Question about naming your ships [Archive]

haplo8

09-11-2009, 08:04 AM

I am wondering...

Are ship names going to be unique? In a one server environment the pool of ship names would run dry pretty fast if they were totally unique.

Also, are you able to change the name of your ship once its set?

For example, if upon getting your first ship you came up with the most awesome name of all time, would you be able to carry that name to your future ships or you blow it on your newb ship and its used up forever?

I guess a simple solution would be to add a letter on the end, USS Awesomesauce-D and whatnot.

And for the record, I will not be naming my ships USS Awesomesauce...:confused:

Tamgros

09-11-2009, 08:09 AM

You'll have your account name tied to your game names. So when you make your character ship, it will technically be "whatever@haplo8". This will allow people to chose any name/shipname/registry number that they want.

There as been a lot of discussion on the positives and negatives of this system, but having the name you want does not seem like it will be a problem :)

tyranastrasz

09-11-2009, 08:11 AM

oleum

09-11-2009, 08:12 AM

At least we assume it will be like that. Did you see how the ship/captain names worked at the PAX demo Tam?

Tamgros

09-11-2009, 08:30 AM

I was under the impression that system applied to character names, not ship names.
Well, I'm pretty sure it's been mentioned that we'll be able to chose any ship name you want. Maybe it was when I was in Vegas :cool: Sorry, I can't remember the exact context.

But you're kinda right, I think. I think your ship name will be more of a display piece on our ship and people won't communicate with is through that name. I doubt the @name is tied as much into that as your captain name. Thanks for pointing that out.
At least we assume it will be like that. Did you see how the ship/captain names worked at the PAX demo Tam?
Well, I remember seeing them displayed on the ship, but that doesn't mean I really know how they work.

Like I said above, I think they are more for display and your own purposes of distinguishing between your ships. I kind of doubt it will matter if they aren't unique (and I believe they've said they don't have to be unique, but again, I don't remember where that came from and don't really have anything official to back that up, sorry). But, I guess we'll see.

TruthSeer

09-11-2009, 08:38 AM

tyranastrasz

09-11-2009, 08:52 AM

Well, I'm pretty sure it's been mentioned that we'll be able to chose any ship name you want. Maybe it was when I was in Vegas :cool: Sorry, I can't remember the exact context.

Must've happened in Vegas then. :p

But yeah, we probably can pick any ship name. It might not exactly be "canon" for multiple Starfleet ships to have the same name and operate at the same time, but IMO this is one of those cases where being nitpicky in favor of canon wouldn't really be beneficial and would create a lot of annoyance, so hopefully people won't be quite that nitpicky. :D

On the other hand, now that I think about it having the registry numbers be unique makes sense, and it might actually be interesting if they did that. What if, when one player has a ship named (random example) NCC-1928 "USS Flying Saucer" and gets another ship and names that one "USS Flying Saucer," the new ship is automatically designated "NCC-1928-A?"

Pyrceval

09-11-2009, 08:53 AM

Actually, if they make it so we are distinguished by our character and not our ship, ship naming really wouldn't be an issues. Take Pirates of the Burning Sea for example, if I remember correctly you only actually saw the ship name when you looked at the character's info. The same can be used for STO, it would just show up on the hull and in the character info.

I can understand the reasons why this is, but it doesn't feel 'trek' like that...and thats one of my fears for this game. Again, I get the whys and wherefors but in Trek, the ship actually meant something...seems like in the game it really wont matter.

TruthSeer

09-11-2009, 09:06 AM

I can understand the reasons why this is, but it doesn't feel 'trek' like that...and thats one of my fears for this game. Again, I get the whys and wherefors but in Trek, the ship actually meant something...seems like in the game it really wont matter.

I know where your coming from but one of the problems with being identified by our ships is the fact that our ships are going to change. That and for all we know we'll be able to rename our ships which would cause more problems.

Even with this though it is hard to say that our ship won't mean anything or matter considering it is going to be 50% of the game.

haplo8

09-11-2009, 09:14 AM

All that sounds like it makes sense.

I know in Eve Online your ship name pretty much means nothing, you have to go through a few clicks just to even find it on another player.

jblancato

09-11-2009, 09:53 AM

Ship names aren't unique but registry numbers are. If I were to name my ship Rekhan's Love Boat, you could, too.

FINALCUT

09-11-2009, 09:55 AM

this may be a stupid question,but do you get to pick your registry number,or does starfleet do that?is it automatically assigned when you create your ship.you could spend hours trying to pick a number you want,or is there a random number generator?

Swordopolis

09-11-2009, 09:56 AM

Ship names aren't unique but registry numbers are. If I were to name my ship Rekhan's Love Boat, you could, too.

