Compare bastard sword and Katana
Bastard Sword
Price 3086
weight 1.8
requirement 9
spd rtng 99
weapon length 101
swing damage 35, cut
thrust damage 23 pierce
Katana
Price 8212
weight 1.25
requirement 9
spd rtng 102
weapon length 95
swing damage 35, cut
thrust damage 18 pierce
Bastard sword has +5 length, +5 thrust and is 5000 gold cheaper than katana. Bastard sword is in my opinion the better sword
Its ALL about the speed. I use a Heavy Bastard sword, but I might change back to "normal" Bastard sword, when i get 5-6 PS.
If you make an agility build, range is not an issue. It actually makes more problems, then it does good for agility build. I just need to block the first strike, and then I am in the range forever. ( in a typical situation that is )
Katana is a perfect duel weapon, so if you feel slow against it - mostly it is because of you low WPP build. I believe most ninjas have over 21 Agility. In the same sense you can not complain about Hunting Bow being faster then Long Bow, 1 vs 1 Hunting bowman will destroy a Longbowman, if they both have equal "aiming skill".
That is from my personal experience though, I am not a good player, just played a lot... I would use a sword with Katanas speed any time, but its Japanese looks are not for me, hehe. Spiked Mace has 100 speed, but it is just way too ugly...