Sometimes you have to put up with a little poetic license in a movie. I think the best example is what I call Hollywood helmet syndrome. There are times in real life when you have to put something in front of your face. Scuba diving, for example, because breathing is good. On the other hand, good acting generally requires you to see an actors face. It’s a severe handicap to an actor if they can’t relate to the audience with their facial expressions. As a result, movies will bend over backwards to show an actors face, even in circumstances where in real life, that’s off the table. Thus in WWII movies you’ll see pilots letting their oxygen mask dangle at times when this would cause the crew to actually pass out from lack of oxygen. Hollywood Helmet syndrome. Really we just need to let it slide. The actors are doing their best.
How does this relate to the Army of the Stewardship? Well I admit I thought about this when designing the equipment for the standard soldier in the Army of the Stewardship. There are lots of different styles of pre-industrial helmets out there, why not pick one that makes sense and yet doesn’t block the face.
Is that even possible? Actually yes. English troops have worn the pot helm, similar to the WWI helmet, back to the days of the longbow man. Also the Comb Marion helm (The one you see the Spanish conquistadors wearing) was also in use.
I wanted a Roman inspired uniform, but I didn’t want one that was too roman. I liked the lorica segmentata, but why not change the helmet? I don’t know that this particular combination was tried in antiquity, but it’s not absurd. Spaniards did wear chainmail at times, so did the Romans. Romans also wore different types of helm. I don’t know if it’s the best looking armor ever invented, but it’s practical, can be mass produced and it’s something a little different. And oh yea, if the movie ever gets made, you’ll see the actors faces. 😉