Delta or Saucer Primary Hulls?

[RookActual]

It seems most of the new designs coming out of the Starship mills in the more modern Starfleet are Delta primary hulls instead of saucers. Which do you prefer the most?

I'm a big fan of the more aerodynamic Delta, even if such isn't really necessary. However, the Akira class being my favorite, I don't rule out the good ol saucer.

[holmes0111]

Delta........

[Sevenblade]

I like Delta more if it's a quick strike military vessel, like the Prometheus. Otherwise, generally I prefer saucer. It's just so classic :D

[Warp_Six]

I like the saucer hull.

[Valse]

I'm at a cross, delta seems more stylish... while I can't rule out the classic nature of the saucer-style hull.

Why do you have to ask the hard questions Rook!

[Arachnidus]

I like 'em both, but nothing beats the Galaxy's saucer(yes, I know that most other ships also have saucer seperation).

[RookActual]

I'm at a cross, delta seems more stylish... while I can't rule out the classic nature of the saucer-style hull.

Why do you have to ask the hard questions Rook!

I know, right!? Really, it's interesting, because the arthropodine style of Starfleet vessels is so trademarked, but the saucer is definitely immediately recognizable. I love Deltas, but as I said, my favorite ship isn't a Delta at all.

[Trekkie]

I actually like them both and don't really have a preference, but I hope that there is a good mix of the two in the game.

[Trocisp]

I like 'em both, but nothing beats the Galaxy's saucer(yes, I know that most other ships also have saucer seperation).I used to dislike the Galaxy's saucer. I thought it was odd, in that the saucer looked to wide and 'upright' in comparison to the secondary hull.


But I donno, over the years it's grown on me.

[Eureka]

delta..........

[bradley1701]

I prefer the saucer shape...but I am more of a Starfleet traditionalist who prefers the older ways and designs of starfleet versus the new ones, like the Akira, etc.

[RookActual]

I prefer the saucer shape...but I am more of a Starfleet traditionalist who prefers the older ways and designs of starfleet versus the new ones, like the Akira, etc.

The Akira is a very much saucer shaped primary hull. Not delta at all.

[WinterPark1701]

Real starships have neither. ;-)

[RookActual]

Real starships have neither. ;-)

Eh, I think the Defiant pretty much classifies as a saucer....

[RookActual]

On second, though...I agree.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_orbiter

[r2data]

If you look at it, the 'modern' saucers aren't saucers at all, they're ovoid, compared to the TOS saucers which were all circular. So, there are actually three types of primary hull.

I tend towards the ovoid myself, they have this elegance about them.

[RookActual]

Well...there are two types of saucers, circular and elliptical. As there also several types of Delta hulls.

[Azurian]

I prefer the Ellipticial Saucer of the Soveriegn-class. I never was a big fan of the Galaxy-class design.

[RookActual]

I prefer the Ellipticial Saucer of the Soveriegn-class. I never was a big fan of the Galaxy-class design.

You know, I had to be careful here, because the Sovereign really is somewhat more elliptical than Delta. I was about to argue this, too. It's just got a following zenith rather than leading. Almost caught me! I almost think you were trying to bait us on that one. :D

[Azurian]

Not really. As you stated Federation Starships either have:

Spherical (Olympic-class),
Circular (Constellation, Consitution, Ambassador, Excelsior, Oberth, Akira-class)
Elliptical (Galaxy, Soveriegn)
Delta (Triangular, like the Nova, Norway, and I guess the Saber can fall into this as well).

and if you will the "Other" (Steamrunner, Defiant)


And as I said, I perfer the Ellipetical (Ovoid) shape of the Sovereign. It flows. ;)

[USS_Parallax]

There's only so many different ways to put nacelles on a Saucer. They ran out. Next they'll run out of ideas for the Delta then we'll get something else. ;)

[RookActual]

Not really. As you stated Federation Starships either have:

Spherical (Olympic-class),
Circular (Constellation, Consitution, Ambassador, Excelsior, Oberth, Akira-class)
Elliptical (Galaxy, Soveriegn)
Delta (Triangular, like the Nova, Norway, and I guess the Saber can fall into this as well).

and if you will the "Other" (Steamrunner, Defiant)


And as I said, I perfer the Ellipetical (Ovoid) shape of the Sovereign. It flows. ;)

What I was saying is that a Galaxy's ellipse is laid out so that the leading and following edges of the ellipse intersect the minor axis, whereas a Sovereign's leading and following edges intersect the major axis. Which could constitute a Delta except on closer inspection.

