can increase friction. The result is a blade made from low-quality materials that can absorb the force of a blow and bend before shattering.
Really, a katana is not 'better' than any other sword in the world. Just that any other sword in the world made from the same materials as a katana but not made LIKE a katana would be objectively inferior.
All that being said, any sword, even if it's made from top quality scientifically engineered materials, would still only be as good as the smith forging it.
Comments
It's true it's going to be more difficult for non-thieves to obtain a katana early on without resorting to slaughtering guards in Candlekeep, but at least fighters have more pips to spare, and you can still obtain one reasonably early on, if you feel able to tackle one of the Ogre Mages that now drop them.
The poisoning has only been going on a month or so, and they can't make that many weapons in a month. The sword coast should have plenty of weapons made before the poisoning started which don't break.
I could be wrong, but maybe someone here has got the source to verify this.
I think it would be perfectly reasonable to assume the Iron Throne, being the ones behind it all, might have something they can add to the iron they produce that makes it immune to the corruption. So they could save the day and make a fortune.
But also remember that isn't really the end game. Sarevok and his cronies don't even care if they make a fortune, their real interest is causing chaos.
They have an aura about them as a sort of lesser weapon in comparison to the Scimitar. Yet all three weapons share the same 1D8 for damage. The differences come in the form of the Wakizashi doing piercing damage, as oppose to the slashing damage of the Scimitar and Ninjato. The Wakizashi is the quickest of the weapons with a speed factor of 3. Ninjato clocks in with 4. Scimitar with 5. The Ninjato is actually the heaviest of the weapons with a weight of 5. The Scimitar weighs in at 4. The Wakizashi at 3.
There doesn't appear to be any benefit or detriment between the weapons. Nor is there any gain for dual wielding a Scimitar with a Wakizashi in the off-hand to represent the idea of a smaller, lighter weapon as compliment.
Is the lack of difference between the weapons an oversight? Should there be more variety in what each offers?
My Swashbuckler uses Wakizashi and Ninjato. I don't really see any significant difference in gameplay between them and Scimitars, other than the fact that they never break--so at least in that respect, they are definitely not "lesser" weapons to Scimitars.
To jump into the discussion regarding Katanas. Katana's are indeed made out of Iron. The Japanese refine an impure iron sand from the riverbeds in Tottori (approx. 6 hours West of Tokyo) and smelt it with charcoal to draw out the impurities. Only blade made from iron refined in this specific region in Japan, in this specific manner, are considered 'proper' katanas (because the Japanese are huge dicks about the whole xenophobia thing).
Katanas are also quite strong because this process of refining said Iron actually creates two seperate formulas. One stronger but more brittle, one softer but doesn't shatter as easily. They seperate the two types and forge the inner spine from the softer, more malleable compound and the cutting edge from the stronger compound. Curving the blade also helps improve it's durability, by spreading the force of a blow long the whole weapon. Katanas also require extensive polishing to eliminate any surface grooves that can increase friction. The result is a blade made from low-quality materials that can absorb the force of a blow and bend before shattering.
Really, a katana is not 'better' than any other sword in the world. Just that any other sword in the world made from the same materials as a katana but not made LIKE a katana would be objectively inferior.
All that being said, any sword, even if it's made from top quality scientifically engineered materials, would still only be as good as the smith forging it.