Need help choosing weapon(s) for Ranma

[Daniel Jess Gibson]

Just one weapon, then The 1908/1912 British Pattern cavalry saber with the massive basket hilt would allow Ranma to punch with it. It is also mainly a thrusting as opposed to a slashing weapon.

The length of the weapon also affects where it can best be used. You can't use a greatsword in a phonebooth, but you don't want just daggers in an open field (unless you can throw them). If allowed multiple weapons, I'd say Ranma would favor the extremes, a greatsword or more and a dagger or katar as back up, as well as shuriken for throwing.

My 2 cents.

[SpaceKnight of Chaos]

The Swordmage is basically a fighter who uses spells instead of weapon tricks, and the 'basket of hurt' (carrying around several different types of weapon for use in specific situations and/or with specific moves) is a valid/official part of the fighter arsenal... so, taking that into account, and the fact Ranma practices Anything Goes, which means he is expected to be able to fight effectively anywhere/anywhen, I'd say he's most likely to carry multiple weapons of different sorts. I'm just not sure what precise weapons he'd carry.

[FOG3]

Just one weapon, then The 1908/1912 British Pattern cavalry saber with the massive basket hilt would allow Ranma to punch with it. It is also mainly a thrusting as opposed to a slashing weapon.

Interesting I didn't know the British also went in the same direction as Patton's cavalry saber. The idea is to use it like a lance utilizing the power of the horse instead of messing around with that whole loping their heads off business.

Basket hilts are not hard to come by on western swords at all, nor for that matter are what amounts to a spike on the bottom to cave in someone's skull. Weapons designed like that for people on foot were often meant to be paired with a dirk or dagger, some of which also have basket hilts. Some people prefer a stick over a edged weapon in the off hand. The whole blunt/edged tactics issue is probably a little to complex to be used in something derived from D&D though.

The problem with going Unlimited Blade Works on people is every sword design and variations within the "established" design have tactics particular to that design. The design and the tactics for its use are a kind of indivisible package developped from the relation between swordfighter and swordsmith. If you don't work to appreciate that kind of stuff I see CRPG "what weapon does the most damage?" taking over or fight scenes just not being of the quality they could be. That or you'd have to basically do thing Blade of the Immortal style.

An idea of:
1) What he needs to use them on.
2) What resources he has to obtain weapons.

Helps to define things. If armor is not a issue a Rapier or Katana is an excellent weapon. If armor is an issue you need daggers designed to pierce armor, with bigger weapons designed around intended approach with that. For instance the type of Katana people most often incorrectly call a Ninja-to would be very good at going through armor with a full body thrust.

I think a Chinese Tai Chi sword, Japanese Tanto, a bundle of caltrop and throwable sharp things to make people think twice about pursuing would make a solid basic layout. All this is available, versatile, and of the proper theme. The tanto he more or less justifiably can start out with, building up a arsenal otherwise over time, and getting his hands on things like a Tai Chi sword through training at various places in China.

The Tai Chi sword is a solid design, and the strategy designed around them is both advanced and steeped heavily in martial arts tradition. The intent could be described as being able to feel the opponent through the blade giving one an edge in knowing what they're going to do in order to respond effectively and kill them instead of them killing you. In anime/manga terms it's the type of sword Enishi used so it's not exactly unknown to fans.

[lcpoketoon]

hmm nah the perfect weapon for Ranma is one that can adapt like he can in a fight. I was thinking a long bolt of cloth an combineing it with a revised iron cloth technique. This let Ranma make the cloth shape itself into blades, shields, a staff, nunchucks or even armor if he needs it in that fight.

[Nadrek]

Brainstorming: Why not use a quintessentially Ranma weapon... ki attacks?

[three headed dog]

Brainstorming: Why not use a quintessentially Ranma weapon... ki attacks?

Ranma rarely uses ki attacks (they would be over kill most of the time). The weapon Ranma uses most is: whatever happens to be laying around. He has used clothesline, rocks, pencils, brooms, pin wheels, frying pans, hand fans, etc... Though occasionally he would have real weapons (even carrying them with him), for example he happened to have a blow dart on him and used it in one arc (uses on principals balloon), and has used swords, nunchucks, staffs, and magical weapons. As well as powders (temporary paralyzing powder on Shampoo attempted to use sleeping powder on kuno), magic (suggestion incense, girl repellent) , and drugs (chloroform, alcohol).