Ok so, I'm not wanting to debate the actual morality of Bushido, and the Samurai code of honor and all that, regarding real life. I'm specifically talking about how it's presented in the game, and how it directly applies to gameplay. Because so far, in Act 1, I've encountered 2 scenes that make me think that how you approach the combat, is going to impact the storyline, but they don't make it obvious like a Paragon/Renegade Blue/Red meter.
Very minor spoilers to establish the reason:
First, you have a flashback scene where you are training with your uncle, and he's teaching you swordplay, it's the combat tutorial for the basics, but he's also talking to you about the code of the samurai, and how they always face their opponents openly, etc. Specifically you have a scene where an assassin tries to kill your uncle, and he comments about how people who attack from hiding have no honor. This scene is brought up for the first time when you are killing your first opponent from stealth, in the assassination tutorial.
After that, you are open to approach combat either from stealth, or direct combat, your choice, at no time (so far in what I've played) are you required to assassinate someone per the rules of the mission. This might change later of course, but so far, the only other "stealth" mission that was story driven, you can easily go through it and not kill anyone.
So, why do I think it's actually going to impact the story? Because later on, while I'm running around doing missions and clearing Mongol locations, I get a sudden game break moment, where it stops the combat, to give me a repeat of the flashback mentioned above in the spoilers. Now it was of note, because the event wasn't significant, it was just Random Mongol Mook 27, in fact he was in the middle of several that I was working my way through, assassin-wise. But the game felt the need to remind me, by replaying the scene. Which felt very much like the game saying "You've passed a benchmark in how this iteration of the protagonist's morality operates.
Now, the reason this seems important, is later on, in another cutscene in Act 1, the following happens, again, minor spoilers:
Your uncle is in his cell, having a talk with the Mongol leader, who is trying to turn him to the Mongol Side (they have cookies!), and your uncle talks about how the Mongols stand no chance, because his nephew (you), will cut them all down, and that his morality is strong, etc etc, I'll Never Join You!! kind of scene. The Mongol leader then says "Then why are my men reporting stab wounds in the backs of our troops?" To this, your uncle looks chagrined, and says that "My nephew would never do that!" when you clearly have been.
So it clearly feels like how you proceed going forward after the tutorials, will potentially impact the storyline to some degree.
So, all the setup done, this is where I kind of scratch my head about what is/isn't considered honorable combat in the game. Again, I'm not wanting to debate the ACTUAL morality of this, I'm curious about what may/may not be considered honorable actions within the confines of the game system.
You are taught archery by a master archer, who is clearly presented as a samurai, and following the code and all that honor stuff. But, the methods by which you use the archery, kind of dip into the realm of ambush/assassin stuff. Is it considered "dishonorable" to shoot an enemy who isn't aware you are there? Because the guy teaching me archery sure was a fan of doing it. As well as things like making bees or fire urns explode and cause collateral damage to the enemy. Was that honorable? Because after the initial "use the terrain" options were exhausted, the rest of the combat was open, but it was me shooting them with a bow. Now, I don't think archery in itself is considered dishonorable, because it's frankly a highly prized skill, and there are literal stories of legendary archers in the game, defending the people with their mad 360 no scope bow skills. But, what about sniping guards when they aren't aware I'm there? Is that an "assassination" per the rules of the game? Is using a fire arrow to make 4 dudes blow up dishonorable, even if after I rush in for a traditional combat?
I'm asking because for my second run, I want to do a Pure Bushido run, and see if the outcome is different, but I'm honestly getting mixed signals from the game on what might be good/bad tactics.
Anyone have any insight on this, in regards to the game itself?
Very minor spoilers to establish the reason:
First, you have a flashback scene where you are training with your uncle, and he's teaching you swordplay, it's the combat tutorial for the basics, but he's also talking to you about the code of the samurai, and how they always face their opponents openly, etc. Specifically you have a scene where an assassin tries to kill your uncle, and he comments about how people who attack from hiding have no honor. This scene is brought up for the first time when you are killing your first opponent from stealth, in the assassination tutorial.
After that, you are open to approach combat either from stealth, or direct combat, your choice, at no time (so far in what I've played) are you required to assassinate someone per the rules of the mission. This might change later of course, but so far, the only other "stealth" mission that was story driven, you can easily go through it and not kill anyone.
So, why do I think it's actually going to impact the story? Because later on, while I'm running around doing missions and clearing Mongol locations, I get a sudden game break moment, where it stops the combat, to give me a repeat of the flashback mentioned above in the spoilers. Now it was of note, because the event wasn't significant, it was just Random Mongol Mook 27, in fact he was in the middle of several that I was working my way through, assassin-wise. But the game felt the need to remind me, by replaying the scene. Which felt very much like the game saying "You've passed a benchmark in how this iteration of the protagonist's morality operates.
Now, the reason this seems important, is later on, in another cutscene in Act 1, the following happens, again, minor spoilers:
Your uncle is in his cell, having a talk with the Mongol leader, who is trying to turn him to the Mongol Side (they have cookies!), and your uncle talks about how the Mongols stand no chance, because his nephew (you), will cut them all down, and that his morality is strong, etc etc, I'll Never Join You!! kind of scene. The Mongol leader then says "Then why are my men reporting stab wounds in the backs of our troops?" To this, your uncle looks chagrined, and says that "My nephew would never do that!" when you clearly have been.
So it clearly feels like how you proceed going forward after the tutorials, will potentially impact the storyline to some degree.
So, all the setup done, this is where I kind of scratch my head about what is/isn't considered honorable combat in the game. Again, I'm not wanting to debate the ACTUAL morality of this, I'm curious about what may/may not be considered honorable actions within the confines of the game system.
You are taught archery by a master archer, who is clearly presented as a samurai, and following the code and all that honor stuff. But, the methods by which you use the archery, kind of dip into the realm of ambush/assassin stuff. Is it considered "dishonorable" to shoot an enemy who isn't aware you are there? Because the guy teaching me archery sure was a fan of doing it. As well as things like making bees or fire urns explode and cause collateral damage to the enemy. Was that honorable? Because after the initial "use the terrain" options were exhausted, the rest of the combat was open, but it was me shooting them with a bow. Now, I don't think archery in itself is considered dishonorable, because it's frankly a highly prized skill, and there are literal stories of legendary archers in the game, defending the people with their mad 360 no scope bow skills. But, what about sniping guards when they aren't aware I'm there? Is that an "assassination" per the rules of the game? Is using a fire arrow to make 4 dudes blow up dishonorable, even if after I rush in for a traditional combat?
I'm asking because for my second run, I want to do a Pure Bushido run, and see if the outcome is different, but I'm honestly getting mixed signals from the game on what might be good/bad tactics.
Anyone have any insight on this, in regards to the game itself?
