CadetNewb
Well-Known Member
Over the years, no other faction has gone through as many changes to its uniform as the Star Army of Yamatai. As I went around examining SARP's artwork, I decided to make this commentary thread primarily for a change of pace and relax. However, it's to also bring to attention some of the more notable designs for some of the players that weren't around for them, and also talk about their history and impact too. Also, I'll be sticking to primarily female designs because the Nekovalkyrja are the centerpiece of Yamatai, but I likely will make mention of male uniforms here and there. Obviously, I won't be covering all of them, and I'll likely get a few things wrong, and would appreciate corrections of course. Anyways, let's start with the earliest we can find.
Before power armor, there was this:
The Grand Star Army Coverall, Type 1. I wasn't around for this, but from what I understand, it's what was used for quite some time until power armor became a thing. It wasn't Yamatai that came up with PA first however. Rather, it was the NDI, which also gave our setting the stuff called Nerimium before going back to their own dimension. Yes, their own dimension. Having a war across dimensions and visiting several of them was a thing back in the day, and in most cases, this armored flak vest was good enough. It was a different time. The arrival of the NDI's power armor however, started the end of one era and the beginning of another. In-Character, these were the longest serving uniforms, having been around from YE 1 to around YE 25 for infantry to use. However, the same doesn't hold true Out of Character, since that time period is sorta compressed from what I understand.
If I recall correctly though, these did make a brief showing when the Draconian Fleet got un-space-wedgied and escaped from a temporal stasis in a cosmic no-neko's-land thanks to the Miharu. Maybe even had a brief showing during the International Relations Conference that took place shortly after the end of the Second Mishhu War as well, when military police showed up. Needless to say, they aren't the most stylish, nor do they stand out too much.
Its successor though, definitely was:
(Big, Has Coat)
(Really Big)
That.
That is the Female Body Suit Uniform, Type 22. It looks like a pretty bold jump, going from one to the next, doesn't it? I don't know why, but it happened, and if I had to guess, a lot of people were happy. Unless there's something missing - something simply lost to the archives or gone due to the move - I am lead to believe that this uniform more or less served as the basis from which all other Star Army designs were made. With most of them, you'll see some sort of linage back to this uniform here. Taking on the mantle of Captain Obvious, this uniform very clearly emphasized and accentuated the female form, and even spawned some notable quotes;
"Tight is right!"
- Ketsurui Hanako
“You should be used to seeing women in tights. This is the Star Army of Yamatai after all!”
- Kurohoshi Masako ( Second Picture Above)
However, as good looking as they all are, you may notice that some of the characters have one finger less than they should. What you're looking at is an earlier model of Neko. Some had jet flaps on their back and stored fuel in their breasts, while others had no vital organs and could take a magazine of handgun rounds to the chest, only to lament their uniform was ruined.
Though that last bit was off topic, for better or worse, they really don't make them like they used to.
Out of Character, this is probably one of the very longest, if not the longest serving uniform if I got this bit right. This was around from 2002 to 2007 where it was finally replaced, but even then, it still stuck around to some degree. With the Draconian Fleet's return, the uniform saw a resurgence IC, with Morioka herself being a sort of poster child for the Old Neko. Hell, it even got re-instated in YE 35/2013. It's clear that it's a well liked uniform, and not only that, it has a design that's fairly original and unique to the setting at large. That's something important right there. Most would kill for something that's well and truly 'theirs'.
Anyways, that's the first go at this, and I'll likely make more as I browse through all the artwork we have on the site. Questions, comments and suggestions are welcome.
Before power armor, there was this:
The Grand Star Army Coverall, Type 1. I wasn't around for this, but from what I understand, it's what was used for quite some time until power armor became a thing. It wasn't Yamatai that came up with PA first however. Rather, it was the NDI, which also gave our setting the stuff called Nerimium before going back to their own dimension. Yes, their own dimension. Having a war across dimensions and visiting several of them was a thing back in the day, and in most cases, this armored flak vest was good enough. It was a different time. The arrival of the NDI's power armor however, started the end of one era and the beginning of another. In-Character, these were the longest serving uniforms, having been around from YE 1 to around YE 25 for infantry to use. However, the same doesn't hold true Out of Character, since that time period is sorta compressed from what I understand.
If I recall correctly though, these did make a brief showing when the Draconian Fleet got un-space-wedgied and escaped from a temporal stasis in a cosmic no-neko's-land thanks to the Miharu. Maybe even had a brief showing during the International Relations Conference that took place shortly after the end of the Second Mishhu War as well, when military police showed up. Needless to say, they aren't the most stylish, nor do they stand out too much.
Its successor though, definitely was:
That.
That is the Female Body Suit Uniform, Type 22. It looks like a pretty bold jump, going from one to the next, doesn't it? I don't know why, but it happened, and if I had to guess, a lot of people were happy. Unless there's something missing - something simply lost to the archives or gone due to the move - I am lead to believe that this uniform more or less served as the basis from which all other Star Army designs were made. With most of them, you'll see some sort of linage back to this uniform here. Taking on the mantle of Captain Obvious, this uniform very clearly emphasized and accentuated the female form, and even spawned some notable quotes;
"Tight is right!"
- Ketsurui Hanako
“You should be used to seeing women in tights. This is the Star Army of Yamatai after all!”
- Kurohoshi Masako ( Second Picture Above)
However, as good looking as they all are, you may notice that some of the characters have one finger less than they should. What you're looking at is an earlier model of Neko. Some had jet flaps on their back and stored fuel in their breasts, while others had no vital organs and could take a magazine of handgun rounds to the chest, only to lament their uniform was ruined.
Though that last bit was off topic, for better or worse, they really don't make them like they used to.
Out of Character, this is probably one of the very longest, if not the longest serving uniform if I got this bit right. This was around from 2002 to 2007 where it was finally replaced, but even then, it still stuck around to some degree. With the Draconian Fleet's return, the uniform saw a resurgence IC, with Morioka herself being a sort of poster child for the Old Neko. Hell, it even got re-instated in YE 35/2013. It's clear that it's a well liked uniform, and not only that, it has a design that's fairly original and unique to the setting at large. That's something important right there. Most would kill for something that's well and truly 'theirs'.
Anyways, that's the first go at this, and I'll likely make more as I browse through all the artwork we have on the site. Questions, comments and suggestions are welcome.
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