IV. Culture & Behavior

Obedience

The seniority of participants on diplomatic missions, as well as when discussing and planning within your clan, is highly important. The senior player present must always be deferred to. They control the flow of the meeting and make the final say on decisions. Seniority is determined by the rank of the individual, in the following descending order:

• Emperor

• Shogun

• Holders of Court Rank

• Daimyo and Abbots

• Heirs

• Everyone else

In the event of a tie, tie breakers are:

• Titles like Governor or Constable

• Existence of an illustrious ancestor

• Whichever character is older

In a clan council meeting, all participants should be invited by the senior member present, in order of most junior first, to give their views in turn. Finally, the senior member should announce their decision, make a point, or ask for more advice. Where two lords of roughly equal status are discussing, they take turns speaking.

Interrupting when someone is speaking is not acceptable behavior! Doing so will result in a significant loss of Honor.

Leaders should expect total obedience from their team, and they may choose to run things as they wish. Samurai culture has no provision for debate, voting, or consensus; you must therefore avoid arguing in the way you might in normal situations.

Disagreeing with a superior is very dishonorable, and crossing blades is the only acceptable form of debate. Ultimately, if you really don’t like what your lord is doing, you may have to depose him!