Sengatana (Chapter)

HistorySengatana are very modern weapons in the context of Verdite's history. They have very similar application to katanas. Truthfully sengatana were made to gain the maximum length advantage possible while still maintaining status as a blue weapon. This makes them effective weapons in duels and blue tournaments. 
Sengatana have an interesting property versus min-red weaponry. Because of their class as a blue weapon, they can in theory be half the weight of their dai katana counterpart. Compared to min-reds, they would only be roughly a half an inch shorter overall. Although loss of 'red damage' is likely seen as an unfavorable trade-off.
Outside of this feature, they are almost identical to katanas. 
Weapon PropertiesConsult 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.
* +/- Denote effective changes in properties with alternative variants (such as gen-7)
** "+" means that particular category is slightly increased with Gen-7 variants
** "-" means that particular category is slightly decreased with Gen-7 variants
Variants
==== Tsuchi ====
Tsuchi variants are actually the standard design for sengatanas. The reason for this is to give the weapon the stability needed to combat larger weaponry and guard-break weak shieldsmen.
==== Mizu ====
Mizu variants remove the dense standard handle and replace it with a less-dense squared handle. Mizu styled sengatanas are uncommon (outside of generation 7 versions) because they lack the stopping power and sturdiness of the standard issue variants.
The advantage however is the weapon is lighter and features a handle focused on free-flowing combat.
==== Generation 7 ====
Generation 7 utilize gen-7 cores to reduce the overall weight of the weapon.Modern Usage
==== In War ====
The most common war practice concerning sengatanas is to use it as a sidearm/backup. It's often a favorite for archers as a quick backup weapon, although the kokatana is slowly replacing even this field application.
Warriors who use only a sengatana as a primary field weapon are often limited to flanking and support roles. The sengatana alone does not warrant the necessary killing potential or defense required to be considered truly effective.
However, notable users such as Lactoes have often shown that with overwhelming proficiency you can actually make the weapon have similar effectiveness as a light red. It should be noted that this level of skill is not normal.
==== In Dueling ====
Against other equipment, the sengatana has some drawbacks. In fact, outside of a small single blue and standard katanas, the sengatana is not considered to have any advantages over other equipment.
Effective technique in dueling is attempting to use the stability and maneuverability of the weapon to outplay and out-speed your opponent. The drawbacks that become obvious is the sengatana lacks long range or an effective defense (compared to other equipment). With the advent of light-reds and their proficiency, the sengatana is outclassed in every aspect by them.
==== In Training ====
However, as dueling weapon the sengatana is one of the most effective training weapons. All combat lessons can be reinforced through sengatana proficiency and forcing yourself to adapt to and overcome weapon advantages will promote stronger fighting techniques and easily fast-track your rank progress. Every member of the Verdish Elite has trained with a sengatana and will advocate it's necessity in personal development.
==== In Combination ====
One way to boost the effectiveness of a sengatana is to use two at once. The sengatana is one of the best weapons for dual-blades. There are a couple of recognized styles that effectively utilize a sengatana in combination.
* Flow Dual Weaponry - Dual Wielding two sengatanas. In this style the user abuses the max range of the sengatanas to out-range and out perform opponents defenses. It is considered to be one of the most effective styles of dual weaponry. This style was first pioneered by the knight Makki.
* Darxzatos Style - Dual Wielding a sengatana and a wakizashi/kodachi. In this style the sengatana is used as a sweeping weapon to abuse max range shots where the smaller blue weapon is used as an active defense weapon most of the time. As the name implies, this style was founded and practiced most heavily by the footman Darxzatos. (Darx is a retired footman and would have MOST DEFINITELY been a Vanguard in modern Verdite.)
Notable UsersLachlan
Tenryu
SkullGallery