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Uniform Updates for the Star Army of Yamatai

Would it look less Nepleslian if it was more tan? :rolleyes: I'm starting to think I need to start working on a Nepleslian field uniform just to show how non-Nepleslian this one is. For one thing, a Nepleslian uniform would probably be much more baggy and with more front pockets, I imagine.

Anyway, I shaded and refined the cap a little more by re-doing some of the sitching. I feel like it could use an emblem of some sort but I haven't come up with a "Yamatai Rikugun" insignia yet.

Why this hat?
  1. Having a sun visor is important. This is more functional than the beret.
  2. It's soft and easily stuffed in your bag when you suit up in your DAISY M6
  3. The Star Army's uniform inventory already includes peaked caps (e.g. we're using an existing Yamatai faction look, not making a new one)
  4. Yamatai-flag-colored band shows this is a YSE soldier in an obvious way.
I'm think going to put the neck-flap Nashoba suggested as an add-on that snaps on to the back of this cap, and do some art of that configuration as well.

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I'm putting it with the jacket so we can see the overall look of the current utility uniform concept.


field utility uniform with cap.png
 
It looks alright, but it's definitely not what I would show to my friends as an example of the anime sci fi catgirl faction.
 
I've been thinking, maybe Yamatai needs to start looking at combat boots, in the style of modern-day army boots.

Currently boots in Yamatai are like this (drawn and the closest I could find to a real-life equivalent):

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These are kind of generic.

I've been thinking of something more like jungle boots, with fabric on the shaft (?) and leather or similar material on the vamp (front of boot) and heel. The soles would me more like running shoes. But most importantly, they'd have quick laces or some other rapid, sturdy way to put them on.

Pictured: Jungle boots and their desert boot descendant
jungle31.jpg
 
FOr the utility uniform in the field I suppose. But on ships. They don't make sense.
 
I kinda like the way they are now for on ships, it's more futuristic. But that doesn't mean they can't change a little. They should still be up closer to the knees for protection and stability. But maybe have the soles of the combat boots like today for more flexibility being on the ground or in space. I do think quick laces is a good idea and maybe even change, at least for ground-only boots, the type of leather. Making it less shiny would be good for durability and whatnot.

Just my two cents, for what they're worth. :)
 
Nashoba said:
FOr the utility uniform in the field I suppose. But on ships. They don't make sense.
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Keep in mind that in the U.S. Navy, they wear combat boots or their shoe equivalent on ships, with the working uniform. Also, the US Army (Airborne units) still wear black shiny combat boots with the fancy blue service uniform.
SmokeEmpress said:
I kinda like the way they are now for on ships, it's more futuristic. But that doesn't mean they can't change a little. They should still be up closer to the knees for protection and stability. But maybe have the soles of the combat boots like today for more flexibility being on the ground or in space. I do think quick laces is a good idea and maybe even change, at least for ground-only boots, the type of leather. Making it less shiny would be good for durability and whatnot.

Just my two cents, for what they're worth. :)
Click to expand...
Well, I think a key issue I have in looking at them in the first place is that the existing ones are largely featureless and I would like something that we can look at and say "that's a Star Army of Yamatai boot." Even a few seam lines would go a long way.

I'm actually thinking about going out and getting a concept artist to make a bunch of concepts for us, but first I need to have a clear picture of what (visual) features we'd actually want in a sci-fi military boot.
 
To be honest, the biggest change that it likely needs would be the sole for better traction if we're only looking at practicality. Meanwhile, if we want to stay as close as possible to how it looks now, we could say it's an all-polymer boot, where the material is elastic at certain portions. But, if we want to make it look distinct, we should see if there's a motif we can take from the rest of Yamatai's uniforms and apply here. Laces would work and work well, but would it be futuristic and smooth enough if they're very visible? We could try some sort of integrated constriction bands or something too, with a pull/release tab that's hidden or partially hidden behind some simple decoration or color pattern.
 
Yeah, I'd really like to think we have gone beyond laces. I will always vote tabi over plain old combat boots BECAUSE NINJAS AND SAMURAI.
 
Combat boots to me scream Nepleslia, not Yamatai. There are plenty of boot designs that we can go with for a sleek boot with some lines.
 
Nashoba said:
Combat boots to me scream Nepleslia, not Yamatai. There are plenty of boot designs that we can go with for a sleek boot with some lines.
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The Nepleslian military doesn't actually use combat boots, though. Almost their art has laceless boots like Yamatai's but brown. I keep hearing "this looks Nepleslian" but I think that's just because anything modern-day-looking is seen as Nepleslian. Instead of modernizing, Yamatai's been stuck using styles that are from the 1800s.
 
For what it's worth, laces on boots feel a little too old-school. The smooth, shapely boots of Yamatai seem fitting for their sleek image. Generic? Yes, when seen without context. But defining all the same.
 
Ha, I Googled 'futuristic boots' and those were some of the first matches. Definitely what I was picturing, too.

I would basically go for something like that, base black with SA blue sections and the signature SA piping.

Forgive my subpar Photoshop skills...

aimg.photobucket.com_albums_v86_Reynolds_boots_zpst4couyxs.jpg

Probably lose the dumb band with circles at the top, but maybe a grey strap with blue accents. Generally black with blue accents and grey straps/piping is what I'm trying to get across.
 
I want to clarify that, before we start looking at new boots for fancy uniforms, I'm looking for combat boots suitable for the field uniform.

With that in mind, the boots I'm looking for are:
  1. Not black
  2. Definitely not shiny
  3. Preferably, but not necessarily, use fabric uppers
  4. Realistically functional
  5. Something I would actually want to wear in a combat zone in real life
The reason real combat boots look the way they do is because that's the best design man has achieved in combat footwear technology.

So I'm thinking something more along the lines of these:
We could replace the laces with some sort of sci-fi self-tightening bands or something.

Also, for that green color we came up with for the field uniform (which is still in the development stage), I was thinking we'd call it Nataria Green after the pine trees of the (adopted) homeworld of the Nekovalkyrja .
 
Those were suggestions for the general boots that are worn with the Type 35 uniform. You complained about them not having details. Those give ideas for details. As for your desire for combat boots. I've already spoken my peace on that.
 
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