: The samurai, on whom the Herons seem to be based
: (although their names sound Aztec), did weild a
: variety of weapons, most just weilding a single
: katana, while only some used bows or a katana and a
: wakizashi(shortsword) simultaniously. A few used the
: naginata(halberd), or, after the Europeans had brought
: gunpowder, firelock pistols(their tendency to explode
: added to the weilder's heroic image). I would imagine
: that the Herons only use the 2-sword approach because
: they are still getting used to their weapons again
: having been Journeymen, but are allowed to choose an
: individual weapon combination and fighting style after
: a few hundred years. This would also serve to
: distinguish them from the younger Herons, and so they
: might be used as officers for their younger brethren.
It doesn't seem like any of the Herons use customized weapons, actually. GURPS indicates that more experienced Herons hone their skills with the twin katanas, rather than switching weapons to suit their skills. As in-game evidence for this, some of the post-Journeyman Herons are apparently thousands of years old, yet the weapons they take out of storage (which they've been toting around for the last century) and use are the standard katanas.
Senior Herons are apparently distinguished more by their skill with off-hand fencing and by their superior magical knowledge.
--SiliconDream
