# Cutting Nodachis down into Katanas

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153>\
**Category:** The Drawing Board\
**Created:** [December 1, 2014, 4:00pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153 "2014-12-01T16:00:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![FrogVoice](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/frogvoice/32/297_2.png) [@FrogVoice](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/FrogVoice)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 4:00pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/1 "2014-12-01T16:00:06Z")

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So during my latest playthrough I got my hands onto a Nodachi and that was great and all but at the same time I was a bit disappointed because I like Katanas way better.  
This made me think, since the Nodachi is just like the Katana but really long wouldn’t it be possible to just cut some of the blade off and thus turn it into some kind of ghetto Katana?  
(Given that the character has a tool with a certain metal sawing quality and a certain skill in fabrication of course.)  
Or is that just some insanely dumb idea of mine?

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**Author:** ![Valpo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/valpo/32/341_2.png) [@Valpo](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Valpo)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/2 "2014-12-01T16:10:00Z")

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Who would want to violate a perfectly fine nodachi like taht? It never did any harm to you ? How could you even think of this?  
You monster D:

On a more serious note:

The weapon would not be balanced anymore and the blade would have been dmged.  
Thats a rather bad tradeoff.

But i mean you could do it so why not xD (poor nodachi)

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**Author:** ![FunsizeNinja123](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/funsizeninja123/32/118_2.png) [@FunsizeNinja123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/FunsizeNinja123)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/3 "2014-12-01T21:57:43Z")

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> [@FrogVoice](#):
>
> Or is that just some insanely dumb idea of mine?

Hacking apart a perfectly good sword? Stupid.

To make it smaller? A little bit less stupid.

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**Author:** ![jokermatt999](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9bcb4/32.png) [@jokermatt999](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/jokermatt999)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 10:29pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/4 "2014-12-01T22:29:24Z")

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It’d be easy to do. Take a look in data/json/recipes/recipe\_weapon.json

Edit: huh, seems as if there’s actually historical precedent!

> **[Ōdachi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Cdachi)**
>
> An ōdachi (大太刀) (large/great sword) or nodachi (野太刀, field sword) was a type of traditionally made Japanese sword (日本刀, nihontō) used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The Chinese equivalent and 'cousin' for this type of sword in terms of weight and length is the Miao dao, and the Western battlefield equivalent (though less similar) is the Spanish Espada Bastarda\[citation needed\] or Scottish Claymore. The character for ō (大) means "big" or "great". The dachi here (太刀) is the same as tachi (太刀...

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**Author:** ![KA101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/278dde/32.png) [@KA101](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/KA101)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/5 "2014-12-02T00:21:35Z")

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> [@FunsizeNinja123](#):
>
> [quote=“FrogVoice, post:1, topic:8153”]Or is that just some insanely dumb idea of mine?

Hacking apart a perfectly good sword? Stupid.

To make it smaller? A little bit less stupid.[/quote]

[size=18pt]![/size]

You’re a ninja, the only time you’d have any use for a nodachi is disguising yourself as a samurai. It’s completely impractical for any sort of sneaking operation.

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**Author:** ![Catfoodbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee59a6/32.png) [@Catfoodbob](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Catfoodbob)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/6 "2014-12-02T00:27:33Z")

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> [@KA101](#):
>
> [quote=“FunsizeNinja123, post:3, topic:8153”][quote=“FrogVoice, post:1, topic:8153”]Or is that just some insanely dumb idea of mine?

Hacking apart a perfectly good sword? Stupid.

To make it smaller? A little bit less stupid.[/quote]

[size=18pt]![/size]

You’re a ninja, the only time you’d have any use for a nodachi is disguising yourself as a samurai. It’s completely impractical for any sort of sneaking operation.[/quote]

Not if you have a bag of holding, and any old trenchcoat would hide one just fine 😛

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**Author:** ![FunsizeNinja123](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/funsizeninja123/32/118_2.png) [@FunsizeNinja123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/FunsizeNinja123)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/7 "2014-12-02T02:12:08Z")

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> [@Catfoodbob](#):
>
> [quote=“KA101, post:5, topic:8153”][quote=“FunsizeNinja123, post:3, topic:8153”][quote=“FrogVoice, post:1, topic:8153”]Or is that just some insanely dumb idea of mine?

Hacking apart a perfectly good sword? Stupid.

To make it smaller? A little bit less stupid.[/quote]

[size=18pt]![/size]

You’re a ninja, the only time you’d have any use for a nodachi is disguising yourself as a samurai. It’s completely impractical for any sort of sneaking operation.[/quote]

Not if you have a bag of holding, and any old trenchcoat would hide one just fine :p[/quote]

Yee boi

Anyway, If cutting down a nodachi gave you a separate item (You’re not gonna turn it into a katana, what with sword balance and all that) such as “cut down nodachi” I would be fine.

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**Author:** ![Natures\_Witness](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/natures_witness/32/165_2.png) [@Natures\_Witness](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Natures_Witness)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/8 "2014-12-02T02:43:58Z")

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I’m pretty sure not even a trenchcoat is big enough to hide a nodachi. Also, nodachi-\>katana=no, but nodachi-\>sawn off nodachi would be okay I guess, although it would be a little unwieldy.