[JMD10222]

Depends on the total ship design.:D

[_Pax_]

Akira-style "Saucer with holes in it" ... ^_^

[holmes0111]

I saw a great little site the other day, which showed how the NX01 could do a saucer sep, I'll try and find the link, and post it

[holmes0111]

http://www.firsttvdrama.com/enterprise/saucer/index.php3

The Enterprise NX01 goes from saucer to a sort of Delta, so.... everyones a winner!!

[RookActual]

I seriously had my Akiras capable of doing something similar in a game I ran a long time ago. The struts coming together wasn't necessary...but very similar.

[_Pax_]

There's only so many different ways to put nacelles on a Saucer. They ran out. Next they'll run out of ideas for the Delta then we'll get something else. ;)

A vertically-oriented Saucer would be interesting. IOW, kind of like a ship "turned on it's side", at least for the Saucer component.

A ship with TWO saucers woudl be interesting, as well.

...

They didn't run out of ways to use saucers, they just got TIRED of 'em. :)

[RookActual]

A vertically-oriented Saucer would be interesting. IOW, kind of like a ship "turned on it's side", at least for the Saucer component.

A ship with TWO saucers woudl be interesting, as well.

...

They didn't run out of ways to use saucers, they just got TIRED of 'em. :)

I'd imagine that looking a lot like Scythe Class ships from the Star Wars Legacy comics. It'd have to be done in such a way it was convincing to the eye you weren't just looking at it from an unusual angle.

[ninjakiller1]

I would go for Delta its better

[_Pax_]

I'd imagine that looking a lot like Scythe Class ships from the Star Wars Legacy comics. It'd have to be done in such a way it was convincing to the eye you weren't just looking at it from an unusual angle.
Window-lines would help give a reference to where the Horizontal is supposed to be. How the Nacelles are mounted would give another good hint, IMO. ^_^

[dussan2]

Both.

The new starship designs for star trek are ouststanding! I would love to the see a Akira with a delta.

[THORN74]

personally i prefer my saucers true circles (kirk era) i am not a fan or the TNG elptical saucers. in a TNG era choice i would go delta .... i like the intrepid class design alot. voyager was a beautiful ship, and a ok series.

the akira is a great looking ship too but rode island / nova class, promethus, and intrepid are necier looking IMO

[Flatfingers]

We actually got into this question a bit in the thread The Evolution of Starship Designs in Star Trek (http://forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?p=173569).

My feeling was (and is) that we can see roughly three generations of design aesthetic in Starfleet ships from the TOS era onward, and that the saucer shape played a major role in defining a generation. (The other major defining element is the placement of warp nacelles.)

To put it briefly: Generation 1 (G1) was round saucers; G2 was elliptical (lateral axis) saucers; and G3 was elliptical (longitudinal axis) saucers, delta wedges, and "all-in-one" designs.

In terms of my personal preference, I actually like all forms of saucers and wedges; what I don't like are the "all-in-one" designs (Defiant, Steamrunner) -- not because I find them aesthetically ugly (well, OK, I do find the Steamrunner ugly), but because I don't think they're true to Starfleet's distinctly recognizable "saucer-plus-nacelles-on-pylons" reference design.

So it's a tough choice for me. As a Star Trek fan, I have to like the circular saucers, but just in terms of pure design good looks, I'm a big fan of the Intrepid class (although I think its nacelles are too short for real proportional beauty). I also like the look of the (imaginary) Dauntless.

Actually, for a gorgeous fan-created design, check out the Legacy (http://gkdesigns.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html) class by galen/kaden.

Thing of beauty.

--Flatfingers

[RookActual]

We actually got into this question a bit in the thread The Evolution of Starship Designs in Star Trek (http://forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?p=173569).

