Samurai Weapons (CFH)

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The exotic, oriental world features many weapons which are strange to western eyes... including the eyes of the PCs in most campaigns.
Many of these weapons simply look a little different and bear different names. Old, familiar weapons with slightly changed forms and names include: the Battle axe, Hand axe, Dagger (tanto), Halberd, Javelin, Light lance, Mace, Pike, Spear, Long sword, Short sword, Two-handed sword (no-daichi), and Trident. These weapons have game characteristics identical to the normal versions, and proficiency with the common weapon works just as well with the more exotic version.
The new samurai-society weapons listed in the chart above include:
==Bo Stick==
The bo stick is an ordinary hardwood staff, the height of a man or slightly taller.
Bo stick shares a proficiency with Quarterstaff. If you can use one, you can use the other. (This doesn't mean that the two styles are identical; an oriental bo stick fighter looks very different in combat than a western quarterstaff combatant. But if they traded weapons, they'd be just as good with the other guy's weapon... each in his own style.) Weapon specialization in bo stick gives you the usual advantages.
Bo sticks are common everywhere; any 6' or 7' hardwood walking staff is a bo staff. To use it as such, however, you have to have the bo stick/quarterstaff weapon proficiency. The primary difference between the weapons, and the reason the quarterstaff does more damage against Large monsters, is that the combat quarterstaff has iron-shod, even lead-weighted ends. (A quarterstaff which does not have these features should do damage identical to the bo stick.)
==Chain==
This weapon is a 6' or 10' length of chain with weights at both ends. In combat, it's whirled very fast, the weighted end inflicting the damage on the target.
The chain combines some of the useful traits of melee weapons and the lasso. You can attack with it for normal Called Shots, Disarm, Parry, and Strike/Thrust maneuvers. Additionally, you can perform three of the lasso's five special functions: Pull/Trip by striking at a target's legs, Dismount a Rider, and Snag a Rider's Head.
The chain is easy to conceal, and (at least in western lands) is not usually recognized as a weapon until wielded as one.
The chain requires its own weapons proficiency, which is not related to any other weapon. Weapon specialization confers the usual bonuses.
Chains are to be found in any civilization with the technological skill to make them (this includes most AD&D® campaign settings), but the technique of fighting with them is mostly an eastern-culture development. A character would have to study with a practitioner of the technique, and be able to spend a weapon proficiency slot, in order to learn how to use the weapon.
==Daikyu==
The daikyu is the great samurai longbow. It's 7' long (hence its size designation of L). Its hand-grip is not in the center of the weapon; it's located closer to the bottom, so the daikyu can be fired from horseback and from kneeling positions.
As with other bows, the daikyu can be used to perform the Called Shot, Disarm, Hold Attack, and Strike/Thrust (i.e., shoot) maneuvers.
The daikyu and katana are the two principal weapons of the samurai.
The daikyu requires its own weapons proficiency. It is related to, but not identical to, other bow proficiencies. Weapon specialization confers the usual benefits.
The daikyu is not exported from eastern nations. However, it is a simple task, if you are in such a nation, to commission the making of one. A western bowyer would have to have studied in the east to make one.
==Katana==
The katana is the samurai's sword. It's a medium-length, slightly curved blade with no quillions (only a small, circular guard) and a hilt suitable for one-handed and two-handed use. The blade is sharpened only along one edge and at the tip, but it is sharpened to a razor's edge. It is forged with a special technique known only in the east, where layers of steel and iron are sandwiched, heated, folded, stretched, re-folded, stretched, re-folded, on and on until the blade consists of microscopically thin layers of alternating metals, providing strength, resilience, and the ability to hold a remarkable edge. This is why the katana has the excellent speed and damage listed for the weapon.
The katana requires its own weapon proficiency, which is related to the bastard sword/long blades group. Weapon specialization confers the usual benefits.