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**Author:** ![kevin.granade](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/kevin.granade/32/1316_2.png) [@kevin.granade](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kevin.granade)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 6:01am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/9 "2014-12-02T06:01:56Z")

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Why would you possibly want to turn down this cutting power? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07kX3fwxQ0g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07kX3fwxQ0g)

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**Author:** ![Datanazush](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/datanazush/32/1055_2.png) [@Datanazush](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Datanazush)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 6:29am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/10 "2014-12-02T06:29:01Z")

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> [@Kevin Granade](#):
>
> Why would you possibly want to turn down this cutting power? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07kX3fwxQ0g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07kX3fwxQ0g)

![](http://i.imgur.com/MbjtsVo.gif)

Now onto the actual stuff about swords and things: Cutting down a Nodachi wouldn’t really give you a Katana, the Nodachi is thicker and with a slightly different curve profile, meant to take advantage of an increased length and weight to serve as a heavy cavalry weapon. Ideally, you’d get a Cut-down Nodachi item.

That said it’s like 200% more feasible that a Japanese sword would be able to be cut down into a functional weapon than a European one doing the same.

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**Author:** ![Pthalocy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/22d042/32.png) [@Pthalocy](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Pthalocy)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 6:31am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/11 "2014-12-02T06:31:41Z")

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Rule number one: never store anything capable of puncturing a bag of holding, inside the bag of holding. The thing spills it’s contents inside-out like a vomiting wormhole, but mostly it just wrecks all your stuff.

As for cutting a sword shorter, I figure it’s kind of like sawing off a shotgun barrel? You win some, you lose some. Necessity will dictate if the tradeoff is worthwhile or a waste of a perfectly good weapon.

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**Author:** ![Coolthulhu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/coolthulhu/32/2446_2.png) [@Coolthulhu](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Coolthulhu)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 6:42am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/12 "2014-12-02T06:42:10Z")

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> [@Pthalocy](#):
>
> Rule number one: never store anything capable of puncturing a bag of holding, inside the bag of holding. The thing spills it’s contents inside-out like a vomiting wormhole, but mostly it just wrecks all your stuff.

SRD 3.5 says it ruins all your stuff as soon as it is pierced (“pierced” suggests that a needle should be enough).

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**Author:** ![Hague](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hague](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Hague)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 12:17am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/13 "2014-12-03T00:17:55Z")

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Not to get too far off topic but SRD doesn’t really state much of what happens to the stuff after it rips. It’s not like it used to be where you could weaponize two bags of holding.

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**Author:** ![TheFlame52](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/theflame52/32/247_2.png) [@TheFlame52](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/TheFlame52)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 12:29am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/14 "2014-12-03T00:29:47Z")

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> [@Hague](#):
>
> It’s not like it used to be where you could weaponize two bags of holding.

TELL ME

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**Author:** ![KA101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/278dde/32.png) [@KA101](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/KA101)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 1:04am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/15 "2014-12-03T01:04:54Z")

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> [@Kevin Granade](#):
>
> Why would you possibly want to turn down this cutting power? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07kX3fwxQ0g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07kX3fwxQ0g)

Sure, if you have to stay in the same tile for 10 turns focusing on your slash, like Bruce does there, I’ll let you bisect a hulk in one blow. You too can impress onlookers and get slow-motion replays.

(Mostly of you getting sent flying when it hulksmashes you, since you can’t both dodge AND focus on your slash.)

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**Author:** ![Purplewisp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e36b37/32.png) [@Purplewisp](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Purplewisp)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/16 "2014-12-03T02:05:59Z")

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> [@KA101](#):
>
> [quote=“Kevin Granade, post:9, topic:8153”]Why would you possibly want to turn down this cutting power? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07kX3fwxQ0g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07kX3fwxQ0g)

Sure, if you have to stay in the same tile for 10 turns focusing on your slash, like Bruce does there, I’ll let you bisect a hulk in one blow. You too can impress onlookers and get slow-motion replays.

(Mostly of you getting sent flying when it hulksmashes you, since you can’t both dodge AND focus on your slash.)[/quote]  
This. +Cut damage whenever you don’t move for a few turns while letting you cut down arrows or bolts and a bonus to dodging guns at point blank. Could be called Way of the Warrior or something.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FunsizeNinja123](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/funsizeninja123/32/118_2.png) [@FunsizeNinja123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/FunsizeNinja123)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 2:07am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/17 "2014-12-03T02:07:22Z")

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> [@Purplewisp](#):
>
> This. +Cut damage whenever you don’t move for a few turns while letting you cut down arrows or bolts and a bonus to dodging guns at point blank. Could be called Way of the Warrior or something.

No.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kevin.granade](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/kevin.granade/32/1316_2.png) [@kevin.granade](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kevin.granade)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 7:14am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/18 "2014-12-03T07:14:05Z")

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> [@Purplewisp](#):
>
> +Cut damage whenever you don’t move for a few turns

This sounds like a martial style thing, and a fairly reasonable one.

> [@Purplewisp](#):
>
> while letting you cut down arrows or bolts and a bonus to dodging guns at point blank. Could be called Way of the Warrior or something.

> [@FunsizeNinja123](#):
>
> No.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Datanazush](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/datanazush/32/1055_2.png) [@Datanazush](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Datanazush)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 9:01am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/19 "2014-12-03T09:01:49Z")

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Protip: Unless you’re actively attacking someones arms or otherwise disrupting their aim, you cannot dodge a gun at point blank.

That said, I’d like to see a bracing/hold-position based melee style. Especially for when/if leaping enemies stop leaping at random and actually do it to initiate an attack. Ideally it would give braced players a damage bonus or counter-attack against leaping or charging enemies.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Valpo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/valpo/32/341_2.png) [@Valpo](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Valpo)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 12:30pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/cutting-nodachis-down-into-katanas/8153/20 "2014-12-03T12:30:30Z")

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You can dodge someones aim though.

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