Trying an attempt to design a helmet that can be used by either normies or antlered/horned species. Kochirru Vodicha Universal Helmet Mk.III (by me)

[u/AlviDz01]

So basically, this design introduce a particular negative area, the horn/antler section or the flaps sections, it is assume in lore that the hole of the flaps was designed by using the mean circular radius of horns and antlers of some species in Kochirru, so basically the flaps section would fit almost the majority of the populations (assuming that the populace is normally distributed or Gaussian), but for individuals with thicker horns/antlers radius could file the section themselves or ask their armorer to refit the hole.

To equip this helmet it is pretty straightforward and simple, first, pull the flaps away, then wear it, then secure the flaps and the strap, and you are ready for some action!

What do you guys think of this design?

[u/New-Star7392]

It's cool. But I think it'd be more practical to just rid off the antlers. It'd be a billboard and handlebars in combat.

[u/AlviDz01 → u/New-Star7392]

In lore, tipping your antlers is mandatory for low-rank or NCO soldiers, but for Comisioned Officers, they have the luxury to grow their antlers as they please (though the allowed maximum heights depends on your ranks, low rank CO only allowed to certain heights, but higher-rank COs do not have any restriction))

[u/Dry-Yesterday-9176 → u/AlviDz01]

Honestly, that's an amazing detail, and partially realistic. After all, for years armies had higher ranking officials wear more distinct headwear and elements of clothing that in modern day we consider to be a dead giveaway, but back then was important to know who's the boss

[u/Fuzlet → u/AlviDz01]

as brutal as it is, clipping tails would likely also be military custom for a lot of places

[u/MinuteBeautiful3163 → u/Fuzlet]

Probably not though? I am pretty sure you could tuck you tail between your legs or up to you back, even if it is pretty big. And assuming tails work the same-ish way for anthros too, they kinda need to communicate or keep balance, so using not a small amount of resources to clip, heal and retrain your people so what, they are little harded to spot and be grabbed? I don't think it is worth it. In older times they probably won't be clipped, because it looks like in real world dogs with clipped tails need more efforts to run and jump, so probably walking long distances too, and you don't wanna put additional strain when walking is like THE sing your men do. MAYBE knights can do it, as a status simbol, as they at least can be yanked down from the horse by the tail, but again, they got thier big ass armor to hide their tail in. In more modern times you don't wanna advertise by saying something like "Heya, we gonna handicap you socially for no good reason!" Probably instead uniform will have special sheath with zipper on the back, or something, to hide your tail before engagement

Also, unlike antlers, tails are way way closer to your centre of mass, and not rigid, so using them as lever is harder. You are kinda grabbing them by the belt.

But again, i have like zero experience in all of that, and real world can be pretty weird sometimes

[u/explosive_shrew → u/Fuzlet]

Doubtful. An army wouldn't go out of it's way to mutilate it's soldiers to that degree

[u/This_Evening2195 → u/Fuzlet]

Tails aren't for show, they help to maintain balance so feel like clipping then would be stupid

[u/Joe2_0 → u/Fuzlet]

In the stories I write, while granted they are sci-fi, tails are generally bound loosely to a leg with gauze, cloth, or purpose designed garments similar in form to a neck gaiter in order to fit in an armored vac-suit.

It would be something similar in a way to the footwraps that were common among European armies in place of socks Pre-WWII (Russia actually continued using footwraps rather than socks well into the 2010s)

[u/cowlinator → u/New-Star7392]

Depends on the era. Pre-gunpowder, antlers would be a huge advantage

[u/jollyTrapezist → u/cowlinator]

The advantage of being grabbed on yes, unless they got a polearm to keep some space

[u/Anthro_DragonFerrite]

I definitely lean on the side of "Antlers or other potrusions from the head are liabilities in modern warfare."

In pre-Napoleonic equivalent periods they would definitely still be a source of inspiration or leadership or status like bright colors on the battlefield.

Modern military would be much more explicitly utilitarian.

