How do you name your ships?

[Taera]

Im not sure if this poll had been held before, but im curious.

Some people use some kind of a standarization scheme and name their ships according to their class/size.

Others get a list of names and name ships appropriately for their class (example from me - Earworm for a scout ship).

Yet others get huge naming lists and just randomly pick names.


What do you think is the best one? Which one do you use? Why?

[Atrocities]

I used to name them by class, but now I just avoid naming them unless I have to.

Escort Class were named after Rivers.
Frigate Class after Famous People
Destroyer classes, after animals
LC/CR/BC and BS/DR/BS aggressive names

Carriers after Presidents, and statesmen
Others after oceans, moutains, and made up names.

[Taera]

Me, i like naming my ships randomly. I get as large a namefile as i can (i have one for insects - at least 400 different bugs there, IIRC) or my current one after dinosaurs. Its interesting, and the other player would never guess what kind of a ship is that (what would Leafcutter Budworm or Two-Year-Cycle Hornworm tell you? )

[Alneyan]

Are you talking about the class name, or the name of the actual ship? I tend to use nonsensical names for my class names (with the exception of Colony Ships and Base Space Yards), since I will be able to recall what class does what in a given name.

I do not name my ships because I am too lazy. And naming a few hundred ships (let's say one thousand per game, including the reinforcements, and that would be in the low range) per game (quite a few of them) would simply take too much time. I cannot say I have the imagination to make up a few thousand different names either, plus planet names if wanted.

[Aiken]

Used to name my ships with simple code, like CS-PT cMT *S*A*SD IV (civilian ship - pop transport, medium transport class *shielded*armored*selfdestruct), but it was too obvious. So I switched to russian codes:
НаселТранс-КСТ(б,щ,су) - I don't think it's easy to understand what does it mean for english-speaking people. The reason for using the codes is that I was never able to keep ramdomized or nonsensical ship class names in my head.

[ July 18, 2004, 11:28: Message edited by: aiken ]

[Raging Deadstar]

Usually i give me ships a prefix E.G. EDF (Earth Defence Force) for military vessels. I then usually give all my ships a different name from 3 or 4 various design name files. If you name them as soon as they are built it doesn't take long.

[Arkcon]

I've used all the methods you've mentioned. Thing is, I sometimes lose track anyway. With the pictures the same. the names really don't add much. Especially after multiple retrofits -- you really should rename with each retrofit, but I forget.

[ July 18, 2004, 13:05: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

[Renegade 13]

I simply do not name individual ships, for one reason alone; time. I don't have enough time to do it for every ship, or even some of them. Because of this, I rely on what class of ship it is in order to keep track of what that ship is supposed to be doing.

For example, say I have a DUC light cruiser attack ship. I would name that class one of two things:

- Attack LC 1
- LC 1.12.12 (1.12.12 are the numbers of letters in the alphabet...therefore ATT for attack.)

Or, if this was a special class of LC, say one with phased polaron beams instead of DUC's, I'd name it either:

- Attack LC 1 (**)
- LC 1.12.12 (**)

See, my system is very simple. But then again, if I ever wanted to fool someone, they'd never expect it!

[Raging Deadstar]

Reverse Psychology is good for names

I Once named my Attack Vessels "Uber Powerful Ships Here" in a game against my friends and then named my support ships "Weak Weedy Support Vessel Here". Upon entering the system i split the fleets into two to distract my enemy. My friend thought it was a trick and attacked the fleet of "Weak Weedy Support Ships" that to his dismay were ACTUALLY PDC/Supply ships, he thought i'd tried to trick him and they were my warships. It was a small loss when most his fleet were crippled by ramming and my fleet of actual warships (Uber powerful Ships Here ) Took the system pretty soon afterwards.

[ July 18, 2004, 16:03: Message edited by: Raging Deadstar ]

[Gryphin]

When I did play I tried using code that would remind me of the design. After a while I gave up.
Occasionaly I would rename LC and BC class ships as Gryphin and try to track thier actions and life span. Even that got to bee too much.
Just lazy I guess

Wouldn't be cool if you could tag a ship and tell the game to keep track if it's movment and combat?

[ July 18, 2004, 16:22: Message edited by: Gryphin ]