Wearing Phalerae

[Tarbicus]

Salvete,
And just my opinion, i dont want stand in line, decorated all over with gold and silver whilst my comrads just wear their combat dress...

...so it wasnt a good idea to look to tasty for barbarians, and perhaps a lot of (or Loot?) gold and "blingbling" would get their fully attention....

I think that transplants a 21st C characteristic onto people living 2000 years ago, whose limits of camouflage were putting bushes on their helmets, and that's about it.

You are talking about a group of men who took great pride in noisy boots and jingling belts, and the shinier the better from what I can tell. 'Bling' was the in-thing then I'm certain, and the more there was the better. As for a signifer trying to keep low-key, I think the tall shiny thing and the big bear stuck to his hat gave the game away somehow :wink:

As for barabarians, you suggest the Roman bruisers were scared of them. I don't think it was so much of an issue, and when they were taken aback the officers, by accounts, took the situation under control.