Honor

Honor
During the Sengoku period, honor was everything in the life of a Japanese nobleman. Society was governed by strict codes of conduct that dictated the proper actions of each one of its members. Members of the Samurai elite were expected to adhere to the code of Bushido, or “The Way of the Warrior.” Bushido demanded that a member of this class cultivate the virtues of rectitude, courage, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, and loyalty. He was to be self-sacrificing, humble, and unassuming. Everything he did was governed by his sense of duty. Breach of this code meant dishonor and disgrace. A disgraced Japanese nobleman faced ostracism and abandonment by his followers. The only option for him then was Seppuku: painful suicide by disembowelment.

Honor in Sengoku is meant to reflect the stringent requirements of Bushido in a nobleman’s life. He cannot simply declare war on whomever he likes, or betray his liege whenever it suits him. Characters must first build up a store of social credibility, represented by Honor, before they can get away with the occasional selfish act.

Your character’s Honor will shape how other characters treat him. If he cultivates an honorable reputation, friends and enemies alike will come to respect him. If he becomes known for violating agreements and acting dishonorably, even his own vassals will become disloyal.