Nodachi (Chapter)

HistoryThe nodachi has undergone quite a few iterations over the years. They have always acted as alternatives to kelvs that focused more on maneuverability rather than minor range advantages and stopping power.
In the War-Bound era, nodachi were notably shorter than kelvs, and offered a slimmer blade profile overall. It all came down to preference at that point. While never quite as popular as kelvs, nodachi saw frequent use among many Verditians. Nodachi found popularity with fighters who wanted that added maneuverability. Even though they didn't offer as much stopping power as kelvs, they were still known for their ability to guard break.
War-Bound nodachi became less popular in Gen-6 with the advent of the slimmer kokatana. Kokatana were a bit shorter than nodachi but were much faster and lighter, giving major boosts to the original properties that made many favor the nodachi.
In the modern era, the current nodachi was once called a "daihanedachi". As weapons from gen-8 and gen-9 became overrun with compound descriptions, the names became confusing. As such the daihanedachi were renamed to the classic nodachi as war-bound nodachi were obsolete.
Modern nodachi are very similar to kelvs in length and application. However there are some key differences. Nodachi are gen-8 weapons where kelvs are gen-9 weapons. This means kelvs are stiffer, have a mildly wider profile, and hit much harder. Nodachi therefore are a little slimmer and lighter but lack the same level of stopping power a kelv has.
Weapon Properties
Consult the following image for a quick property chart. 
The categories are explained as followed:
* Speed - The weapons ability to accelerate and combo.
* Range - The effective combat range of the weapon.
* Weight - The overall weight of the weapon.
* Difficulty - The learning curve of the weapon in terms of how much work will be required to be considered proficient.
* Value - The combat usefulness in a war situation.
Variants
==== War-Bound Nodachi ====
# Gen2 though Gen5 - Early nodachi were very thick and had blade profiles that were more similar to kelvs of the era. While still shorter than kelvs, they were of similar weight. This version of the nodachi in many ways acted as the spiritual successor to the short-blade variants of insurrection kelvs. As such they were initially popular with Hrazlinne, who preferred short-blade kelvs in older conflicts. All nodachi of this era were constructed with Tsuchi designs.
# Gen6 - Gen6 nodachi cut down on the overall blade profile of nodachi by introducing thinner foam layers that reduced the overall weight. It was this design of nodachi that spawned the most popularity. These nodachi also featured a sturdier core, so while the weight was reduced, it still retained a lot of stopping power. All nodachi of this era were constructed with Mizu designs.
# Thin Blade Variant - The thin blade variant was only ever produced once for the Kelm-Class Weapon Kyofu. It featured a blade profile more akin to the kokatana. In many ways this weapon was the successor to later developed senko.
==== Reclamation Nodachi ====
Reclamation Nodachi are the modern iterations of the nodachi. They are Gen8 weapons and offer greater effective range than all previous styles of nodachi. They now rival kelvs in length but focus more on maneuverability than stopping power.
Modern Usage
=== In War ===
The most common war practice concerning nodachi is to offer suppression and break enemy lines. Nodachi exhibit strong combat range and, alongside kelvs, are the first non-pole weapon enemy forces will encounter. If left unchecked a nodachi will steadily break gaps into enemy lines. When nodachi work in pairs they are often able to hault any enemy advance almost immediately.
=== In Dueling ===
Against other equipment, the nodachi has some drawbacks as they often require team support to stay protected in fights. Nodachi are highly maneuverable and can often outwit opponents advancing on them, however, experienced shieldsmen can rush down a nodachi and reduce this advantage.
Effective technique in dueling is attempting to use the stability and maneuverability of the weapon to outplay and out-speed your opponent or keep them at max range so you can slowly chip away at their static defenses.
When fighting pikes, a nodachi is forced to approach putting it at a distinct disadvantage.
Notable Users
Hrazlinne
Lachlan
Rakdos
Gallery
nodachi.JPG|A gen-5 Nodachi
mizuchi.jpg|Mizuchi a Kelm-class gen-6 Nodachi
kyofu.jpg|Kyofu, a Kelm-Class thin-blade nodachi (Gen-6)