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Should all Captains be wearing red?

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
edited March 2012 in Ten Forward
A friend of mine asked me this question today, and I didn't have a solid answer. The Memory Alpha article on Starfleet uniforms (http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Starfleet_uniform) states that "most of the ranking officers in Starfleet Command" wear the Command division color, namely red. There is support for this in DS9 when Worf switches to red when he takes a command position on the station. We also see Dr. Crusher wearing a red uniform when she is commanding the Pasteur in "All Good Things..." even though it is a medical ship and she is still ostensibly acting as a doctor.
We are all given command of a ship when we are promoted to Lieutenant, but the career system seems to indicate that we retain our assigned division. Concerns about how monotone the game would become aside, do you think that all players should be wearing red from the beginning because we are commanding a starship, or perhaps we should all switch to red when we hit Captain and become "ranking officers in Starfleet Command"?
I think we can easily justify admirals running around in blue or gold uniforms by saying it is just another of the changes that has been made to the Starfleet uniform regulations by 2409, I'm just interested in how people feel about this from a role-playing perspective.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    We've talked about this before. The uniform priority goes with color matching of the person. Here's the list in priority order:

    Blue eyed folks wear Blue
    Blondes/yellow eyes/yellow visors wear Yellow
    Everyone else gets Red

    And Wesley and toucans get a rainbow. :p
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    Looks like I have answered my own question: http://www.stowiki.org/Grigori_Yanishev
    An in game admiral wearing something other than red. So, I guess it is up to every player to decide if they want to join Starfleet Command at any point during their career, or stick with whatever division they came up in.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    Generally speaking based on the show's division specific coloration can be designated in the following way:

    * Command & Tactical Red
    - for any "flag" ship (if you are carrying the UFP flag on your hull)
    - Any and all Tactical officers

    * Operations & Security Gold
    - Tugs, engineering support craft
    - Refit & Repair Starbase (eg: utopia etc.)
    - Transport & Freight ships
    - Planetary & System Security patrol ships/shuttles

    * Science & Medical Blue/Teal
    - non combat Science ship
    - Non combat survey ship
    - Medical support craft (but oddly not hospital ships)

    * Flag officer White
    - Captains dress uniform
    - Admiralty command uniform (though some still wear red with white highlights)

    From what i can see in Memory Alpha and Memory Beta it appears to come under the simple heading of if you are a ships Captain it is expected for you to wear Command Red but below the rank of Lt Commander you generally stick to your division colour regardless of your current command role, the only real exception to this was Lt.Commander Worfs switch from gold to red but in that case he switched from Head of Security (gold) to a Tactical and operations officer (Red) which does stick to known canon.
    The entire Admiralty on the other hand has the choice to pretty much wear what they want to but its seems to be primarily dependant on there role at any given time eg: the Admiral in charge research and development on Utopia Planitia can wear red as a flag office or white as an Admiral or simply wear gold if his prior specialty was in engineering.

    I hope this helps it did take a little research but anything to help the immersion factor is a good thing. ;)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    Aries2507 wrote: »
    Generally speaking based on the show's division specific coloration can be designated in the following way:

    * Command & Tactical Red
    - for any "flag" ship (if you are carrying the UFP flag on your hull
    - Any and all Tactical officers

    * Operations & Security Gold
    - Tugs, engineering support craft
    - Refit & Repair Starbase (eg: utopia etc.)
    - Transport & Freight ships
    - Planetary & System Security patrol ships/shuttles

    * Science & Medical Blue/Teal
    - non combat Science ship
    - Non combat survey ship
    - Medical support craft (but oddly not hospital ships)

    * Flag officer White
    - Captains dress uniform
    - Admiralty command uniform (though some still wear red with white highlights)

    From what i can see in Memory Alpha and Memory Beta it appears to come under the simple heading of if you are a ships Captain it is expected for you to wear Command Red but below the rank of Lt Commander you generally stick to your division colour regardless of your current command role, the only real exception to this was Lt.Commander Worfs switch from gold to red but in that case he switched from Head of Security (gold) to a Tactical and operations officer (Red) which does stick to known canon.
    The entire Admiralty on the other hand has the choice to pretty much wear what they want to but its seems to be primarily dependant on there role at any given time eg: the Admiral in charge research and development on Utopia Planitia can wear red as a flag office or white as an Admiral or simply wear gold if his prior specialty was in engineering.

