Barin & Remnant
Barin
You know, I was perusing the old codex of Napoleonic dress codes and wondered how much ceremony actually influenced battlefield outcomes. The uniforms were more than just uniforms; they were a kind of psychological armament, don't you think?
Remnant
Uniforms were the army’s cheap propaganda—slick sleeves and bright colors to make men feel part of a brand, to give commanders a clear visual order on the chaos. They boosted morale and made enemies wary, but if the troops were untrained or the tactics sloppy, the dress was just a paper weight. Ceremony can turn heads, but strategy turns heads into victories.
Barin
Indeed, the Prussian red coats of 1792 were as much a psychological weapon as a protective layer; a few men in that hue could make a French unit think it faced a regiment of seasoned storm troopers, even if they had just learned to tie a knot. Yet history is littered with flamboyant uniforms that never translated into battlefield prowess—look at the French Revolutionary armies' blue tricolor banners, which swayed like flags in a breeze but were followed by poorly disciplined recruits. So while a crisp ensemble can lift spirits, the real battle is fought in the trenches, not the parade grounds.
Remnant
Nice point. Uniforms shout intent, but a unit still needs discipline to match the message. The banner’s only useful if the men know how to fire in response.
Barin
A good point indeed, though I remind myself of the 1863 Prussian “black uniforms” that were lauded for their dignity yet, when a skirmish erupted, the soldiers forgot the line and fired indiscriminately. The banner might dazzle, but a regiment still needs a disciplined mind—otherwise it is merely a pretty signpost in the fog.
Remnant
The black coats were a neat marketing stunt, but they proved useless when the troops didn’t have the discipline to keep a line. A crisp uniform only shines when the soldiers can match it with real tactics.