2-handed Japanese greatswords are called Nodachi/ōdachi

[Witch]

I've been thinking about this, Operator. I thought you would like to know.

[Witch]

NOT BIG KATANAS REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[(XBOX)ultimategamerjr]

The name on the new stances might be called Katanas...... Some people would be pretty salty about that

[Zeranov]

As I'm having great interest in Japanese culture (and played way too much Nioh) I approve of this statement.

Let's hope DE is calling this weapon class atleast something like "Adochi". In similar fashion to the "Nikana" class.

Just doing "Big Katana" is as much as an insult as having the scabbard of a Nikana pointing in the wrong direction... and they fixed that too. Which was great!

#japaneseweaponthingsareserious

Edited November 6, 2017 by Zeranov

[Acersecomic]

DIGITAL EXTREMES!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

THEY ARE NOT KATANAS!! THEY ARE TOO IMPORTANT TO BE!!!

[(XBOX)Battlevortex]

Murukamo , Ubadachi Ichi and more would be nice 👍🏿 

[(PSN)CrimsonAxure]

They're also called

               

 

                                                                                Weaboo weapons ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[(PSN)HSomDevil]

Nioh and For Honor came out and suddenly everyone has a PhD in feudal Japanese warfare.

[Varzy]

Before they released Nikanas they were calling them katanas, same with a bunch of other weapons and stuff. They're not going to release a weapon called "Big Katana", relax.

[Acersecomic]

5 minutes ago, (PS4)HSomDevil said:

Nioh and For Honor came out and suddenly everyone has a PhD in feudal Japanese warfare.

Oh relax, it's a joke thread.

[(PSN)HSomDevil]

Just now, Acersecomic said:

Oh relax, it's a joke thread.

I know, I know...

[Epsik-kun]

But all swords are katanas.

Also, all Japanese swords which are normally referred as "katanas" are two-handed.

[(XBOX)Avant Solace]

They were also reserved almost exclusively for horseback combat and ceremonies. Realistically there was no need for such large weaponry as few people used shields in Feudal Japan.

[(PSN)Spider_Enigma]

17 minutes ago, (Xbox One)alchemPyro said:

They were also reserved almost exclusively for horseback combat and ceremonies. Realistically there was no need for such large weaponry as few people used shields in Feudal Japan.

[Sloan441]

2 hours ago, Epsik-kun said:

But all swords are katanas.

Also, all Japanese swords which are normally referred as "katanas" are two-handed.

Some were longer than others. The very longest ones were aimed at cavalry use. Many were shortened later on when that sort of thing fell out of favor. 

Also, the katana as such was a relatively recent development in Japanese swordmaking. 

I'd hesitate to call them 'greatswords' since this has pretty specific meaning when western swords are involved (as specific as anything gets in swords, anyway). Those weapons had very different purposes. Interestingly, both found themselves morphing into ceremonial/dueling uses after their primary purpose fell into obsolescence. 

Big katana is certainly...descriptive. However, these swords were long gone from general use when the katana was a thing. 

[Witch]

9 hours ago, (PS4)HSomDevil said:

Nioh and For Honor came out and suddenly everyone has a PhD in feudal Japanese warfare.

everyone except DIGITAL EXTREMES

[Murph_HKM]

Idgaf what they call it.

 

Just make it so my boy Excalibur's passive applies to it. Don't leave him hanging like with Galatine/Gram/War.

[(XBOX)Avant Solace]

9 hours ago, (PS4)Spider_Enigma said:

Allow me to clarify: The use of heavy armor and sword-shield play was not a common thing in Japan. Peons would use shields as a phalanx yes, but rarely if ever would you see a Samurai use a shield by choice. Most armor was either fabric or wood based, as iron reserves were often too poor quality for tough steel.

The invention of the Greatswords/longswords in Europe were a response to the standard arming sword not having enough weight to hack through steel plate. Because steel plating was such a rarity in Japan, they never had to upgrade the size of their swords to accommodate. As a result, the only need for longer swords was so Samurais on horseback could effectively sweep at infantry below the horse.

