Research and Dev

[Hokobishu 13]

So I've been spending the past few days researching....and I came across a book recommended by a friend. It's dreadful to get through when you're distracted, which due to my ADHD, is all the time. It's a great read if you can get a hold of it. Full of Samurai Wisdoms and such. However, I find that it's a tad bit stuffy if you're not in the mood to read it. On that subject, anyone know a good book on Japanese Weaponry? Also if this is not where this topic goes will someone please move it?

[notonatuesday 6]

Uh
I don't know any books
But I do know about weapons
I am trained in BÅjutsu

And I want to learn the Tessen arts

Edited March 23, 2014 by notonatuesday

[+ Sughayyer 163]

Heh, I foresee a time when you'll ask me not to reply t oyour posts anymore XD

In the meantime, here goes some information:

 

* Swords: The traditional sword of the samurai era was the katana. But it probably evolved from Chinese sword designs. Older bladed weapons were as curved as scythes so the horsemen would draw them upwards. Katana are drawn sideways or downward. There is also the commonly known wakizashi. Only a samurai was allowed to wear the pair, and the both swords were known as tachi and kodachi (mains sword or long sword, and companion sword). Long swords are almost useless in close-quarter combat, whereas short swords excell in this condition.

The samurai art of wielding swords was kenjutsu (kendo is a modern simplification of kenjutsu, which is seldom teached nowadays). Katana technique is hard, since it must be done in a very specific way to be effective.

Another common interesting sword was the ninjato (literally ninja sword). I don't know how to wield it, but from the sape and build it seems easier to use than katana.

 

* Staves: The jo is pretty much a walking stick. Jojutsu was basically developed to disarm the katana. It is a very effective school. Bo is longer than jo and I have no idea how it is used.

 

* Polearms: The spear is long, the naginata is shorter and has a blade at the tip (it's the equivalent of the halberd). Naginata was built from broomsticks and housewives used it to defend themselves when their husbands were at war.

 

*Bow: The daikyu was a long bow that were also used on horseback.

 

 

*Other: Jitte (literally, 10 hands) is a small dagger-like weapon. It was used to disarm the opponent as well as stabbing. If the sword attack is parried by the jitte, the attacker must be skilled otherwise the jitte wielder can break the sword. It is often paired with the folding fan (the art of wielding the folding fan is Tessenjutsu). There is also one of my favorites, the kusarigama. It is a scicle from which a 9ft chain extends, and it has a small metal ball attached at the other end. It is a really nasty weapon, used to attack at distance, disarm, and stab. I have seen kusarigama kihon and kusarigama kumiai where the kusarigama "wins" the contest, but I have not seen kumiai where the kusarigama "loses", so I have no idea how to face an opponent using one of these. Depending on the period, you can also have firearms, but they weren't much reliable at first.

 

Here's something that can help you if you can translate it from Portuguese: www.niten.org.br - this is where I study, and there's a lot of info.

[Hokobishu 13]

Heh, I foresee a time when you'll ask me not to reply t oyour posts anymore XD

In the meantime, here goes some information:

 

* Swords: The traditional sword of the samurai era was the katana. But it probably evolved from Chinese sword designs. Older bladed weapons were as curved as scythes so the horsemen would draw them upwards. Katana are drawn sideways or downward. There is also the commonly known wakizashi. Only a samurai was allowed to wear the pair, and the both swords were known as tachi and kodachi (mains sword or long sword, and companion sword). Long swords are almost useless in close-quarter combat, whereas short swords excell in this condition.

The samurai art of wielding swords was kenjutsu (kendo is a modern simplification of kenjutsu, which is seldom teached nowadays). Katana technique is hard, since it must be done in a very specific way to be effective.

Another common interesting sword was the ninjato (literally ninja sword). I don't know how to wield it, but from the sape and build it seems easier to use than katana.

 

* Staves: The jo is pretty much a walking stick. Jojutsu was basically developed to disarm the katana. It is a very effective school. Bo is longer than jo and I have no idea how it is used.

 

* Polearms: The spear is long, the naginata is shorter and has a blade at the tip (it's the equivalent of the halberd). Naginata was built from broomsticks and housewives used it to defend themselves when their husbands were at war.

 

*Bow: The daikyu was a long bow that were also used on horseback.

 

 

*Other: Jitte (literally, 10 hands) is a small dagger-like weapon. It was used to disarm the opponent as well as stabbing. If the sword attack is parried by the jitte, the attacker must be skilled otherwise the jitte wielder can break the sword. It is often paired with the folding fan (the art of wielding the folding fan is Tessenjutsu). There is also one of my favorites, the kusarigama. It is a scicle from which a 9ft chain extends, and it has a small metal ball attached at the other end. It is a really nasty weapon, used to attack at distance, disarm, and stab. I have seen kusarigama kihon and kusarigama kumiai where the kusarigama "wins" the contest, but I have not seen kumiai where the kusarigama "loses", so I have no idea how to face an opponent using one of these. Depending on the period, you can also have firearms, but they weren't much reliable at first.

 

Here's something that can help you if you can translate it from Portuguese: www.niten.org.br - this is where I study, and there's a lot of info.

I could kiss you if I wasn't a guy or with someone! This is priceless thanks man!

[Kamalot_INC 14]

don't know how useful this might be, but there is a bunch of different types of Asian themed weaponry in the following PnPRPG books:

 

-Oriental Adventures (this was a official conversion from d6 to d20 for the Rokugan/Legend of 5 rings system)

-Anything in the Book of 5 Rings system, the whole series is set up in a parallel Japan-esk place, they have different weaponry for each of the clans. There's like, 3 or 4 editions, and each edition has at least 12 books.  Fair warning, most of the stuff in the books is setting stuff (history, religion, clan politics) but there is a TON of information about Feudal Japan "things" (Clothes, food, equipment, etc.) in there. 

 

If your just looking for a basic list of different types of weapons/armor/items with Asian flavor, find a copy of Oriental Adventures, the equipment chapter is what your looking for.  L5R has pretty much EVERYTHING in it, but there's a LOT more reading involved with that.

 

Hope that helps!

[Hokobishu 13]

Thanks random guy! Hahaha I should get to work again soon...^^;