Are we allowed to pick those registry numbers, or will they be issued automatically?

Swordopolis

09-11-2009, 09:59 AM

Are we allowed to pick those registry numbers, or will they be issued automatically?

And going a bit further, will they be issued in any sort of order (like numbers getting larger as time passes), or randomly?

jblancato

09-11-2009, 10:01 AM

I'm not sure about how registry numbers are assigned. I'll see if it's in the interface if I get some time today.

Swordopolis

09-11-2009, 10:01 AM

I'm not sure about how registry numbers are assigned. I'll see if it's in the interface if I get some time today.

K, thanks. :)

Mavrixx

09-11-2009, 10:05 AM

Ship names aren't unique but registry numbers are. If I were to name my ship Rekhan's Love Boat, you could, too.

Oh dont tempt me.

Additionally, how will the different Rekhan's Love Boats be distinguishable in game?

Lets say i fly up to a friends ship, what will i see to ID it? The ship name? The captain name? Or is it by registry number?

haplo8

09-11-2009, 10:11 AM

Nice...thanks Rekhan.

Can we change the ship name once its set?

Seems like based on your response I could name all my ships the same if I wanted to.

onesoul1982

09-11-2009, 10:13 AM

Ship names aren't unique but registry numbers are. If I were to name my ship Rekhan's Love Boat, you could, too.

Love..exciting and new..come aboard :D

Swordopolis

09-11-2009, 10:16 AM

Seems like based on your response I could name all my ships the same if I wanted to.

Not sure if that'll work properly. The "@UserName" system can handle ships from two different players with the same ship name (like "Chicago@Swordopolis" and "Chicago@Tamgros"); you might freak out the system with a garage full of 15 ships all named "Chicago@Swordopolis".

Pyrceval

09-11-2009, 10:18 AM

Esgar

09-11-2009, 10:19 AM

Not sure if that'll work properly. The "@UserName" system can handle ships from two different players with the same ship name (like "Chicago@Swordopolis" and "Chicago@Tamgros"); you might freak out the system with a garage full of 15 ships all named "Chicago@Swordopolis".

I dunno. Since he'll only ever be using one at any given time, I don't think it'd be much of a problem. And that's presuming that it is the ship his handle is attached to.

Avatar_of_Champions

09-11-2009, 10:19 AM

Ship names aren't unique but registry numbers are. If I were to name my ship Rekhan's Love Boat, you could, too.

We're expecting you.... and love... it won't hurt anymore...

Seriously though... can you report a Community Rep in game for his ships name? :D
Because if I see the Love Boat floating around I'm gonna cry...

THE LOVE BOAT: THE NEXT GENERATION: Captain Jean-Luc Picard commands his crew on a love cruise. (Stewart, Bernie Kopell, Cleghorne, Farley, Franken, Hartman, Hutsell, Meadows, Sandler, Schneider, Spade, Sweeney, Akira Yoshimura)

Edit: Could not find the origianl SNL one with Stuart, but this one will just have to do: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6nftt_star-trek-love-boat-love-trek_fun

Edit: Found It!: http://www.clipupload.com/clip/showphoto.php/photo/9611

haplo8

09-11-2009, 10:22 AM

you might freak out the system with a garage full of 15 ships all named "Chicago@Swordopolis".

You have a good point there, that is why I am wondering if we can change the name of the ship once its set.

Swordopolis

09-11-2009, 10:32 AM

You have a good point there, that is why I am wondering if we can change the name of the ship once its set.

I support ship name changes, but there should be some sort of cost associated with doing so (preferably NOT in the form of microtransactions)

haplo8

09-11-2009, 10:33 AM

I support ship name changes, but there should be some sort of cost associated with doing so (preferably NOT in the form of microtransactions)

/agree100%

DarkOrion69

09-14-2009, 06:03 PM

I would be perfectly happy with the server assigning my registry number for any given ship as long as I can name my ship itself. This would be a nod towards canon as I am fairly certain Starfleet decides the registry code of a vessel, not it's initial commander.

JMD10222

09-14-2009, 06:32 PM

navyjames

09-14-2009, 06:40 PM

I am very glad we will get to name our own ship and that it doesn't have to be unique. Otherwise I'd have to come up with some obscure name because just about every other possible "cool" name I could think of would have been taken in the first five minutes.

The registry number being unique is actually a neat way to get around having different ships of the same name. It gives you something unique for you to get attached to on your ship, especially if you're just sticking with a vanilla design (which is what I will probably do).

