Dread

[Uesugi Kenshin]

I never really paid attention to this attribute, mainly just read all the descriptions once. How does it really affect gameplay? Is it a significant factor in anything?

[Martok]

The short answer? Dread impacts the game directly only when in regards to your governors, officeholders (Chamberlain, Chief Eunuch, etc.), and your faction leader. For example, if a governor has high dread, his province will have a better loyalty rating, as they will fear him more (or all your provinces, if we're talking about your faction leader).

As for indirect effects, your governors and generals can gain traits that will increase or lower their dread. In turn, these traits can affect not only your provinces' happiness (depending on which governor has which trait); but in the case of generals, can also affect an army's morale.

Take the Butcher trait, for example. It increases a general/governor's dread, but it decreases the morale of the troops under that general's command (as they get less ransom money and/or they are appalled at your general's bloodthirstiness). For another example, look at the Chivalrous trait (I believe that's the one I'm thinking of); it lowers dread, but increases both the morale of troops under his command, and his province's happiness (if he's a governor as well).

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Ok, I figured it increased loyalty and had sopme drawbacks, but I have never really noticed it having a substantial impact on the game.

[Martok]

Aside from your provinces' loyalty, dread doesn't have a major impact, no. But it does add some nice flavor to the game, and adds a bit of character to your governors and generals.

[BAD]

Aye. My heir was lacking in a few departments namely Dread and Command (2 dread and 0 Command). So I sent him on a mission now he's got 3 stars, Expert Defender, Skilled Attacker, Scant Mercy, The Butcher and Great Warrior. Nice!

EDIT - I wondered why the rest of my message got missed off. . . It seems that removing the "Greater than Dot Less than" smiley seems to have gotten rid of the glitch though. . .

[Martok]

Aye. My heir was lacking in a few departments namely Dread and Command (2 dread and 0 Command)

Egad, sounds like your boy spent his youth writing too much poetry.