With this command structure in place, this is how I would break down the "levels" to rank (if they desire to do it this way - because for all intents and purposes, after the opening stories, you are a "Captain" of a starship, regardless of level/rank). However, even in wartime - lower ranked officers could be given a "Field" Promotion, regardless of actual rank, to act as a higher ranking officer until such time as wartime is ended and performance of said officer can be evaluated and "fast-tracked" through the process to end up attaining the rank they are standing in for.
Commissioned Officers
Cadet (Level 0-4)
Ensign(Level 5-9)
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) (Level 10-19)
Lieutenant (Senior Grade) (Level 20-29)
Lieutenant Commander (Level 30-39)
Commander (Level 40-49)
Captain (Junior Grade) (Level 50-54)
Captain (Senior Grade) (Level 55-59)
Flag Officers
Commodore (Level 60)
(Usually in command of a small "flotilla" or squadron of starships) **I would stop at this level, possible award certain players the title of "Fleet Admiral" - but nothing more**
Rear Admiral
(Usually in command of a small fixed outpost, ie: space stations)
Vice Admiral
(Usually in command of larger fixed outposts, ie: DS9)
Admiral
(Typically the command staff of the Admiral of the Fleet, usually based wherever the Admiral of the Fleet decides to call his HQ)
Fleet Admiral
(Admirals directly responsible for whole groups of squadrons of starships responsible for certain sectors of space, ie: Home Fleet, Second Fleet, Third Fleet, etc.)
Admiral of the Fleet
(THE man in charge - *All* military concerns start and stop here)
Hell, you can even do this another way too ...for Flag Officers::
Commodore (Level 60)
(Usually in command of a small "flotilla" or squadron of starships) **I would stop at this level for average players**
Rear Admiral
(Usually in command of a small fixed outpost, ie: space stations) **Original Founder of Fleet (T2)**
Vice Admiral
(Usually in command of larger fixed outposts, ie: DS9) **Original Founder of Fleet (T3)**
Admiral
(Typically the command staff of the Admiral of the Fleet, usually based wherever the Admiral of the Fleet decides to call his HQ) **Original Founder of Fleet (T4)**
Fleet Admiral
(Admirals directly responsible for whole groups of squadrons of starships responsible for certain sectors of space, ie: Home Fleet, Second Fleet, Third Fleet, etc.) **Original Founder of Fleet (T5)**
Admiral of the Fleet
(THE man in charge - *All* military concerns start and stop here)
Yup, having a bunch of Admirals flying around and commanding 1 ship only is kinda silly. Rank should have stopped at Captain until Cryptic added a new mechanic to justify >Captain.
Captain of the Enterprise >>> Captain of crappy freighter. But both are still Captains.
Commodore (Level 60) : Usually in command of a small "flotilla" or squadron of starships
This would be a cool mechanic. You control your ship like normal but have 2 'pet' ships (kinda like how carriers have their pets) of 2 other ships you have in your spacedock. This way you could continue to use those C-store/lockbox ships while not actually using them. You could drive your Oddy and have Defiant and Nebula escorts; for example.
So...head to your shipyard or anywhere with a Ship Selector NPC...talk to them...how many ships do you see listed there? Just saying...you've got access to a group of ships at your disposal.
One could say the issue is not that we end up flag officers, but rather the issue is we do not start off as flag officers...
So...head to your shipyard or anywhere with a Ship Selector NPC...talk to them...how many ships do you see listed there? Just saying...you've got access to a group of ships at your disposal.
One could say the issue is not that we end up flag officers, but rather the issue is we do not start off as flag officers...
Having the pick of your ship, and having the luxury of switching ships between battles is *not* the same as commanding a squadron of ships. That would entail being able to take said selection, choosing captains for those ships from *your* bridge officers and then taking all ships selected into battle.
Having the pick of your ship, and having the luxury of switching ships between battles is *not* the same as commanding a squadron of ships. That would entail being able to take said selection, choosing captains for those ships from *your* bridge officers and then taking all ships selected into battle.
It's one thing to want NPCs to address you as some rank rather than your game rank - it's another to suggest that a Captain would actually have access to do what you do. It's why rank revamp/etc threads don't get the backing that the NPC addressing/title threads do...
So on a ship with 30-50 crew...where exactly are there 100s of Duty Officers?
Ask Cryptic this question - they designed the DoFF system. According to in-game descriptions, duty officers are members of *your* ship.
Perhaps those 30-50 crews are those that can be on-duty at any one time due to stations and the like ...thus the other 70-50 crew members are either: 1) away on duty assignments; 2) in the holodeck, exploring a mystery novel; 3) with Neelix in the galley being fed experimental dishes.