What I want to know is...will the names Enterprise, Defiant and Voyager be available? I assume yes, but I have to ask anyway. ;)

fractaleye

09-14-2009, 06:47 PM

What I want to know is...will the names Enterprise, Defiant and Voyager be available? I assume yes, but I have to ask anyway. ;)

The devs have said that canon names such as Voyager, etc. won't be available iirc. I could be wrong ofc, but I'm pretty sure you can't pick those kind of names.

navyjames

09-14-2009, 06:49 PM

The devs have said that canon names such as Voyager, etc. won't be available iirc. I could be wrong ofc, but I'm pretty sure you can't pick those kind of names.

Oh really? Hey thats cool, I wasn't thinking of picking those anyway but I understand why they would leave out those names (they are "hero" ships after all).

LordDave

09-14-2009, 06:50 PM

Not sure if that'll work properly. The "@UserName" system can handle ships from two different players with the same ship name (like "Chicago@Swordopolis" and "Chicago@Tamgros"); you might freak out the system with a garage full of 15 ships all named "Chicago@Swordopolis".

Probably not. If the registry number is unique then there's really nothing stopping the system from allowing all the ships to be the same name. Just give them different registry numbers. Hell, for ships of the same name, they could just add a letter to your unique number.

Kaybok

09-14-2009, 10:00 PM

I been looking through the Fleet Recruitment threads... A few of these large organized fleets who already have their registry numbers picked may have to re-do all that work. At least ship names are not unique.. that woulda been a nightmare.

Beaver8

09-14-2009, 11:26 PM

Has it been said how we will be known? I have been gone awhile and I do read quite a bit but I havent manged to come across this yet. Will we be known as our captains name? If I name myself Beaver and my ship Beaversdam, will people beable to send me a whisper to Beaver, or will it be a whisper to Beaver@<account> OR. by ship name?

P.S. No i'm not lame enough to name myself Beaver and ship Beaversdam :p

Rota

09-14-2009, 11:40 PM

do we know yet if registration numbers will be customizable if they aren't taken yet? or will numbers be distributed in order of procurement by players?

i.e. If my birthday is september 15 1989, then can I have the reg number NC-91589 if it is not taken

edit: NM. Rekh said he would answer this question when he could. I made the lazy mistake of responding to the OP without reading all of the thread.

Embarassment is the price of laziness I suppose. Not the first time for me, and it won't be last.

JacobFlowers

09-15-2009, 12:16 AM

Ship names aren't unique but registry numbers are. If I were to name my ship Rekhan's Love Boat, you could, too.

So much for customization options. If I see another ship with MY ship's name that a) just about kills immersion and b) slightly invalidates uber customization in that... if my ship can't have a 'unique name', then aside from it's appearance it really isn't 'my beloved USS Savanna Titan".

but, on a more lenient note... i understand how if STO does as well as we all hope and garners something like eleventy billion subscribers, then that newbie who signed up real late will have a traumatic time trying to name any of his ships :D

P.S. I won't be naming any of my federation ships Rekhan's Love Boat. Klingon, maybe... but Fed... nah.

Sunborn

09-15-2009, 12:39 AM

I do think ships names should be unique. It does not make sense to me that Star Fleet would name ships the sa... bah forget, I guess I really don't care either way.

amphigory

09-15-2009, 02:43 AM

I would've thought that the @account system would be unique to your captain. CaptMe@myaccount, not MyShip@myaccount.
But yes, I'm hoping ship names can be unique as well.
Would it also be possible to have A, B, C, etc as well?
e.g. USS Myship A, Myship B, etc

WinterPark1701

09-15-2009, 02:46 AM

Lets not forget the 1,000 USS V0yagers that will be flying around

navyjames

09-15-2009, 02:59 AM

All those who want unique shipnames, what are you going to do when every decent ship name is taken in the first five minutes? Thats a tad unfair, don't you think?

What if your beloved ship name is taken, maybe by someone seeing it on the forums and thinking "Hey, thats a cool ship name", and taking it before you do?

Unique ship names is about as silly as player-crewed starships. Nice in theory, terrible in practice.

Lets not forget the 1,000 USS V0yagers that will be flying around

They'll probably make it so that you can't have numbers in ship names, nor can you use "leet" style getarounds to name your ship after a famous one (i.e. USS ENTERPRlSE where the "i" is a lower case "L"), etc.

TheMax450

09-15-2009, 04:01 AM

We're expecting you.... and love... it won't hurt anymore...

Seriously though... can you report a Community Rep in game for his ships name? :D
Because if I see the Love Boat floating around I'm gonna cry...