[(PSN)Spider_Enigma]

14 hours ago, (Xbox One)alchemPyro said:

Allow me to clarify: The use of heavy armor and sword-shield play was not a common thing in Japan. Peons would use shields as a phalanx yes, but rarely if ever would you see a Samurai use a shield by choice. Most armor was either fabric or wood based, as iron reserves were often too poor quality for tough steel.

The invention of the Greatswords/longswords in Europe were a response to the standard arming sword not having enough weight to hack through steel plate. Because steel plating was such a rarity in Japan, they never had to upgrade the size of their swords to accommodate. As a result, the only need for longer swords was so Samurais on horseback could effectively sweep at infantry below the horse.

hack throu chain mail, not plate, because nothing is going to hack thru plate.....

great-swords are more like pole arms not swords....

also, have a shield

[Zeranov]

INB4 this thread turning into a vivid discussion about shield gating and it's roots in ancient Tenno culture.

[Sloan441]

16 hours ago, (Xbox One)alchemPyro said:

Allow me to clarify: The use of heavy armor and sword-shield play was not a common thing in Japan. Peons would use shields as a phalanx yes, but rarely if ever would you see a Samurai use a shield by choice. Most armor was either fabric or wood based, as iron reserves were often too poor quality for tough steel.

The invention of the Greatswords/longswords in Europe were a response to the standard arming sword not having enough weight to hack through steel plate. Because steel plating was such a rarity in Japan, they never had to upgrade the size of their swords to accommodate. As a result, the only need for longer swords was so Samurais on horseback could effectively sweep at infantry below the horse.

 

Japanese armor (like all armor) went through a variety of forms and phases due to what threats were anticipated. To simplify: it worked. What they had worked for the environment it existed in. Yes, they had issues with quality steel production. Their solutions was effective, however. 

The greatsword and longsword are not the same thing, but there is some slop in terminology. The greatsword generally refers to true two handed swords; weapons meant for extreme reach when facing pikes (also supposedly to cut the heads of, though this is somewhat debatable). The longsword was a further development of the arming sword. They were just...more. Longer blades with longer hilts for two hands, if necessary. Even Type XVII swords could be used one-handed and they were the largest type of longsword, but even the heaviest didn't tend to weigh much more than 4 1/2lbs and a 40" blade was about the upper limit. Greatswords were much, much larger. 

You didn't hack through steel plate. You can't. The swords that were developed during the heyday of plate armor were primarily thrusting weapons and they had just enough edge to catch in plate and deliver impact. That's what caused injuries. You didn't draw cut through plate. You might cause a pressure cut, but even if a blow didn't penetrate it could damage the plate itself and, more importantly, what was underneath it. Their length also made them very useful in grappling, which was a major component of fighting on foot in plate. You could use every part of the sword as a weapon--it wasn't just for the cut or even the thrust. 

Now, you might ask yourself, what does this have to do with Warframe? Well...not a thing, really. But it is fun to talk about. 

[(XBOX)Avant Solace]

2 hours ago, (PS4)Spider_Enigma said:

hack throu chain mail, not plate, because nothing is going to hack thru plate.....

great-swords are more like pole arms not swords....

also, have a shield

Okay fair point. But now lets think of this economically. What happens when a katana (a thin blade made of low quality steel) impacts are hard wooden surface? Simply: it chips. And here's the thing, proper katanas were expensive to make, unlike a spear. The factor here is what common infantry are armed with: A light wooden shield, a cheap mass-produced spear, and MAYBE a small sword for CQC. Because of this loadout, standard practice was to break enemy spears first before trying to get in close. In this setting a large sword and shield would shine; blocking spear thrusts while cutting them down, allowing for openings to appear.

But this wouldn't be the case in a duel. Because private assassins were common in Feudal Japan, people of value (like Samurais) had to be on their toes when alone. This led to martial arts that focused on fast sudden swipes and quick two-handed attacks. A large sword or shield would only hinder these techniques, making the Samurai an easier target. What I'm trying to say is a large sword and/or shield works in a warzone, but they are impractical when ambushed (and samurai were ambushed a lot).