Bokken (Japanese Wooden Practice Sword)

[Brasswatchman]

Hey - nothing special tonight. I just happen to have a samurai playing in my campaign who isn't old enough yet to have his own katana. So I came up with this - see here for more information.

Bokken
Cost: 25 gp
Damage (Small): 1d8
Damage (Medium): 1d10
Critical: 19-20/x2
Range Increment: --
Weight: 8 lbs.
Type: Bludgeoning

This two-handed melee weapon is a wooden practice sword fashioned in the shape of a katana. It is often used by samurai trainees who have yet to accumulate the skill or the capital necessary to be worthy of a sword. A bokkun is easily broken – having a hardness of 5 and 10 hp – and easily sundered in combat – a user of a bokken receives a -4 penalty when rolling an opposed sundering check. However, if wielded properly, it can break bones and knock lightly-armored or unarmored individuals unconscious.
The bokken is a popular weapon in the O ni Kingdom for two reasons – first, it is much cheaper than katanas and metal weapons. Second, the item can be easily enchanted.

 

[Drowbane]

Bokken is basicly a club that shares proficiency with katana. Incidently IMC katanas are d8 18-20... and still share that niche with bastard sword and war axe. My reasoning going to the legendary sharpness, but lighter blade... and I hated that they have the exact same stats as another weapon... one that is *way* different in size, build, and construction.

Anyways, bokkens are tougher than normal "clubs". They are hardened with resin, and thus would perhaps be worthy of d8 dmg, and slightly improved hardness.

Just my 2 bits.

 

[Brasswatchman]

Re:

I figured I was basically aiming for a masterwork greatclub. I agree with you on the katana's crit, by the by.

Oh, and I forgot to post the good part:

ENGRAVED BOKKEN
An engraved bokken is a bokken which has been enchanted with a magic spell. The wielder of an engraved bokken can, once per day, use the spell within the bokken on a target while making a melee attack against said target. The wielder’s melee attack must succeed in touching the victim (i.e. defeating the target’s touch AC) in order to make use of the spell; the spell is triggered through the use of a command word, spoken in the moment of contact between the engraved bokken and the target. The wielder must be able to speak the command word in order to use the item’s special ability.
If the wielder succeeds in damaging the target while using the engraved bokken’s special ability (i.e. if his melee attack roll defeats both the target’s touch AC and standard AC), then the target receives a -2 penalty to his or her save against the spell.
Engraved bokkens are as easy to sunder as are non-magical bokkens. Once an engraved bokken has been sundered or destroyed, it loses its spell ability and cannot be repaired or remade.

Cherry Blossom Flower Bokken
Cost: 2185 gp
This enchanted bokken allows its user to cast the spell gust of wind while making a melee attack (Reflex save DC 12). The spell proceeds in a straight line along the angle the wielder is facing.

Black Ignorance Hand Bokken
Cost: 205 gp.
The weapon allows its user to cast the orison daze (Will Save DC 10) while making a melee attack. As per the spell, this ability cannot affect non-humanoids, or humanoids with more than 4 HD. Due its relatively cheap cost, this weapon is popular with the Oni authorities.

Setting Sun Bokken
Cost: 5425 gp.
Once per day, a wielder of a setting sun bokken can combine a melee attack with a targeted dispel, as per the spell dispel magic (pg. 223, PHB). The wielder is able to make a dispel check (1d20+5) against all active spell effects, spells and magic items currently on the individual who is the target of the attack.

Mountain Cherry Bokken
Cost: 11880 gp
This rare item is highly favored by professional assassins in the Oni Kingdom. Once per day, the wielder may combine a melee attack with the spell flesh to stone (Fort Save DC 16).

Salamandus Arm Bokken
Cost: 7585 gp.
Once per day, when the wielder of this item strikes a target, she can choose to create a fireball (7d6 damage) at the point of impact. The user and the salamandus arm bokken are immune to the spell’s effects; otherwise, the spell affects everything else within a 20-ft. radius normally. The Reflex save against this ability has a DC of 13.

Cuckoo Bokken
Cost: 2160 gp.
This curious item is said to be manufactured by an old, insane half-orc monk who lives on a mountain nearby Damcyan. When a target is struck with this weapon, they are affected as if by the spell disguise self, only their disguise is determined by the weapon’s wielder. The effect lasts for one hour. If a viewer is ever placed in a position to see through the glamour, the Will save DC is 11.

 

[Tonguez]

now the engraved boken are kewl

 

[brellin]

Yes the engraved bokken are cool but they seem a little pricy

 

[Felnar]

your base bokken seems a bit powerful compared to a greatclub
especially since it couldnt weigh more than a few pounds

i would use the stats of club, but bump the threat range to 19-20 (better balanced)
what reason is there for it to out-damage a club or quarterstaff?

the engraved bokken are a cool idea

 

[DanMcS]

Yes, because a wooden stick should have better game statistics than a longsword. Right.

A bokken is a training stick used by people to learn how to use a sword. It's just a stick. Give it club stats, let it be similar enough to a katana that weapon focus, specialization, etc in one apply to both, and move on.

 

[Thia Halmades]

I'm with the change the damage to d6, keep the crit 19-20 crowd. I don't know what compares to that OTTOMH, but it seems to me (having swung a number of rattan weapons) that you could reasonably shatter a skull with it. And while the edge isn't 'sharp' it provides a clean, lean point of impact which can ruin an afternoon if you aren't properly equipped for it.

As far as engraved bokkun, I love the idea, and I'm assuming you've priced those out accordingly (item + (spell lv. x caster lv. x 100)) I think is the formula, but I don't design items terribly often. What's wrong with the Oni kingdom? Shortage of supplies? Can't kill anyone and steal their katanas? Keep having their blacksmiths stolen?

 

[The Edge]

Great. Ive already been useing these in my campain, although now Ive got a name for them, thanks. My stats were diferent though, as other have said here.

Damage (Small): 1d4
Damage (Medium): 1d6
Critical: 19-20/x2

Great. I’ve already been using these in my campaign, although now I’ve got a name for them, thanks. My stats were different though, as other have said here.

Damage (Small): 1d4
Damage (Medium): 1d6
Critical: 19-20/x2

I'll soon be giving a player the opportunity to acquire a very nice engraved one. I'll share it here.

(now renamed) Eternal Thunder Bokken
This ancient bokken is believed to be the oldest of its kind; its original purpose is a mystery. When ever it is struck hard it creates a phenomenal cracking sound that echoes through the surroundings, giving the appearance that it is striking much harder than it actually is. Also the weapons resilience is deceiving, as far is known the weapon appears to be practically indestructible. While younger bokkens have been reduced to dust through their age, the Eternal Thunder bokken looks as new as when it was made. In the past it has survived blocking blows from great swords, being crushed by a stone golem, being engulfed by the flames of the burning building it stood in, and being the direct target of a powerful lightning spell. It has survived what its owners could not, always regaining the shine of its wood and with not a scratch to show.
(being a magic weapon, it also has +2 to attack and damage)

 

[Rockwolf66]

Ok As I have four Bokken myself I think I really should add my 2 copper to this discussion.

First off the stats are way off in some areas.

Bokken are very light weighing one of mine I get only three pounds. this means that a bokken will not do horrendous amounts of damage unless you know what you are doing. Yes there were people who used them in battle but those people were very rare and classed as the best with a sword.

so it would given everything look something like this:

Bokken
Cost: 25 sp
Damage (Small): 1d4
Damage (Medium): 1d6
Critical: 19-20/x2
Range Increment: --
Weight:3 lbs.
Type: Bludgeoning

As for cost that assumes that you didn't just carve your own.