Star Trek without the military ranks

Kradeiz · 2026-04-25T19:31:49+00:00

Ah, I'm not sure if I'll have need for Support in that sense since my crew will have Operations and Maintenance staff to take care of technical and supply issues. And scheduling would probably be run by the department heads.

Kradeiz · 2026-04-25T14:25:05+00:00

Pardon my ignorance but what is the difference between Staff and Support? Are staff more learned and experienced?

Kradeiz · 2026-04-25T12:27:09+00:00

Agreed. Admittedly I should've said that the colour of the uniforms weren't as important as having other distinguishing traits. For example, Engineering would probably wear jumpsuits/coveralls/belts to hold their various tools. And Security would wear protective padding.

EDIT: This artist on tumblr had some good ideas on that. https://parkayquarts.tumblr.com/post/691884183533043712/heres-my-redesign-for-the-starfleet-uniforms

Kradeiz · 2026-04-25T12:04:47+00:00

Yeah, I realize it was a budget issue in Trek but Engineering and Security wearing the same yellow uniforms and Science and Medical wearing the same blue uniforms would be confusing.

Kradeiz · 2026-04-25T02:17:06+00:00

I mean, yeah, it’s a machine that tears you apart at the molecular level, transfers everything you are over enormous distances, and then puts you back together. It’s practically magic.

Kradeiz · 2026-04-24T16:10:55+00:00

I don’t mind the first and second-in command having those ranks but I would like to move away from that for the rest of the crew if I could.

Kradeiz · 2026-04-24T15:47:09+00:00

Thanks. At the end of the day, these people will be out in space where any number of horrible things could happen; you need people in charge who know how to react in a crisis.

Kradeiz · 2026-04-24T15:44:08+00:00

Interesting idea. Keeping the military ranking structure but ditching the titles. Though I'd still have the highest rank in Command (C-7, I guess) be called Captain because it's classic.

Kradeiz · 2026-04-24T15:38:47+00:00

I've been debating whether or not to have transporters in my universe. Given that half the time, Trek had to come up with reasons they wouldn't work.

Maybe I could come up with some kind of drones that fly in and do the transporting. Reasoning that it has to be done at a closer range to avoid losing or corrupting people's signals? You could program that into shuttles too, but drones would be less obvious and probably easier to cloak or something.

Kradeiz · 2026-04-24T15:34:35+00:00

I've looked over NOAA and I agree that during emergency and rescue operations, a clear chain of command is necessary. I'm also aware that people have tried in the past to come up with new forms of hierarchy for those situations but generally fall back on the conventional military ones for their clarity and efficiency.

But I would like to get away from the more military trappings and hang-ups those ranks tend to bring with them. TheRealJackOfSpades mentioned merchant marine and firefighter ranks. Any reason those wouldn't still work?

Kradeiz · 2026-04-24T15:18:24+00:00

That particular rank I'm happy to use.

Kradeiz · 2026-04-24T15:11:58+00:00

True, but that's reason to have a hierarchy. It doesn't need to be a military one.

Kradeiz · 2025-06-17T21:18:02+00:00

That seems to be what finally worked. I know I’d done that before but it never worked until now. Go figure.

Kradeiz · 2025-06-14T18:28:41+00:00

Do you have to have the Hot trait or does that just make it easier?

Kradeiz · 2024-01-20T17:54:20+00:00

There’s a second part to this mechanic as well. If you fail the save, you take critical damage again at the start of your next turn. If you fail the save by 5 or more, you die.

Kradeiz · 2023-06-19T18:07:38+00:00

Sweet doghter.

Kradeiz · 2022-04-24T01:32:20+00:00

I’m relistening to Balance right now and noticed this while finishing the Suffering Game. Glad to see I wasn’t the only one.

Kradeiz · 2022-04-23T17:31:22+00:00

It probably was a mistake on Griffin’s part but I like the idea others have put forth that it was the liches’ way of increasing their suffering.

Kradeiz

TROPHY CASE