THE LOVE BOAT: THE NEXT GENERATION: Captain Jean-Luc Picard commands his crew on a love cruise. (Stewart, Bernie Kopell, Cleghorne, Farley, Franken, Hartman, Hutsell, Meadows, Sandler, Schneider, Spade, Sweeney, Akira Yoshimura)

Edit: Could not find the origianl SNL one with Stuart, but this one will just have to do: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6nftt_star-trek-love-boat-love-trek_fun

Edit: Found It!: http://www.clipupload.com/clip/showphoto.php/photo/9611

you can report a community rep but it would probably be pointeless cause he will have read the naming policy and will be respecting it.

mrwafu

09-15-2009, 05:06 AM

Lets not forget the 1,000 USS V0yagers that will be flying around

I'm betting on more than a few "Enterprize"... I hope to see at least one misspelt "Entreprise" :p

saint100

09-15-2009, 05:52 AM

The names are going to fill up quickly with us having multiple ships accross multiple accounts and both factions. Will we contact our friends and other ships by their chracter names or ship names?

Hopefully the 'hero' ships will be unique with people opting for different text characters that have been mentioned before.

However, more importantly will it be possible to prevent 101 BoPs running around with the name Enterprize?!!! ha ha!

Connery155

09-15-2009, 07:58 AM

I think Captinname@Shipname would be good

Kaybok

09-15-2009, 03:52 PM

I'm on CO. They will use the same system so its more th!an likely PlayerName@Handle. For instance mine will be Sovak@Mirror-Master if u wanted to send me a tell. I'm not sure why registry numbers will be unique but I'm glad people can use whatever ship name they want.!

Beaver8

09-15-2009, 06:08 PM

I think Captinname@Shipname would be good

Unless you were on a different ship than what people know you as.

I'm not seeing why unique names would be so bad. Do you really want to be one of 100 people who named their ship the USS Darthvader? Wouldn't you rather name yourself or your ship something unique anyways?

If I ever saw anyone running around with my captains name or my ship name I would want to change them right away. I would rather be known as my tenth choice and be the only one rather than taking my first choice and having a thousand others with the same name.

majicebe

09-15-2009, 07:25 PM

Ship names aren't unique but registry numbers are. If I were to name my ship Rekhan's Love Boat, you could, too.

What are restrictions like on naming? I know you guys want to keep it sort of professional (I'd have to agree) so we don't have stuff like the USS L33txorz!!!1! or the USS Moose Knuckle, but do you know is it based on specific words that aren't allowed, or just certain characters or what?

I assume no numbers, but will there be things like USS Enterprise 1701-D, E, F, G, H....? Can there be different iterations on the same ship? Perhaps one owned by the same captain?

fractaleye

09-15-2009, 07:44 PM

What are restrictions like on naming? I know you guys want to keep it sort of professional (I'd have to agree) so we don't have stuff like the USS L33txorz!!!1! or the USS Moose Knuckle, but do you know is it based on specific words that aren't allowed, or just certain characters or what?

I assume no numbers, but will there be things like USS Enterprise 1701-D, E, F, G, H....? Can there be different iterations on the same ship? Perhaps one owned by the same captain?

I don't think this will help answer all your questions about the naming process, but here's a post by a Cryptic employee explaining the basic outline of naming:

http://forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?p=751678#post751678

(Mostly about how they do the Champions Online names, but I'm sure the STO system will be same/similar)

Kaybok

09-23-2009, 11:32 AM

Ship names aren't unique but registry numbers are. If I were to name my ship Rekhan's Love Boat, you could, too.

Ok, so we know ship names are not unique. Can anyone confirm that character names will be "name@handle" like it is on CO? (The handle part is hidden unless you look at the player's details in CO.)

Zethyr

09-23-2009, 04:46 PM

Well thats good news I was afraid someone might steal U.S.S Troitanic

ryuto

09-23-2009, 04:52 PM

Ok, so we know ship names are not unique. Can anyone confirm that character names will be "name@handle" like it is on CO? (The handle part is hidden unless you look at the player's details in CO.)

I don't think we'll know anything until we hear from the developers or until open beta, since anyone who gets in closed beta will know but won't be able to tell us. :)

Kaybok

09-23-2009, 07:08 PM

I don't think we'll know anything until we hear from the developers or until open beta, since anyone who gets in closed beta will know but won't be able to tell us. :)

The reason I brought this thread back is because I noticed in CO that player names aren't really unique either since @handle is part of the full character name. So on Champions, if we both wanted to be Rekhan (coz we wubba himz lots) I would be Rekhan@Mirror-Master and you would be Rekhan@Captain_Sol. We would both appear as "Rekhan" to anyone nearby. You would only see the @handle part if you right-clicked on me and looked at the character details. I confirmed this by doing a /who where I saw two "Icemann@handle". I created my own Icemann after that - then there was 3 of us. LOL