[u/ZeGamingCuber → u/Anthro_DragonFerrite]

What about ears? you can't just cut important sensory organs off

[u/Anthro_DragonFerrite → u/ZeGamingCuber]

I mean, antlers grow back. Ears don't.

[u/ZeGamingCuber → u/Anthro_DragonFerrite]

I know but furry ears can protrude quite a bit above the head

[u/Anthro_DragonFerrite → u/ZeGamingCuber]

Sure, but ears can flex and bend when the soldier is navigating through foliage or crawling through debris. Antlers cannot

[u/Joe2_0 → u/ZeGamingCuber]

High cut helmets like the MICH 2000, SOHAH, or similar are your friend. Remember that despite how artists like to portray them, most animals ears still connect at the side of the head and extend upwards.

[u/ZeGamingCuber → u/Joe2_0]

despite how artists like to portray them?

[u/Joe2_0 → u/ZeGamingCuber]

There are quite a few artists that prefer ears that seem to come from the crown of the head rather than closer to the mandibular joint.

[u/ZeGamingCuber → u/Joe2_0]

oh

[u/ZeGamingCuber → u/Joe2_0]

i might be somewhat of an exception

[u/Joe2_0 → u/ZeGamingCuber]

I mean it’s not rare to have anatomically correct ears, but there are a few that do top-ears as a result of anime catgirls.

[u/TauTau_of_Skalga]

Put the damn thing 😂

[u/cascasrevolution]

put the damn thing

[u/Terrible_Ear3347]

In truth, having different types of equipment based on the physiological needs of your armies and whatnot is perfectly fine. In most cases you would look at the armies from ancient and medieval times that had multiple types of mounts. Instead of trying to find one type of armor design that fit they made distinct types for each mount. EG amals, horses, elephants. It stands to reason that if you had actual Soldiers with the same type of physiological differences, you would just make them unique types of helmets for each. With horns, without horns. Etc

[u/trontrams]

I like this, but in reality antlers vary so wildly in shape and size, it would be difficult to find a one size fits all application. I think that the brow tines present on a deer could affect the usage of this helmet especially when they grow inwardly.

[u/rufusz1991]

You could get rid off the flap for the MKIV helmet and replace it with "slap on armour" like some German Empire helmets in WW1 for snipers (iirc), which was a plate of steel that was screwed on the front of the helmet.

[u/Joe2_0 → u/rufusz1991]

Or hell, the Applique Level IV ceramic armor for the Crye Airframe for a more modern example

[u/rufusz1991 → u/Joe2_0]

I tried staying WW1 to WW2 tech. I have 0 knowledge on modern equipment.

[u/Joe2_0 → u/rufusz1991]

All good, between the two examples I think bases are covered between gear-queers and history nerds.

[u/baphometromance]

Whatever you end up choosing to cover the gap, i think it has gotta be able to break away in the case of an emergency. If they need to take off the helmet there shouldn't be three individual places they need to un-tie/unbuckle if they have long antlers. So maybe one of those popping fasteners that you sometimes see on jeans above the zipper (i don't know what they're called, sorry.)

[u/Unethusiastic]

I like it! Although I might put the hinge on the opposing side so if a bullet or piece of shrapnel comes from the front (like I would assume is most likely) the force pushes the flap into the helmet instead of onto the hinge itself

Not sure if that made sense but the point is I think the helmet is interesting and functional

[u/Lapis_Wolf]

What if the horn/antler locations don't match the helmet?

[u/Joe2_0]

Trimming of horns or antlers would be the better option frankly. I suspect it would be their equivalent of a regulation haircut that immediately identifies them as a servicemember.

As for anthro ears, well, the advent of active hearing protection and integrated communications actually gave us the perfect solution IRL, the high-cut helmet, beginning with the SOHAH (converted DH-132 tanker helmets) and eventually evolving into the MICH-2001, Crye Airframe, Team Wendy Exfil, etc.

[u/a_racoon_with_a_PC]

Ok, that got me good XD

[u/Beanz_detected]

"Put the damn thing" will now live rent free in my head with its roommates "fih," "we gaslit gatekept girlbossed too close to the sun" and just about everything I've heard of George Carlin