First Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons™ Character Creation
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Samurai Weapon Proficiencies
  Selecting weapons for the Samurai is generally a rather straightforward approach.  He must specialize in the katana--that's two slots there.  Although he has six slots and will gain another at every level, the demands on his proficiencies are significant.  By level six, he will have a total of eleven proficiency slots, of which eight are filled by requirements.  Of the remaining three, it is almost universally decided to put the extra slot in katana early, as well as the two additional slots in daikyu near the beginning, since the character will most need these superior weapon skills at the lower levels.  Thus the decision is usually whether to spend all six slots on these two weapons, or to spend one on one of the other required proficiencies, usually Horsemanship, which must be taken by level two.  However, rarely a samurai character will take proficiency in another weapon; this will usually be the Wakizashi.  (Although it is not reflected in the game rules, Samurai frequently own matched Katana/Wakizashi sets; the little sword is traditionally the backup melee weapon of the orient's principle warrior caste.)  Under MyWorld rules, proficiency in the katana intrinsically includes proficiency in the boku-toh, as it was developed as a wooden practice sword so that these masters of the katana could hone their skills without killing each other.  But there are other weapons which might interest the player character.

  Because of the demands on a Samurai's proficiencies at the lower levels, they rarely learn martial arts before level seven; thus they do not gain advantages from martial arts weapons.  (Some referees allow a katana to be used as a martial arts capable weapon.  Although this seems consistent with the realities of oriental combat, it creates a great imbalance in the game weaponry.  The katana is arguably the most potent basic sword in the game.  Only the two-handed and bastard swords do more damage against large opponents, and the latter of those does not do as well against small and man-sized, and the former is only as good with many detriments related to its sheer size.  Keeping the katana out of martial arts is fairest both for the other swords and for the other martial arts weapons, and is the MyWorld policy.)

  Of all character classes, the samurai is most dishonored by the use of ninja weapons.  Although it is not impossible to use these, the samurai will not.  (Under normal circumstances, he will kill any other character found to be using or possibly merely possessing such weapons, as the weapons themselves are sufficient proof that the character is a ninja--except in the case of a kensai to a ninja weapon, clearly wearing the marks of his profession.)  These include eggshell grenades, hankyu, kawanaga, kumade, kusari-gama, kyoketsu-shogi, metsubishi, needle, nekode, ninja-to, shaken, shikomi-zue, any shuriken, and tetsu-bishi.

  This is the armor initially available to the character, as well as the armor which may be donned if acquired elsewhere.

Available Armor Other Useable Armor
Banded Mail Bronze Plate
Chain Mail Elfin Chain Mail
Do-maru Field Plate
Haidate Full Plate
Hanburi Plate Mail
Hara-ate Small Shield
Hara-ate-gawa Small Wooden Shield
Haramaki Spiked Buckler
Haramaki-do
Kabuto (Great Helmet)
Small Helmet
Hide Armor
Horo
Jingasa (War Hat)
Kote (Armored Sleeves)
Leather Armor
O-yoroi (Great Armor)
Padded Armor
Ring Mail
Leather Scale
Metal Scale Mail
Buckler
Large Shield
Medium Shield
Sode
Splint Mail
Studded Leather
Sune-ate
  Any other armor encountered in the game world may be used.

  This is the available selection of weaponry.

Useable Martial Arts Only Useable if Available
Battle Ax Fang Aklys
Hand or Throwing Ax Jitte Atlatl with Javelin
Blowpipe Kau Sin Ke Bardiche
Boku-toh Lajatang Bec de Corbin
Bo Stick Nunchaku Bill-guisarme
Chain Sai Long Bow
Chijiriki Sang Kauw Long Composite Bow
Chu-ko-nu Siangkam Short Bow
Club Three-piece Rod Short Composite Bow
Heavy Crossbow Tui-fa (Ton-fa) Hand Crossbow
Light Crossbow Fauchard
Dagger Fauchard-fork
Daikyu Footman's Flail
Dart Horseman's Flail
Gunsen Military Fork
Halberd Garrotte
Javelin Glaive
Jo Stick Glaive-guisarme
Kama Guisarme
Katana Guisarme-voulge
Kiseru Lucerne Hammer
Knife Hammer
Light Lance Harpoon
Lasso Hook Fauchard
Oriental Mace Heavy Lance
Man Catcher Medium Lance
Nagimaki Footman's Mace
Naginata Horseman's Mace
Parang Morningstar
Pellet Bow Partisan
Shakujo-yari Footman's Military Pick
Sling Horseman's Military Pick
Sode Garami Awl Pike
Yari (Spear) Ranseur
Staff Sling Sap
Quarter Staff Scimitar
Broad Sword Spetum
Long Sword Khopesh Sword
Short Sword Bastard Sword
Two-handed Sword Falchion Sword
Tetsubo Voulge
Trident
Uchi-ne
Wakizashi
Whip
  The samurai may use any other weapons encountered in the game, except that the use of ninja weapons causes dishonor.

Return to Step 10 at the proficiencies count for the Samurai.

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