half-OT: Question on "Samurai" Armor

[tinkthank]

Excuse me, perhaps the maker of Ashikaga knows the answer to this:

On what I would call "samurai armor" (sorry I know nothing about this), such as can be seen in the dream sequences of Terry Gilliam's film "Brazil", there is some sort of ornamental flag-like apparatus, a bit like a samurai peacock headdress thingy if you know what I mean.

Can someone tell me the name of this please?

(Side question: could be a neat item you could wear on the "armor" slot in D2: a moral-improving banner which also causes fear or something?)

[Scott Hebert]

I believe it is called a sashimono, or 'back-banner'. I can research this more if you want.

And, really, it should be a standard effect, rather than a fear effect.

That's just me, though.

Bayushi Tasogare

[tinkthank]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, if you could "research" that and let me know, I would be grateful. I searched the internet quite a bit, and even posted elsewhere, but never got any answers.

As to banner effect: fine. Have you ever heard of the game "Champions"? It has an "impression" factor in it, which seems to be exactly what this back-banner would do. You are right that it is not fear, but I think "awe" might come closest??

[Wauthan]

While the sashimono is impressive it's the equivalent to the european surcoat. A way to tell friend from foe as well as being able to identify nobles that can be held for ransom. Belive it or not but being able to take prominent noblemen hostage, and get a nice amount of ransom money for their release, was usually the main reason why noblemen went to battle. It was part of the rules of warfare and big buisness for some of the more martial noble houses. A coat of arms identifying you as a wealthy man was usually a lot better for your health than any armor.

Commoners, of course, were worth nothing and usually met a grim fate indeed if they ended up on the loosing side. Which in turn meant that they had no qualms about slitting the throaths of nobles if they managed to get to them before the knights could "claim" them.

Useless trivia from the Discovery Channel.

[Scott Hebert]

Originally posted by tinkthank:


Yes, if you could "research" that and let me know, I would be grateful. I searched the internet quite a bit, and even posted elsewhere, but never got any answers.

That's odd. It's not a very obscure question.

As to banner effect: fine. Have you ever heard of the game "Champions"? It has an "impression" factor in it, which seems to be exactly what this back-banner would do. You are right that it is not fear, but I think "awe" might come closest??

No, it was _exactly_ a standard, used in primarily the same way as European heraldry and Roman standards were. It functioned primarily as an identification device, and to inspire the troops around you. When you consider the battles of the late Sengoku period were _far_ larger than European battles of the same time period, these became more important.

Bayushi Tasogare

[tinkthank]

Thanks very much for the replies.

So that means "sashimono" is the correct term for what I mean?

Yes, I had even mailed the owners of a few sites I found by google when I had done the searches using the keywords "japanese armor" and "samurai armor" and the keywords I got from there.

As to its function, I havent the slightest doubt that you are absolutely correct. However, I am thinking more in fantasy terms. In historical Japan, there were surely no flying spellcasters and hordes of undead hosts and whatnot. I primarily had the images conjured up by Terry Gilliam in my head.

best to you