My feeling was (and is) that we can see roughly three generations of design aesthetic in Starfleet ships from the TOS era onward, and that the saucer shape played a major role in defining a generation. (The other major defining element is the placement of warp nacelles.)

To put it briefly: Generation 1 (G1) was round saucers; G2 was elliptical (lateral axis) saucers; and G3 was elliptical (longitudinal axis) saucers, delta wedges, and "all-in-one" designs.

In terms of my personal preference, I actually like all forms of saucers and wedges; what I don't like are the "all-in-one" designs (Defiant, Steamrunner) -- not because I find them aesthetically ugly (well, OK, I do find the Steamrunner ugly), but because I don't think they're true to Starfleet's distinctly recognizable "saucer-plus-nacelles-on-pylons" reference design.

So it's a tough choice for me. As a Star Trek fan, I have to like the circular saucers, but just in terms of pure design good looks, I'm a big fan of the Intrepid class (although I think its nacelles are too short for real proportional beauty). I also like the look of the (imaginary) Dauntless.

Actually, for a gorgeous fan-created design, check out the Legacy (http://gkdesigns.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html) class by galen/kaden.

Thing of beauty.

--Flatfingers

I think the more integrated designs are typically relegated typically to smaller vessels.

[SoulfireX]

I prefer the scaucer hulls over the delta's. I like the classic starfleet configureation.

[Ballping]

Bird of Prey!

Oh wait, thats not an option. ;-p

I guess if i have to choose between the two i would go with Saucer for two reasons. A: Bulkier ships are just much more intimidating looking imo. B: More deck space is always a good thing, especially in a ship that is built for multiple roles.

[Admiral_Ares]

What ever one I can jam the most Quantum Torpedos in

[_Pax_]

We actually got into this question a bit in the thread The Evolution of Starship Designs in Star Trek (http://forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?p=173569).

My feeling was (and is) that we can see roughly three generations of design aesthetic in Starfleet ships from the TOS era onward, and that the saucer shape played a major role in defining a generation. (The other major defining element is the placement of warp nacelles.)

To put it briefly: Generation 1 (G1) was round saucers; G2 was elliptical (lateral axis) saucers; and G3 was elliptical (longitudinal axis) saucers, delta wedges, and "all-in-one" designs.
I agree there are multiple generations of ship, but I disagree with your assessment.

The Miranda-class Light Cruisers were "all in one", primary-hull only. They were concurrent with late-TOS (early Movie) era designs. So "all in one" is more a matter of size and style, than Design Paradigm. Plus, there's the NX-01 Enterprise ...

I would put it this way:

Gen 1: (TOS and pre-TOS) Circular saucer hulls
Gen 2: (TNG) Lateral ellipse saucer hulls
Gen 3: (VOY) Longdituninal ellipse saucer hulls
Gen 4: (Post-VOY) Delta / non-saucer primary hulls

In all generations there are examples of both the "Primary and Secondary" twin-hull design, as well as an "all in one" unified hull design.

[Yoggs]

Circular saucers for me, that delta's are not bad but I love the old school feel of that circular saucer. :D

[Lord_Xomic]

....the shape of the saucer section doesn't change the name of the saucer section.

[RookActual]

....the shape of the saucer section doesn't change the name of the saucer section.

For ease of communication, I've been calling it the primary hull.

[Captain_Intrepid]

I have no preference. I'm planning on using the full range of costumization for starship design/creation, and I definitely plan on making more than one character/captain/ship. :)

[RookActual]

I have no preference. I'm planning on using the full range of costumization for starship design/creation, and I definitely plan on making more than one character/captain/ship. :)

Always an aficionado in every crowd. :p

[Manx]

I've been missing the circular primary hulls. I didn't actually realize this until I joined these forums and kept finding myself staring at the picture at the top of the page thinking 'I never really noticed before but... that Akira looks great'.

Guess I got tired of all the newer ship designs; I loved them all when they were first introduced (except the Norway which is just plain ugly), but now the novelty has worn off and I'm left feeling that they just try too hard to look cool.

