So here I am, knocking myself out (almost literally, ugh I hate being sick) trying to make sure that the Taketori is "balanced", whatever the heck that means, and I’m still getting reports from users who say it’s too fast, too slow, too powerful, has too short of a range, has too long of a range, does too much damage, etc.

And there are people I trust implicitly and believe on every side, which just doesn’t help much.  So maybe, just maybe, there’s simply no such thing as a ‘balanced weapon’.  Or maybe there’s no such thing as a consensus on what a balanced weapon is.  I’m just not sure. 

So, I’m going to take a short break from the "iterate/test/update" cycle and see if I’m able to come up with a more objective way to determine such things.  If I can do so, I’ll be sure to post more information, and any ideas on how to determine balance *objectively* are welcome.

P.S. : Yes, I’m feeling moody.  I’m sick, and frustrated.  You would be too

 Miyamoto Musashi wrote…

The Benefit of Weapons in Strategy

There is a time and a place for use of weapons.

The best use of the companion sword is in a confined space, or when you are engaged closely with an opponent. The long sword can be used effectively in all situations.

The halberd is inferior to the spear on the battlefield. With the spear you can take the initiative; the halberd is defensive. In the hands of one of two men of equal ability, the spear gives a little extra strength. Spear and halberd both have their uses, but neither is very beneficial in confined spaces. They cannot be used for taking a prisoner. They are essentially weapons for the field.

Anyway, if you learn "indoor" techniques, you will think narrowly and forget the true Way. Thus you will have difficulty in actual encounters.

The bow is tactically strong at the commencement of battle, especially battles on a moor, as it is possible to shoot quickly from among the spear men. However, it is unsatisfactory in sieges, or when the enemy is more than forty yards away. For this reason there are nowadays few traditional schools of archery. There is little use nowadays for this kind of skill.

From inside fortifications, the gun has no equal among weapons. It is the supreme weapon on the field before the ranks clash, but once swords are crossed the gun becomes useless.

One of the virtues of the bow is that you can see the arrows in flight and correct your aim accordingly, whereas gunshot cannot be seen. You must appreciate the importance of this.

Just as a horse must have endurance and no defects, so it is with weapons. Horses should walk strongly, and swords and companion swords should cut strongly. Spears and halberds must stand up to heavy use: bows and guns must be sturdy. Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative.

You should not have a favorite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. You should not copy others, but use weapons which you can handle properly. It is bad for commanders and troops to have likes and dislikes. These are things you must learn thoroughly.

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