BUT the whole ranking structure was mainly conjecture:
The only admiral seen wearing insignia in the Original Series was Admiral Fitzpatrick who, although addressed as "Admiral", wore an insignia which has been equated in numerous technical manuals and fan publications as Vice Admiral. The rank of Fleet admiral was also mentioned to have existed in "Space Seed" but an actual Fleet admiral was not seen on camera until Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.
I really am puzzled, if this has been raised as an issue this long, why the developers don't simply change the code so that we are addressed by the title we choose, from the UI dialogue for choosing a title that has already been implemented. All they'd have to do is change the dialogue generation procedure from reading one variable to reading a different variable. I'm not an experienced developer, but this really seems like it ought to be a relatively simple change, and most of the code is already in place and in use.
Sure, titles are cosmetic, but so are uniforms and ship designs. It really does bother me that I've only been playing this game for a bit over a month, and my dashing young captain is a vice admiral, senior to Captain Shon who commands the Enterprise-F, and even to Rear Admiral Tuvok, whose illustrious career spans decades.
Of course, I don't begrudge others the right to role-play admirals, and given the amount of work I see some players do in establishing fleets and organizing team events, that fits. But that doesn't fit my character.
i totally agree with the OP. i'm no admiral. everyone orders me around, even half-TRIBBLE civilians. i have no authority at all.
i can't steal a ship from esd, security is too tight these days. so what do i have to do to get demoted? kill admiral quinn?
I really am puzzled, if this has been raised as an issue this long, why the developers don't simply change the code so that we are addressed by the title we choose, from the UI dialogue for choosing a title that has already been implemented. All they'd have to do is change the dialogue generation procedure from reading one variable to reading a different variable. I'm not an experienced developer, but this really seems like it ought to be a relatively simple change, and most of the code is already in place and in use.
Sure, titles are cosmetic, but so are uniforms and ship designs. It really does bother me that I've only been playing this game for a bit over a month, and my dashing young captain is a vice admiral, senior to Captain Shon who commands the Enterprise-F, and even to Rear Admiral Tuvok, whose illustrious career spans decades.
Of course, I don't begrudge others the right to role-play admirals, and given the amount of work I see some players do in establishing fleets and organizing team events, that fits. But that doesn't fit my character.
Let this warp your mind...
If you go by the Stardates which are tagged on your mission records, you made the journey from lowly cadet, to a Vice Admiral in Starfleet in anywhere from 1 Week to 4 years, depending on how much you play, and how fast you moved your character along.
Not even the great James T. Kirk, with the help of JJ Abrams, could pull off such a ridiculous feat!
By all accounts, your character is far greater than Archer, Kirk, Picard, Sisko & Janeway COMBINED, and consider that in that combo list, you have:
Archer - Savior of Earth, Founder of the Federation
Kirk - Savior of Earth (many times over), successful starship thief and Klingon Peacemaker
Picard - Survived the Borg, several times over, other accolades too numerous to mention
Sisko - Nearly single-handily beat the Dominion
Janeway - Travelled 70k lightyears in 7 years, survived the Borg on their home turf.
:rolleyes:
The Stardates don't lie. Your character climbed the ladder faster than any other officer, hero, nay Titan of Starfleet. :P
"You shoot him, I shoot you, I leave both your bodies here and go out for a late night snack.
I'm thinking maybe pancakes." ~ John Casey
Well, I also get a bit frustrated with the SUPER EXTREME ULTIMATE EPIC tendencies of game narratives in general, but that's a frustration I feel with a lot of games.
Well, I also get a bit frustrated with the SUPER EXTREME ULTIMATE EPIC tendencies of game narratives in general, but that's a frustration I feel with a lot of games.
To give you an idea of how EPIC our STO adventure is...
One of my Admirals began his career on Stardate 89715.36
He obtained Vice Admiral Rank on Stardate 89849.54
Well, I also get a bit frustrated with the SUPER EXTREME ULTIMATE EPIC tendencies of game narratives in general, but that's a frustration I feel with a lot of games.
Indeed, We can't just be Starship Captains can we, We've got to be uber epic Heros of the Federation, fighting enemy fleets outnumbered at least 7 to 1 ( Estimate based on the average 2 frigate mobs and a Cruiser spawn)
And sure the story has to have some epic moments, but don't pile it on too thick
These are the Voyages on the STO forum, the final frontier. Our continuing mission: to explore Pretentious Posts, to seek out new Overreactions and Misinformation , to boldly experience Cynicism like no man has before.......
Comments
Hell, you can even do this another way too ...for Flag Officers::
(Usually in command of a small "flotilla" or squadron of starships)
**I would stop at this level for average players**
(Usually in command of a small fixed outpost, ie: space stations)
**Original Founder of Fleet (T2)**
(Usually in command of larger fixed outposts, ie: DS9)
**Original Founder of Fleet (T3)**
(Typically the command staff of the Admiral of the Fleet, usually based wherever the Admiral of the Fleet decides to call his HQ)
**Original Founder of Fleet (T4)**
(Admirals directly responsible for whole groups of squadrons of starships responsible for certain sectors of space, ie: Home Fleet, Second Fleet, Third Fleet, etc.)
**Original Founder of Fleet (T5)**
(THE man in charge - *All* military concerns start and stop here)
Captain of the Enterprise >>> Captain of crappy freighter. But both are still Captains.
This would be a cool mechanic. You control your ship like normal but have 2 'pet' ships (kinda like how carriers have their pets) of 2 other ships you have in your spacedock. This way you could continue to use those C-store/lockbox ships while not actually using them. You could drive your Oddy and have Defiant and Nebula escorts; for example.
One could say the issue is not that we end up flag officers, but rather the issue is we do not start off as flag officers...
Having the pick of your ship, and having the luxury of switching ships between battles is *not* the same as commanding a squadron of ships. That would entail being able to take said selection, choosing captains for those ships from *your* bridge officers and then taking all ships selected into battle.
*HUGE* difference there mate...
Do you DOFF?
DoFF's assignments are extended away missions ... still not the same thing. Those duty officers are from your ship - not another ship's crew.
So on a ship with 30-50 crew...where exactly are there 100s of Duty Officers?
Ask Cryptic this question - they designed the DoFF system. According to in-game descriptions, duty officers are members of *your* ship.
Perhaps those 30-50 crews are those that can be on-duty at any one time due to stations and the like ...thus the other 70-50 crew members are either: 1) away on duty assignments; 2) in the holodeck, exploring a mystery novel; 3) with Neelix in the galley being fed experimental dishes.
BUT the whole ranking structure was mainly conjecture:
The only admiral seen wearing insignia in the Original Series was Admiral Fitzpatrick who, although addressed as "Admiral", wore an insignia which has been equated in numerous technical manuals and fan publications as Vice Admiral. The rank of Fleet admiral was also mentioned to have existed in "Space Seed" but an actual Fleet admiral was not seen on camera until Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.
Sure, titles are cosmetic, but so are uniforms and ship designs. It really does bother me that I've only been playing this game for a bit over a month, and my dashing young captain is a vice admiral, senior to Captain Shon who commands the Enterprise-F, and even to Rear Admiral Tuvok, whose illustrious career spans decades.
Of course, I don't begrudge others the right to role-play admirals, and given the amount of work I see some players do in establishing fleets and organizing team events, that fits. But that doesn't fit my character.
i can't steal a ship from esd, security is too tight these days. so what do i have to do to get demoted? kill admiral quinn?
Pizza: Pepperoni
Kalek shel'tek!
"Do not make me look foolish by allowing yourself to be murdered" -Lord Yu
Let this warp your mind...
If you go by the Stardates which are tagged on your mission records, you made the journey from lowly cadet, to a Vice Admiral in Starfleet in anywhere from 1 Week to 4 years, depending on how much you play, and how fast you moved your character along.
Not even the great James T. Kirk, with the help of JJ Abrams, could pull off such a ridiculous feat!
By all accounts, your character is far greater than Archer, Kirk, Picard, Sisko & Janeway COMBINED, and consider that in that combo list, you have:
Archer - Savior of Earth, Founder of the Federation
Kirk - Savior of Earth (many times over), successful starship thief and Klingon Peacemaker
Picard - Survived the Borg, several times over, other accolades too numerous to mention
Sisko - Nearly single-handily beat the Dominion
Janeway - Travelled 70k lightyears in 7 years, survived the Borg on their home turf.
:rolleyes:
The Stardates don't lie. Your character climbed the ladder faster than any other officer, hero, nay Titan of Starfleet. :P
"You shoot him, I shoot you, I leave both your bodies here and go out for a late night snack.
I'm thinking maybe pancakes." ~ John Casey
To give you an idea of how EPIC our STO adventure is...
One of my Admirals began his career on Stardate 89715.36
He obtained Vice Admiral Rank on Stardate 89849.54
Reference: Stardate Calculator
Using this converter which has a reasoned rate of calculation based on TNG era and beyond, the date conversions would be:
Stardate 89715.36 = Fri Mar 18 2416 07:07:17 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Stardate 89849.54 = Tue May 10 2416 16:03:28 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Based on the TNG era basis of Stardate Conversion, my character went from being a Starfleet Cadet to a Vice Admiral in the span of...
53 Days.
Or if you prefer...
1 Month, 22 Days
....
.....
......
Wow. Just wow. :rolleyes:
"You shoot him, I shoot you, I leave both your bodies here and go out for a late night snack.
I'm thinking maybe pancakes." ~ John Casey
Indeed, We can't just be Starship Captains can we, We've got to be uber epic Heros of the Federation, fighting enemy fleets outnumbered at least 7 to 1 ( Estimate based on the average 2 frigate mobs and a Cruiser spawn)
And sure the story has to have some epic moments, but don't pile it on too thick