    I hope this helps it did take a little research but anything to help the immersion factor is a good thing. ;)


    Of course if you like the proper original TOS color schemes, it's

    Command/Operations: Gold
    Engineering/Security: Red (hence the term 'Redfshirt')
    Science/Medical: Blue

    :)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    While there is no stated evidence that I am aware of, I believe the uniforms in the STO universe have completely eliminated the command color distinction. In this timeline, red represents security and tactical, not command.

    To your question about RP, I think it makes more sense this way. In a time of war or emergency, it's better to designate uniforms based on skills and specialty so leaders or people not familiar with your face can designate assignments to you accurately.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    Frankly uniform color doesn't bother me to much as there are so many different vintages running around the game...it is nice to see someone pick a color other than red especially if it agrees with their specialty...with star fleet now allowing all these admirals it is nice to see their background. In other words as the game already disagrees with canon on numbers of admirals then I think color helping to differentiate types is a good compromise for now. Otherwise, almost everyone in the game would be wearing gold(TOS) or red(TNG-on) once they reached Captain.

    My pet peeve is with people openly wearing kits instead of hiding them when they are not on a mission. Don't get me wrong, people definitely have the right to dress how they want but I just think it's odd to see commandos with backpacks everywhere, even though we are at war...game NPCs are guilty of this as well. This is earth space doc...not mos eisley. Leave the battle wear and showing off to the KDF in port. I grant exception to the the STF office on DS9...it just seems more logical there. Anyway just minor peeve of mine.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    Maverick79 wrote:
    My pet peeve is with people openly wearing kits instead of hiding them when they are not on a mission. Don't get me wrong, people definitely have the right to dress how they want but I just think it's odd to see commandos with backpacks
    THIS.
    Like you said, I think that this is a game and people can do whatever they want to have fun while playing it. But personally, I don't see the point of wearing your "kit" (or worse those hideous armors) when you are on your ship or walking around Federation controlled stations/bases.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    I just wear black all the time because all the episode content in STO always involves away team commando missions.

    Red is not a good colour choice when ambushing Klingons because it just shouts SNIPER AIM HERE :)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    Given how there is no single uniform regulation, colors mean nothing. If this were actual Starfleet, all personnel would have to wear the same uniform (so no uniforms from the different series). But since this is not the case in STO, color coding is moot.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    While there is no stated evidence that I am aware of, I believe the uniforms in the STO universe have completely eliminated the command color distinction. In this timeline, red represents security and tactical, not command.

    True of the default color for Tacs, but as you stated, with the Tailor options, it could be purple for all the player cares. ;)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    carmenara wrote:
    I just wear black all the time because all the episode content in STO always involves away team commando missions.

    Red is not a good colour choice when ambushing Klingons because it just shouts SNIPER AIM HERE :)

    Red is good because it hides most humanoid blood.... except for those andorians they wear blue but for the smae reasons.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    Well, Vice Admiral Toddman in season three of DS9 was wearing a gold uniform.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    Here's my take:

    Ugly players wear blue for their toon, Beautiful people wear white, Ugly beautiful people wear black and Beautiful ugly people wear red.

    Yes it is player based not toons :D

    and oh there is no such thing as beautiful man so we male MUST wear blue and banned from the game..except me because who's going to be thbejudge otherwise..
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    Red is good because it hides most humanoid blood.... except for those andorians they wear blue but for the smae reasons.

    I guess klingons need to wear pink uniforms then.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    Armsman wrote: »
    Of course if you like the proper original TOS color schemes, it's

    Command/Operations: Gold
    Engineering/Security: Red (hence the term 'Redfshirt')
    Science/Medical: Blue

    :)

    In my color schemes for my characters, we switched back to the TOS standards. In fact, our command color is a darker gold. With Operations being the more standard gold. To offset my admiral and my first officer from my navigator.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    Here's my take:

    Ugly players wear blue for their toon, Beautiful people wear white, Ugly beautiful people wear black and Beautiful ugly people wear red.

