17 damage on a steel plate with Alvarin is like really bad damage ! 10-11 Hits to kill someone depending on its class is totally underderpowered. Nobody is using the Katana ! Piercing Damage is even much less ! The Thursar instead can kill you with 2-3 strikes with his polearm or axe !
The Greatblade is dealing over 40 damage ! This compared to 17 damage make the Katana kinda unplayable underpowered against steel and pansar carapace Armors and noone use medium armor these days. Most Hybrids go heavy Paladin because mercenary Plate is so much better compared to light and medium armor ! This is why the Katana is total out of balance. Yes you can attack faster, but you cant win vs a player of the same skill level using a greatblade, if he only have to hit you 4-5 times and you have to hit him 11 times ! 7-8 would be the maximum to make this weapon useable ! Damage should be arround 30 damage compared to the greatblade dealing 47 ! The piercing Damage need to be buffed. The Katana is a piercing weapon ! Should deal minimum as much damage with a thrust attack as blunt and slashing combined !
There is nearly no benefit over a 1 h sword ! Damage and weight is nearly the same !
1h sword is slower....