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Tie our currently selected rank pins to the NPC dialogue references... Please?

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
There seems to be a great difficulty in getting the rank thing straightened out so we aren't all being referred to in dialogue by our full, formal rank titles. It also feels like there is at least a little resistance from the devs.

There are also those of us who don't want our official level rank to be what the NPCs use to refer to us, we would like to remain Captain sometimes, as it seems more canonical.

Using our currently selected title could end up being even more cumbersome or inappropriate, considering some of the titles we are allowed to choose.


As a compromise / solution, I propose the following :

Currently the devs apparenly use {RankName} for everything; dialogue, item descriptions, etc.

I would like to suggest a new wildcard for them to use to help alleviate this bit of unfortunate planning:

{RankName} = Unchanged, currently displays your full, formal rank title.
{PipRank} = Short rank name, tied to rank pins.

In the {PipRank} properties, you could have a list similar to the following:

Rank Pip ←→ Dialogue entry
CPO / CWO ←→ Chief
ENS ←→ Ensign
LTJG ←→ Lieutenant
LT ←→ Lieutenant
LCDR ←→ Commander
CDR ←→ Commander
CPT ←→ Captain
CDRE ←→ Commodore
RDML ←→ Admiral
RADM ←→ Admiral
VADM ←→ Admiral
ADM ←→ Admiral
FADM ←→ Admiral


This assumes the addition of a second single boxed pip for CDRE ←→ Commodore for those of us who would like the commodore rank.

The items are obviously going to be split into a different group in the system than the NPC dialogue, so leave the item descriptions alone and simply pull all of the {RankName} wildcards from the dialogue and dialogue options (Save Admiral Quinn's level up dialogue and the NPC who administers the rank up ceremony during the optional mission only) and replace it with {PipRank}.

The {PipRank} could even be expanded to include references to your bridge officers. Sure they may all be levelled to CDR, but you might want them to be an ENS. Using {PipRank} you could have a dialogue that says, "Captain, Ensign Phillips has discovered that the tetryon radiation is coming from the nearby asteroid." even though you've paid to rank Phillips up to CDR for the skills.

For uniforms that do not have a rank pin / pip / braid option, simply keep the rank selection drop down on the uniform editor. The rank would not have a visual display, but it would still tie in to the dialogue system.

Optimally, it would be nice to see the proper pins added for the STII (WOK) uniforms (Rank pin pictures courtesy of Star Trek Encyclopedia III via Ex-Astris Scientifica) and perhaps the colourful medals / pins for the MU uniforms to indicate rank. (Left side) (Examples courtesy Star Trek the Magazine via Ex-Astris scientifica: Captain and First officer, Female and Senior officer (Although, from example pictures like this and this and the ST:TM pics above, it seems that the first officer and captain's ranks are displayed by their tunic / jackets and females have no rank displays on their uniforms at all (unless that coiled snake worn on Uhura's arm is a reference to the number of braids found on the sleeve of a standard duty uniform. (perhaps broken up with dark patches to represent a broken braid.)

For those who do not want to wear a rank pin, at all, simply add a "Hide rank from uniform" option on the paperdoll like we can do with the armour and kits.


So, devs, what do you think?


Side note: I notice that the male MU uniforms have knee to thigh high boots with their trousers tucked or bloused at the top. Where are our male go go boots? :3
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