    I wear blue only because my toon is a sciencer. =P
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    Here's my take:

    Ugly players wear blue for their toon, Beautiful people wear white, Ugly beautiful people wear black and Beautiful ugly people wear red.

    Yes it is player based not toons :D

    and oh there is no such thing as beautiful man so we male MUST wear blue and banned from the game..except me because who's going to be thbejudge otherwise..

    I'm wearing an orange shirt right now. :confused:
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    I've given my toon a red uniform, even though she's an Engineer by trade, for precisely that reason.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    My toon is a scientist too but have to admit, once he was promoted to Captain I switched his uniform from blue to red. And he wears the 'All good things' uniform.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    Maverick79 wrote:
    Frankly uniform color doesn't bother me to much as there are so many different vintages running around the game...it is nice to see someone pick a color other than red especially if it agrees with their specialty...with star fleet now allowing all these admirals it is nice to see their background. In other words as the game already disagrees with canon on numbers of admirals then I think color helping to differentiate types is a good compromise for now. Otherwise, almost everyone in the game would be wearing gold(TOS) or red(TNG-on) once they reached Captain.

    My pet peeve is with people openly wearing kits instead of hiding them when they are not on a mission. Don't get me wrong, people definitely have the right to dress how they want but I just think it's odd to see commandos with backpacks everywhere, even though we are at war...game NPCs are guilty of this as well. This is earth space doc...not mos eisley. Leave the battle wear and showing off to the KDF in port. I grant exception to the the STF office on DS9...it just seems more logical there. Anyway just minor peeve of mine.

    I wish that there was an option to wear armor in missions and in pure social areas remove it automatically. It's a pretty low priority, though, I'm sure, and I'd rather the devs fry bigger fish.

    Most of the time when I'm in full combat gear in ESD it's because I forgot/am too lazy to muck around with the visuals. It's a bit more jarring for me to beam down in a combat zone with my First Contact/Dominion War-era uniform as opposed to battle gear. :)

    Actually I kind of wish there was a more uniform uniform. I'm glad to see all the variety, but one (or a few) "base models" would be helpful, IMO, preferably preset costumes so you can just grab one. If I recall correctly there didn't seem to be anything like that at chargen.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    I use the Wrat of Kahn color where the Captain has white as command. My lib borg first office uses green as XO, a homage to kirk's green tunic, and borg primary color. Everyone else uses the standard color of red, gold and blue.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    I think it's only ben rare cases that Captains and higher rianks didn't wear red...but I wear red on all my Feds now a days, seemed right to me.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    I'am on engineering department.
    On ship duty I wear a red uniform, since promoted to captain.
    And only as captain! On further ranks the usage of division colors is prefered.

    Also in ST canon are yellow admiral dresses. Like in DS9 (Admiral Toddman) here: (http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Toddman)

    Get I on fleet duty then I use only the division colors.

    E.g. I created a ships duty and a fleet duty uniform in slots so it's easy to switch.

    Greets
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    It's been a long time since I've seen "All Good Things", but didn't Dr. Crusher still wear blue while she was captain of the medical ship that went into Klingon space?

    The way I see it is that our characters have received command training, which usually goes with red, but since we were scientists and engineers before, we can keep our normal career colour.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2012
    Radkip wrote: »
    It's been a long time since I've seen "All Good Things", but didn't Dr. Crusher still wear blue while she was captain of the medical ship that went into Klingon space?

    The way I see it is that our characters have received command training, which usually goes with red, but since we were scientists and engineers before, we can keep our normal career colour.
    Nope:
    http://images.wikia.com/memoryalpha/de/images/1/11/Beverly_Picard_und_Jean-Luc_Picard_auf_der_Br%C3%BCcke_der_USS_Pasteur.jpg
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