Katanas are very personal; a samurai is dishonored if he loses his, and so very few are lost. This means that it is very hard to get one in the west, other than by taking it from its owner—a difficult task. In the east, a character might be willing to commission one from a weaponsmith, for the listed price... if he gets a good reaction roll from the NPC. (An ordinary weaponsmith could not make one. The blade-making technique requires study in the east and the learning of a specialized individual weaponsmithing nonweapon proficiency.)
Also, a hero who does a favor or performs a mission for an eastern lord might be awarded a matched set of katana and wakizashi, if he's very lucky; this would be a high honor.
==Naginata==
This is a polearm, a 6' to 8' shaft with a curved, sword-like blade at the end. It's the favored weapon of the female fighters of the orient, but they are not limited to it, nor is it limited to them.
Naginata proficiency is related to all other polearms. Weapon specialization confers the usual benefits.
Naginatas are readily available in oriental ports, and such weapons are readily exported, if the DM says there is a market for them. 
==Nunchaku==
The nunchaku consists of two lengths of hard wood connected by a short length of chain or rope.
The weapon can be used to perform Called Shots, Disarm, Parry, and Strike/Thrust maneuvers.
Nunchaku requires its own proficiency, which is not related to any other weapons proficiency (including flails). Weapon specialization confers the usual benefits. Masters of the weapon often have weapon specialization in nunchaku and Style Specialization in Two-Weapons Style, giving them the ability to fight effectively with nunchaku in either hand. The only way to acquire this proficiency is to study with someone who already has the proficiency, and to have a proficiency slot available to spend on nunchaku.
Nunchaku are readily available in oriental ports, and such weapons are exported; western collectors are quite enthusiastic about them, even if these collectors usually cannot use them.
==Sai==
This is a short, defensive weapon, consisting of a metal bar with a hilt, and oversized upward-curving quillions. When used by someone with proficiency in the weapon, sai confer a +1 to attack rolls bonus when using the Pin and Disarm maneuvers.
In the chart at the start of this chapter, the Sai is listed as having two types of damage: P (piercing) and B (bludgeoning). That's not quite right; the normal sai is only a Bludgeoning-damage weapon. However, certain warriors prefer for it to be a sharp stabbing weapon, so the damage may be Piercing instead. A sai may only have one type of damage, not both.
Sai requires its own proficiency, which is not related to any other. Weapon specialization confers the usual benefits. To learn the proficiency, one must study with someone who has it, and the character must have a weapon proficiency slot to spend.
Many warriors proficient in the sai take Style Specialization in Two-Weapon technique and utilize twin sai in combat.
Sai are readily available in oriental ports, and are exported.
==Shuriken==
Shuriken, often called throwing stars, are small thrown weapons. They do as much damage as a thrown dagger, and are considerably more concealable. Ornamental shuriken can often be worn as jewelry and not recognized as weapons, and a pocketful of shuriken weigh no more than many other single weapons.
However, shuriken require their own weapon proficiency, which is not related to any other. Weapon specialization confers the usual benefits. To learn shuriken proficiency, one must study with someone who has it, and must have a weapon proficiency slot to spend.
Shuriken are available in oriental ports, but most occidental collectors don't know how to use them.
==Tetsubo==
The tetsubo is a long walking-staff, its upper end shod with studded iron strips.
Its weapon proficiency is related to other polearms; specialization confers the usual benefits.
Tetsubos can be had in oriental markets, but none are exported because it is a relatively simple weapon to make.
==Wakizashi==
The wakizashi is the short-sword companion of the katana. Its blade is forged the same way, and the weapon looks like a shorter version of the katana. It is often part of a matched set with the katana, and is of almost equal importance as the katana to the samurai. Only samurai can wear both katana and wakizashi.
Wakizashi proficiency is related to short sword. Specialization confers the usual benefits. Many samurai fight with the katana in one hand and wakizashi in the other, in two-weapon technique, and some learn the two-weapon style specialization to further improve their ability with this style.
Wakizashis are as hard to come by as katanas.
==Note==
The AD&D® game supplement Oriental Adventures describes many, many other weapons and provides a lot of resource material for oriental characters and campaigns. A certain amount of conversion is required, as the supplement was written for the first-edition game.