Often the range of a kata is different from weapon's: what takes precedence?

Can I use iaijutsu to strike at range 2 with a katana, or use crescent moon strike to strike at range 1 with a naginata?

Or do I have to move during the action in some way?

This is a good question. In my head I would think that these techniques would allow you to use the weapon at the technique's range because with the Iaijutsu strike you will probably lunge forward, thus covering up to range 2 and with the crescent moon strike you are guarding with the naginata or whatever weapon beforehand and maybe you strike with the pommel or reposition yourself or the enemy before making the attack idk. I think the kata represent special uses of the weapons and therefore can change things slightly from their normal use.

In my opinion though I think the naginata should have a range of 1-2. Naginata are shorter than spears tend to be and can involve moving the hands up and down the shaft to make strikes at different ranges in a similar manner to a staff. One hand can be close to the blade while slashing to do short range strikes. I also find it odd how the staff does more base damage than most weapons, but that's a different topic.

If the range of a kata varies from the weapon being wielded, it overrules it, because where an action uses a weapons stats it will specifically namecheck it (e.g. Strike action).

You can strike at an extra range band with iaijutsu.

You cannot use crescent moon at range 1 with a naginata, because whilst you can trigger the opportunity at range 1, the opportunity says "you may perform a Strike action targeting that character" meaning it then follows the rules for the strike action:

Quote

As an Attack action using one readied weapon, you may make a TN 2 Martial Arts check using the appropriate skill for the weapon, targeting one character within the range of the
weapon

So whilst you can meet the first trigger, the trigger doesn't let you do anything because the target isn't within range of the weapon when you get to perform the strike action.

That's interesting, I didn't catch that. It's an easy thing to miss, but I can't think of a better way to word it.

Its important to understand the encapsulation of different actions.

When you do the Attack action it states you can then perform a TN 2 Martial Arts check on a target within range - if you succeed, deal your weapon's base damage + bonus success as physical damage to the target.

When you do another action like Iaijutsu it changes the default Attack action. Rather than reference the weapon's range Iaijutsu gives you its own range. Its not which takes precedence but rather which is being referenced. When you do the Iaijutsu kata you follow its instructions instead of Attack action, you are simply performing the kata which includes the range, TN, and damage application / mods.

It would be preferable in their updates to change the wording to make this more clear. They should define a Basic Attack and then clarify that it is a type of Attack action that can be used when there is no appropriate technique. That should help clarify the difference between "Iaijutsu is an attack action" and the basic attack. That way people recognize the difference.

10 hours ago, shosuko said:

They should define a Basic Attack and then clarify that it is a type of Attack action that can be used when there is no appropriate technique. That should help clarify the difference between "Iaijutsu is an attack action" and the basic attack. That way people recognize the difference.

They do. The 'basic attack action' is called Strike.

6 hours ago, Magnus Grendel said:

They do. The 'basic attack action' is called Strike.

Ah thx - yeah then, its as I described. The Strike action calls for weapon range, but the Kata doesn't have to.

Exactly. Soaring Slice, for example, is explicitely "use your sword as a massive throwing knife" so it'd be bizzare if it couldn't define its own effective range bands independent of the weapon's normal stats.