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Star ArmyⓇ is a landmark of forum roleplaying. Opened in 2002, Star Army is like an internet clubhouse for people who love roleplaying, art, and worldbuilding. Anyone 18 or older may join for free. New members are welcome! Use the "Register" button below.

Note: This is a play-by-post RPG site. If you're looking for the tabletop miniatures wargame "5150: Star Army" instead, see Two Hour Wargames.

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  • 📅 July 2024 is YE 46.5 in the RP.

Uniform Updates for the Star Army of Yamatai

@Wes Added a whole appearance section. Let me know if I went overboard or if you want even more. I have a bunch of design references too if you ever need additional materials to give an artist as background.

@ShotJon While the bodysuit is an approved uniform, it is not the only uniform and in fact not a very commonly used uniform, at least as far as I've observed ICly/with PCs. If it were the only uniform easily used with the EPJ then we get straight back to the two piece problem Wes originally brought up. Moreover, a specific design goal of the original EPJ - and I don't know who originally wrote it up - was to make it an oversuit that could be used with anything underneath. So yes, you can wear it on its own, but if that's the only reasonable way to wear it we're just getting right back to the problem of uniform clutter Wes has been combatting. I'm writing this with the understanding that what is desired is a complimentary outfit, something to be used in conjunction with the existing normal-wear uniforms, not just another uniform entirely. This is something to throw over your duty uniform if you need to go turn wrenches in a maintenance conduit or change the oil in the Aether generator, and still look clean and tidy after shift.

Potential compromise: I could add a manual control to the suit to allow it to pull in skin tight even in a standard pressure environment. I have to say though that I can't imagine it would be excessively comfortable; it's designed to provide enough mechanical counter-pressure to keep you fine and dandy in vacuum, which I would imagine would be even tighter - and thus less comfortable - than even standard Yamatai-tight.
 
I can see all your points, I am just saying that my common sense tell me that under suit like this, all I would want to wear are my undies. Burns, broken appendages and laceration are all likely to happen in engineering due to accidents, and if all medic needs to get to the injur is pull me out of my EPJ, then I say cool. Besides, you could makde EPJ from some kind of sci-fi clever material so ti could for example seal a cut wound or something on its own. Though once again, for that you would need to be naked underneath.
 
I can see your points, too, and that is a pretty cool concept. It just seems better suited to something like the working uniform, which is even more likely to see the potential for injury as it sees combat. And if worn under the EPJ again obviates the needs for it's independently being able to do that. Ultimately, though, this is Wes's call as FM in terms of what he's looking for as a uniform option for the Star Army. This is just my vision for a cheap, common, additional item to complement a uniform rather than an entirely new, separate uniform option. I can definitely change things up and make the EPJ more like your vision, Shot, if Wes wants. Otherwise, if he's fine with it, I'll throw it in the NTSE forum.

Additionally, because I know it has been mentioned, I'd be happy to embark on an update of the other uniforms. The fire retardant and radiation shielding fabric is an easy update, though I really do think adding the smart first-aid elements ShotJon added would be awesome, particularly for the working uniform.
 
Does the IEPJ really need the "tight mode?" It would be less expensive if we just went with a standard look.
 
I think that's part of what people like about the appearance though, and it DOES make a difference, appearance wise.
 
The only purpose of its ability to constrict is to provide it with low-pressure/vacuum survivability. In any event, it's a significantly simpler way to make an expedient space suit than to try for a full pressure layer. That would definitely be more expensive and more unwieldy. The "tight mode," as you put it, could certainly be done away with if not being able to withstand vacuum isn't an issue. With the radiation and thermal insulation already in place, it just seemed like a natural extension to me and a useful feature set addition for engineers should something go wrong. This application of electroactive polymers isn't that complex though, and I doubt it would be all that expensive for someplace like Yamatai to manufacture. Still, removing it is an easy fix and fine with me. Definitely gives the IEPJ more of a coverall vibe though, again is fine by me.
 
star army uniform developments.png
Here's a diagram I made that shows the developments of Star Army uniforms over the years.

The red-gray ones are obsolete and discontinued.
 
The Type 35 isn't based on the Type 30, it's based on the Type 22. The female 30s only have a line because they introduced the skirt option.
 
I'm thinking the Star Army needs a new working uniform. I'm thinking of basically making a version of the existing working uniform, but with natural color instead of brightly color-coded. Sort of a hybrid of the field uniform and the current working uniform. Because while the field uniform was discontinued because we almost always do combat wearing power armor, we can't be in power armor all the time and we need something that's not so garish for those times.

So here's the SAOY uniform to-do list:
  1. Art for flag officer variant of Type 36 Cap
  2. New exercise uniform with optional jacket and pants
  3. Concept art for new working uniform (simplified, semi-camo design)
  4. Uniform for non-sapient robots working for the SAOY (jumpsuit?)
 
I do not like this. We need to keep the rainbow! If you wanted something garish, you should have kept the field uniform which was pretty damn cool.
 
The Duty uniform will still have the "rainbow."
 
Recommendation: Color changing pigments.

In a starship setting, the garish colors are essential to maintain proper workflow. Much in a manner comparable to the US Navy http://www.navy.mil/navydata/ships/carriers/rainbow.asp . With that in mind, Wes is right, those colors are also a bit of a pain in the ass in a field operation, so why not be clever and have the pigment change to something less "Snipe me please" and something more "I'm operating in an operation", it is rather technologically simple, and, it could be a really cool gimmick.
 
How about a variation of the duty uniform that's just the skirt since the skirt is the best part?
Think of the unprecedented cost cutting, ease of movement and morale boost.

I also support the rainbow.
 
I think a basic jumpsuit would work too. Here's a concept I made by recycling the old NMX Navy jumpsuit.

jumpsuit concept green 2.png
 
I saw something on the wiki today, a body suit that Yamatai used to use. You said we use PAs a lot so why not incorporate into this work uniform a body suit that you don't have to take off to get into PAs? At least for those assigned as PA pilots that way they can easily be IDed as well and don't have to do more than maybe take off 1 loose layer of clothes before they deploy?
 
RPG-D RPGfix
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