[RookActual]

I've been missing the circular primary hulls. I didn't actually realize this until I joined these forums and kept finding myself staring at the picture at the top of the page thinking 'I never really noticed before but... that Akira looks great'.

Guess I got tired of all the newer ship designs; I loved them all when they were first introduced (except the Norway which is just plain ugly), but now the novelty has worn off and I'm left feeling that they just try too hard to look cool.

I've loved the Akira since the first time I saw it. It's been my absolute favorite hull design since it's first appearance.

[Sevenblade]

....the shape of the saucer section doesn't change the name of the saucer section.

I changed my mind...I like the bow section on your avatar's ship the most ;)

Though I do like a lot the elliptical ovoid of the Intrepid class. I don't know why, that one just grew on me a lot.

[jasonadlai]

Saucer, definitely.

Though now you have me wondering if the game will allow for saucer separation... hmm.

[callsign11b]

Have to say Saucer
best is Nebula and akria classes :cool:
Never really liked the sov look.:(

[Crux]

I'm a saucer man myself. Can't picture a pointy section on a Miranda.

[Triatom]

At first glance, by delta I thought you meant the hollowing out of the primary hull that cryptic has been doing lol, but after reading, lets just say I can feel the sleep creeping up on me.

Well...I have to admit that my favorite class starships are both the Olympic-class and the Daedalus-class, so spherical would have to be my answer. Idk, something about that attached bowling ball has its appeal to me. To be completely honest though, I absolutely hated the Galaxy saucer, especially when you had a front view of it (in my minds eye, it looks like a duck), if it was angled at different ways I could be ok with the look. But boy...it did take a while to get used to it lol.

The Delta shapes or the elliptical shapes like the Intrepid's or Sovereigns are also really aesthetically pleasing :) but nothing beats the sphere!

[RookActual]

At first glance, by delta I thought you meant the hollowing out of the primary hull that cryptic has been doing lol, but after reading, lets just say I can feel the sleep creeping up on me.

Well...I have to admit that my favorite class starships are both the Olympic-class and the Daedalus-class, so spherical would have to be my answer. Idk, something about that attached bowling ball has its appeal to me. To be completely honest though, I absolutely hated the Galaxy saucer, especially when you had a front view of it (in my minds eye, it looks like a duck), if it was angled at different ways I could be ok with the look. But boy...it did take a while to get used to it lol.

The Delta shapes or the elliptical shapes like the Intrepid's or Sovereigns are also really aesthetically pleasing :) but nothing beats the sphere!

The sphere is not an option, you weirdo. You should be flamed for your love of spheres. Spherelover! :eek:

[Triatom]

The sphere is not an option, you weirdo. You should be flamed for your love of spheres. Spherelover! :eek:

Hmm...I wonder if a Tactical Borg Fusion Sphere is an option? :D

[RookActual]

You lost your right to options, spherelover. Report to Spherelover Reindoctrination Facility Four....at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your support.

[callsign11b]

one thing about spheres you have equal protection from all sides

canon balls in space...

[Valse]

But more visible surface area means there's a more likely chance that you'll hit something too, eh?

one thing about spheres you have equal protection from all sides

canon balls in space...

[Triatom]

You lost your right to options, spherelover. Report to Spherelover Reindoctrination Facility Four....at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your support.

*runs happily to a place where all sphere lovers will be able to join together*

Do they have fortune cookies there as well? :)

EDIT: Ahem...I mean back on topic..

Yeah spheres aren't exactly combat looking ships lol....they don't look lethal at all to be honest. But...it does make sense to have them as medical ships like the Olympic-class, more patient room and bigger sickbays! Spheres = big volume!!! yay!

[Flatfingers]

Spheres: good in space, not so good with the "landing" thing.

Well... not more than once, anyway.

:D

--Flatfingers

[RookActual]

Spheres: good in space, not so good with the "landing" thing.

Well... not more than once, anyway.

:D

--Flatfingers

Trek is a lot more geared towards being aesthetic in ship design. I really think a big log is about what you need for a starship.

[STO_NPG]

Saucer. I love classics.