Shining/Polished/New vs Worn/Weathered/Used Armour

[A_Volpe]

That the brightest ornament of a soldier was valour; that all those trinkets would follow victory,

Sorry, I read that as saying "don't bling up Before a battle, pimping your armor is for *after* the battle"

Livy can say what the 'ideal' and 'proper' ways are of a soldiers, but sometimes soldiers ignore what's the 'ideal'.

soldiers and warriors take 'prizes' after a battle to remember their glory and valour from the battle...that's been happening for a really long time.

There is also that statment from H. R. Emperor Maximillian c 1500's regarding the Landsknecht - that they live such a dretch life and see horrors of war as part of their profession, we can at least allow them the outlandish clothing they wear to 'brighten' their otherwise dark life as a soldier. Romans don't have much to shake at compared to Landsknecht in terms of clothing, bling and pimping it out.

That and the uniforms of the American Civil War, esspecially those of State Militias and Zouave units...Uniforms that serve no purpose other than to look totally awesome on the field, in town, wherever the party is.
Even when the top brass sent out orders for federal uniforms, some units still kept or went with custom uniforms. Salem Light Infantry and 5th New York are two that come to mind, both having several uniforms during their deployments.

Besides, I think polishing brass and such decor is easier than polishing a severed enemy's head...or ears...or something gross like that. :wink: