Art of the T6 Flagships

pwlaughingtrendy · February 2016

With the arrival of the new flagships, a lot of work came into designing these new versions of our favorites: the Odyssey, Bortasqu', and the Scimitar. Our new series shows off the art development that went into creating the latest flagships!

You can check out our blog series here.

~Morrigan "LaughingTrendy"

questerius · February 2016

pwlaughingtrendy wrote: »

With the arrival of the new flagships, a lot of work came into designing these new versions of our favorites: the Odyssey, Bortasqu', and the Scimitar. Our new series shows off the art development that went into creating the latest flagships!

You can check out our blog series here.

~Morrigan "LaughingTrendy"

Clearly i am not iconian because i have absolutely no sense of the aesthetic.
For me these art/design topic don't mean much.

antonine3258 · February 2016

I do love these art blogs and seeing the thought process that went into building out the ships, and the aesthetics of the people 'in-universe' building out the ships (the Republic is just sort of embarrassed by its WMD deployment platforms at this point, aren't they? :P )

cookiecrook · February 2016

Lots of words to explain copy, paste, stretch, and a few cosmetic splash additions to make things look a little more different

gavinruneblade · February 2016

Much appreciation for these art blogs! One thing I noticed was that in the federation blog the names of the ships that inspired the designs were given, while the kdf post only talked about the process.

Looking at the kdf ships I can see that the Martok is influenced by the Negvar/negtev. I would have liked to know a bit more about the decision process for the kdf side.

Those early concept images for the romulan and federation ships were really cool.

So thanks for these!

forthegamer · February 2016

Hey Trendy. Do you think it would be possible for the flagships to unlock a few customization options for every possible cruiser? Now I don't mean all the options, but just some of them. Like the Sojourner's nacelles, the double neck, the Endeavor's saucer, etc. I think it would be quite neat if the flagships granted those. Also, I'm using the Federation ships just because, but I do mean all the flagships.

I think that would be an awesome little bonus for people who buy the flagships. Also it would give some ships (like the Guardian) a few pieces to work with for customization.

Just a thought. See if you could pass it on! Thanks!

Also, since the Sojourner's based off of the Andromeda and the Endeavor's based off the Arbiter, is it possible for these two ships to get those costumes?

Again, just a thought.

Though, seriously art team. Nice designs. Can't wait for when I get around to owning them. Though, now I gotta get the Bortesqus and Scimitars since I don't own those.

theanothername · February 2016

Would it be possible now to pick the stern of the original Odyssey; the shakedown version? It looks a million times cooler than the "Aquarius ready" stern. Especially if you don't use that pet.

mosul33 · February 2016

Enjoying these blogs alot. Thank you.

All the designs are nice, Kudos to the team. Especially the Yorktown and Endeavor, and while I am not a fan of the trend in the past years with the forward-swept nacelle pylons, its nice that you can use the original ones too.
Ohh and some of those romulan design concepts are pretty cool looking too. Probably is just me, but the finished product didnt resembled to a lionfish tho, but more towards a BatPlane, wich is still cool btw, I not saying i am dont like it.

max1002 · February 2016

I love the Endeavor design, when I saw it my eyes got big and my jaw drop.

kelettes · February 2016

Thanks for giving us a sneak-peek into the design process

It's interesting how the new Odyssey refits take queues from other designs like the Andromeda / Arbiter / Sovereign / Excelsior (for example the saucer pylons (the "neck") and the nacelles of the Yorktown).

antonine3258 · February 2016

kelettes wrote: »

It's interesting how the new Odyssey refits take queues from other designs like the Andromeda / Arbiter / Sovereign / Excelsior (for example the saucer pylons and the nacelles of the Yorktown).

It is kind of cool how a 'generational aesthetic' seems to have been established for the T6 ships- though less in the nacelles ala Galaxy or the Constituion refit than in the saucer/impulse components.

captaincelestial · February 2016

As I said before in an earlier thread, I'm glad they gave the ships variations in design within the three factions.

Personally, I like customizability. Even if I multiple captains within the same faction and the same class, I can still have the same ships fit well with my concept of their unique personalities and playing style.

The variations of the original Odyssey C-Store ships were really lacking, and this helps makes up for that.

farmallm · February 2016

The read is good as to see what inspired them on the designs.

Sad part is, its like the person didn't care for the KDF or Romulan when they wrote it. You can really tell the difference in the writing.

psycoticvulcan · February 2016

I would really love it if you guys could retcon the R.R.W. Lleiset into one of those new classes. The night-black design it currently uses looks a bit ... depressing for a peaceful Republic.

kelettes · February 2016

psycoticvulcan wrote: »

I would really love it if you guys could retcon the R.R.W. Lleiset into one of those new classes. The night-black design it currently uses looks a bit ... depressing for a peaceful Republic.

*looks at Scimitar refits that still have thalaron weaponry*

O.o

I wouldn't exactly call them peaceful ^^

But it's much more agreeable to have D'Tan's and Tiaru's folks around

Jolan tru!

This may not be the thread for it but... what's up with the Star Empire?

Sela got kidnapped and we cut off the Tal Shiar's head, okay. WHAT THEN?! Is there a new leader? Is the throne empty? Is there a civil war? An Interregnum of some kind? Are they just sitting around fountains eating grapes and drinking wine?? Need intel! ^^

eradicator84 · February 2016

I do like these art blogs.

However, the KDF post doesn't show early design sketches. Did you just go straight to building it in engine?

I noticed at the end of the Fed post it is mentioned the team went back over the T5 Oddy to clean it up a bit.
Well after getting the KDF flagships, I wish the team had given a bit of love to the T5 Bort, or better yet made the T6 match the T5 dimensions.
While thankfully I can switch parts between T5 and the 3 new T6 parts, the saucer and hulls of the T5 and T6's do no line up what so ever. T5 Saucer with any T6 hull, or T5 hull with any T6 saucer, the point at which they connect, the seam if you will, has not been thought through at all. Multi story cliff faces appear at the join points as the T5 hull is higher at the join than the T6 saucers, or vice versa the T6 hull is lower in height than the T5 saucer.
In both cases you can angle the camera and see inside the model of the ship.

So currently, while you can swap parts. Really only the nacelles can be switched between the T5 & 6 models.

toiva · February 2016

Before I get to reacting, I must bow to the rather subtle work done on the T6 Odysseys (and the Odyssey version itself touch up). The Yorktown is pretty great and even the Sojourner makes sense in the game and is a logical evolution (not a revolution). The Endeavour is made in the style I don't find fits the Federation, but well. It's at least well executed and fits within other ships of that style (Avenger, Arbiter, Armitage, ...).

Now the rest:

farmallm wrote: »

The read is good as to see what inspired them on the designs.

Sad part is, its like the person didn't care for the KDF or Romulan when they wrote it. You can really tell the difference in the writing.

It's not just the writing, it's most notably the design of the KDF ships in particular (while personally I'm no fan of the Scimitar or its new T6 versions, afaik they can be mismatched pretty nicely and seem to be done pretty well). See following post for details:

eradicator84 wrote: »

I do like these art blogs.

However, the KDF post doesn't show early design sketches. Did you just go straight to building it in engine?

I noticed at the end of the Fed post it is mentioned the team went back over the T5 Oddy to clean it up a bit.
Well after getting the KDF flagships, I wish the team had given a bit of love to the T5 Bort, or better yet made the T6 match the T5 dimensions.
While thankfully I can switch parts between T5 and the 3 new T6 parts, the saucer and hulls of the T5 and T6's do no line up what so ever. T5 Saucer with any T6 hull, or T5 hull with any T6 saucer, the point at which they connect, the seam if you will, has not been thought through at all. Multi story cliff faces appear at the join points as the T5 hull is higher at the join than the T6 saucers, or vice versa the T6 hull is lower in height than the T5 saucer.
In both cases you can angle the camera and see inside the model of the ship.

So currently, while you can swap parts. Really only the nacelles can be switched between the T5 & 6 models.

I've been most sad at discovering that. Basically I'm forced to the BortasQu' look (not that I mind about that, I rather like it - but it'd be nice to have variety).
Another point is that the T6 KDF designs just don't fit at all with previous ships and - this is obviously subjective - I kinda hate them. Same story with the Negh'tev, KDF Command battlecruisers, now KDF T6 flagships and to a smaller degree even the Kurak. They all seem like they're unfinished, they're kinda blocky and not fitting with otehr variant parts.

theanothername wrote: »

Would it be possible now to pick the stern of the original Odyssey; the shakedown version? It looks a million times cooler than the "Aquarius ready" stern. Especially if you don't use that pet.

I'd love that as well (it's been one smallish reason among many that made me never actually use T5 C-Store Odysseys). But it's been noted by Thomas Marrone on Reddit that it's unlikely to happen as it would kinda TRIBBLE the animations and such (the look of the ship from the tailor coulnd't stop you from actually using the Aquarius console and then dispatching the escort would TRIBBLE stuff).

In fact I would have liked the same thing on the BortasQu'. The old Bortas look without Hoh'sus BoP.

freakium · February 2016

toiva wrote: »

I'd love that as well (it's been one smallish reason among many that made me never actually use T5 C-Store Odysseys). But it's been noted by Thomas Marrone on Reddit that it's unlikely to happen as it would kinda TRIBBLE the animations and such (the look of the ship from the tailor coulnd't stop you from actually using the Aquarius console and then dispatching the escort would TRIBBLE stuff).

In fact I would have liked the same thing on the Bortasqu'. The old Bortas look without Hoh'sus BoP.

That's one of the main reasons I got the eng variant T5 Bortasqu' when it first came out. I knew I would be kicking myself later if I had to keep looking at that BoP and know that I can't deploy it.

It would have been nice if they went with the idea where equipping the auxiliary craft console would change the look of the model similar to what they did with the Assimilated Console. It's a shame the idea didn't pan out.

And after reading the art of KDF ship article, I finally understand why Cryptic has decided to make Klingon ships blocky. Personally, I don't like this direction since the Klingons have created pretty graceful ships in the past. The T5 Bortasqu' fit the Klingon ship style perfectly. It wasn't blocky but utilitarian. The new ships look too simple, like a Klingon engineer built it out of legos. If they scaled back the blockiness of current KDF ships by about 60%, I'd be happy.

farmallm · February 2016

toiva wrote: »

Before I get to reacting, I must bow to the rather subtle work done on the T6 Odysseys (and the Odyssey version itself touch up). The Yorktown is pretty great and even the Sojourner makes sense in the game and is a logical evolution (not a revolution). The Endeavour is made in the style I don't find fits the Federation, but well. It's at least well executed and fits within other ships of that style (Avenger, Arbiter, Armitage, ...).

Now the rest:

farmallm wrote: »

The read is good as to see what inspired them on the designs.

Sad part is, its like the person didn't care for the KDF or Romulan when they wrote it. You can really tell the difference in the writing.

It's not just the writing, it's most notably the design of the KDF ships in particular (while personally I'm no fan of the Scimitar or its new T6 versions, afaik they can be mismatched pretty nicely and seem to be done pretty well). See following post for details:

eradicator84 wrote: »

I do like these art blogs.

However, the KDF post doesn't show early design sketches. Did you just go straight to building it in engine?

I noticed at the end of the Fed post it is mentioned the team went back over the T5 Oddy to clean it up a bit.
Well after getting the KDF flagships, I wish the team had given a bit of love to the T5 Bort, or better yet made the T6 match the T5 dimensions.
While thankfully I can switch parts between T5 and the 3 new T6 parts, the saucer and hulls of the T5 and T6's do no line up what so ever. T5 Saucer with any T6 hull, or T5 hull with any T6 saucer, the point at which they connect, the seam if you will, has not been thought through at all. Multi story cliff faces appear at the join points as the T5 hull is higher at the join than the T6 saucers, or vice versa the T6 hull is lower in height than the T5 saucer.
In both cases you can angle the camera and see inside the model of the ship.

So currently, while you can swap parts. Really only the nacelles can be switched between the T5 & 6 models.

I've been most sad at discovering that. Basically I'm forced to the BortasQu' look (not that I mind about that, I rather like it - but it'd be nice to have variety).
Another point is that the T6 KDF designs just don't fit at all with previous ships and - this is obviously subjective - I kinda hate them. Same story with the Negh'tev, KDF Command battlecruisers, now KDF T6 flagships and to a smaller degree even the Kurak. They all seem like they're unfinished, they're kinda blocky and not fitting with otehr variant parts.

theanothername wrote: »

Would it be possible now to pick the stern of the original Odyssey; the shakedown version? It looks a million times cooler than the "Aquarius ready" stern. Especially if you don't use that pet.

I'd love that as well (it's been one smallish reason among many that made me never actually use T5 C-Store Odysseys). But it's been noted by Thomas Marrone on Reddit that it's unlikely to happen as it would kinda TRIBBLE the animations and such (the look of the ship from the tailor coulnd't stop you from actually using the Aquarius console and then dispatching the escort would TRIBBLE stuff).

In fact I would have liked the same thing on the BortasQu'. The old Bortas look without Hoh'sus BoP.

I was mostly going about the write up. As they seem not to put much effort into doing it for the KDF and Romulan. And it shows a rushed, here it is, post it.

Now for the ships. The Romulan don't look too bad as they share some looks like the others. KDF is a mess, their newest ships are TRIBBLE looking and it shows with the Bort. They look like flying bricks. Where in the other KDF ships, they was all slender, and battle ready in looks. Now they are just laughing stock ready for target practice. This is why I don't buy any new KDF ships. I have 2 KDF captains. And they are staying in ships that look like KDF. One is the K'Tinga, and the other is a BOP. I do have a Vor'cha and Negh'var IF I choose to use them. As they look like KDF ships.

eradicator84 · February 2016

toiva wrote: »

I've been most sad at discovering that. Basically I'm forced to the BortasQu' look (not that I mind about that, I rather like it - but it'd be nice to have variety).
Another point is that the T6 KDF designs just don't fit at all with previous ships and - this is obviously subjective - I kinda hate them. Same story with the Negh'tev, KDF Command battlecruisers, now KDF T6 flagships and to a smaller degree even the Kurak. They all seem like they're unfinished, they're kinda blocky and not fitting with otehr variant parts.

Mmm yeah. The T6 looks are rather lackluster. Very, Neg'Var style in their flatness but don't look aggressive at all really. Blocky things.
I actually quite like the T5 Bortasqu skin , solid and beefy looking. yet still has nice aggressive lines.
I like the proper hammer head designs of the T5 Bort and Vor'Kang. Just wish they'd use that design feature more.

farmallm wrote: »

Now they are just laughing stock ready for target practice. This is why I don't buy any new KDF ships.

Laughing stock because they suck, or because they don't look that great?
Stats and performance wise I was pleasantly surprised at the tac version, it's a very nice ship to fly.
The looks... I just put the T5 Bort skin on, looks way cooler to me and still Klingon inspired.

raj011 · February 2016

Thank you for these arts pictures of the T6 Flagships. It is good to see how it was thought-out. Is there a possibility in the near future that we can do more in the customise starship? For example if I am using the Yorktown design but want to change just the impulse engines to the odyssey impulse engines and not the entire hull. Also change other things for example on the Yorktown you can change parts of the nacelles with the Odyssey Class, Sojourner Class and Endeavour Class. It would be good to have more options to change single parts instead of entire sections.

theraven2378 · February 2016

Hmm, decisions decisions.
Which flagship to get, ideally the most versatile would do

mrspidey2 · February 2016

I really appreciate that you resolved the Bortasqu's bridge problem. The T5 versions did not have a visible bridge because the Ho'Sus was docked where the bridge was supposed to be. Looks like it is now docked beneath it.

toiva · February 2016

eradicator84 wrote: »

toiva wrote: »

I've been most sad at discovering that. Basically I'm forced to the BortasQu' look (not that I mind about that, I rather like it - but it'd be nice to have variety).
Another point is that the T6 KDF designs just don't fit at all with previous ships and - this is obviously subjective - I kinda hate them. Same story with the Negh'tev, KDF Command battlecruisers, now KDF T6 flagships and to a smaller degree even the Kurak. They all seem like they're unfinished, they're kinda blocky and not fitting with otehr variant parts.

Mmm yeah. The T6 looks are rather lackluster. Very, Neg'Var style in their flatness but don't look aggressive at all really. Blocky things.
I actually quite like the T5 Bortasqu skin , solid and beefy looking. yet still has nice aggressive lines.
I like the proper hammer head designs of the T5 Bort and Vor'Kang. Just wish they'd use that design feature more.

farmallm wrote: »

Now they are just laughing stock ready for target practice. This is why I don't buy any new KDF ships.

Laughing stock because they suck, or because they don't look that great?
Stats and performance wise I was pleasantly surprised at the tac version, it's a very nice ship to fly.
The looks... I just put the T5 Bort skin on, looks way cooler to me and still Klingon inspired.

Oh yes, Vor'Kang is my favourite KDF design. And the Bortas(Qu') is pretty good as well.

Statwise, however, KDF is lately getting a number features it was long missing: Escort carrier (Qa'tel raptor, T6 Guramba), T6 flagships got manoeuvrability and shield boosts.
In that departement, they're pretty damn good.

farmallm · February 2016

eradicator84 wrote: »

toiva wrote: »

I've been most sad at discovering that. Basically I'm forced to the BortasQu' look (not that I mind about that, I rather like it - but it'd be nice to have variety).
Another point is that the T6 KDF designs just don't fit at all with previous ships and - this is obviously subjective - I kinda hate them. Same story with the Negh'tev, KDF Command battlecruisers, now KDF T6 flagships and to a smaller degree even the Kurak. They all seem like they're unfinished, they're kinda blocky and not fitting with otehr variant parts.

Mmm yeah. The T6 looks are rather lackluster. Very, Neg'Var style in their flatness but don't look aggressive at all really. Blocky things.
I actually quite like the T5 Bortasqu skin , solid and beefy looking. yet still has nice aggressive lines.
I like the proper hammer head designs of the T5 Bort and Vor'Kang. Just wish they'd use that design feature more.

farmallm wrote: »

Now they are just laughing stock ready for target practice. This is why I don't buy any new KDF ships.

Laughing stock because they suck, or because they don't look that great?
Stats and performance wise I was pleasantly surprised at the tac version, it's a very nice ship to fly.
The looks... I just put the T5 Bort skin on, looks way cooler to me and still Klingon inspired.

Their looks, like I said, they look like flying bricks or lego blocks.

Unknown · February 2016

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Art of the T6 Flagships

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