Steve Posted February 10, 2004 Report Share Posted February 10, 2004 I was wondering what sort of methods people used for naming military vessels in their campaigns. I was looking through Alien Wars and trying to think of ship names that would be appropriate for the United Earth Navy. Rivers or mountains are what I am considering now. Any other suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowly Uhlan Posted February 10, 2004 Report Share Posted February 10, 2004 Rivers and montains are good ideas. In Star Trek the runabouts were all named after rivers. Military leaders would be good, The Schwartzkof, the Kahn ,the Rommel. Or your favorite fictional characters:the Kirk, the Wu, the Boromir. Going a little further "out there" how about mythical places: the Numenor, the Melnibone, the Andrilhanka. Or just think up dark, ominous names. The dropship in my Star Hero game is called "Black Providence". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edsel Posted February 10, 2004 Report Share Posted February 10, 2004 If you want alien-sounding names, what I do is get a couple of english to whatever dictionaries. You can then mix and match parts of words from differend languages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outsider Posted February 10, 2004 Report Share Posted February 10, 2004 You could go with ship names from history, too. In a Star Fleet Battles campaign, we had a player who was naming his ships after martial arts manuvers. Some were OK, but the USS Groin Strike was a bit odd... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abalux Posted February 10, 2004 Report Share Posted February 10, 2004 Originally posted by Outsider In a Star Fleet Battles campaign, we had a player who was naming his ships after martial arts manuvers. Some were OK, but the USS Groin Strike was a bit odd... Bet no male enemy commander ever messed with that one I like to use unusual occupations. Stuff like Hierophant, Wainwright, and Inquisitor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobGreenwade Posted February 10, 2004 Report Share Posted February 10, 2004 In addition to the above, the names of historical heads of state is another source of ship names -- Presidents and Prime Ministers from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Indonesia... Imagine a couple of Liberty-class dreadnaughts named the Karzai and the Musharraf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithcurtis Posted February 10, 2004 Report Share Posted February 10, 2004 I named most of the fleet for my old Solar COlonies Game. I'll see if I can dig up the list. Some suggestions: Qualities: Reliance, Honor, Mercy Battlefields: Marathon, Waterloo, Agincourt Pantheon supreme deities: Wotan, Zeus, Danu Weapons: Katana, Wakazashi, Lance, Mjolnir Keith "You want names?" Curtis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackSword Posted February 10, 2004 Report Share Posted February 10, 2004 Originally posted by BobGreenwade In addition to the above, the names of historical heads of state is another source of ship names -- Presidents and Prime Ministers from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Indonesia... Imagine a couple of Liberty-class dreadnaughts named the Karzai and the Musharraf. And don't forget to throw in some 'future-history,' add American presidents such as the Schwarzenegger, the Trump (sorry don't know the black sheep for foreign nations)...the list is endless (and disheartening ). If you have a history that includes a few famous military figures, their names will at least be included in the class of ship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outsider Posted February 10, 2004 Report Share Posted February 10, 2004 You could also have Dictator class dreadnoughts to name... it all depends on the politics of your future world-state Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheImperialKhan Posted February 10, 2004 Report Share Posted February 10, 2004 So you want ship names eh? Follow this link and you'll have more than you know what to do with: http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/INTRO.HTM Want other nations? That's easy enough just translate these into the language of your choice over here: http://babelfish.altavista.com/ How's that for service? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobGreenwade Posted February 10, 2004 Report Share Posted February 10, 2004 Originally posted by BlackSword And don't forget to throw in some 'future-history,' add American presidents such as the Schwarzenegger... Schwartzenegger cannot become the US President; the Constitution states that the President must be a natural-born citizen, and Arnold is naturalized. (Though your basic point is a very good one.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starwolf Posted February 10, 2004 Report Share Posted February 10, 2004 Also IRL the US Navy follows a general policy of picking a naming convention by ship class and following it. For instance all Carriers are now named for Presidents or Admirals, all Cruisers could be named for famous battles, and all destroyers could be named for fallen heroes or important politicians. If I recall correctly all Battleships were named for states. I hope these examples give you some good ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackSword Posted February 10, 2004 Report Share Posted February 10, 2004 Originally posted by BobGreenwade Schwartzenegger cannot become the US President; the Constitution states that the President must be a natural-born citizen, and Arnold is naturalized. (Though your basic point is a very good one.) Just a poor reference to "Demolition Man." As for use of foreign languages, I use: http://www.freedict.com/onldict/jap.html for translations. This is the japanese translator, but there are translators for several languages. I usually use it to make up last names for my characters. Expanding off of Imperial Khan's suggetion. Perhaps something like a Hawk Class of fast attack frigates, then find a bunch of translations for Hawk. Depending how space is colonized, if there are still strong pockets of various cultures, those on a particular planet may tend to name ships based on their original language. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithcurtis Posted February 10, 2004 Report Share Posted February 10, 2004 Here is the list I created for Book 4 of the Solar Colonies "Finrod's Fall". The models are simple Bomber-1 is an older one, Bomber-2 is a current ship, while Bomber-3 would be a state-of-the-art. And so on. Panhandle, Belter Prospector, Black Fleet Sutter’s Creek, Belter Prospector, Black Fleet Boomer, Belter Prospector, Black Fleet Mao, Bomber-1, Black Fleet Confucious, Bomber-1, Black Fleet Huang Ho, Bomber-1, Black Fleet Yang-Tzi, Bomber-1, Black Fleet Hiroshima, Bomber-2, Black Fleet Nagasaki, Bomber-2, Black Fleet Campuchea, Bomber-2, Black Fleet Dresden, Bomber-2, Black Fleet Granville, Charter, Black Fleet Tradewind, Charter, Black Fleet Sirocco, Charter, Black Fleet Hammerhead, Corvette-1, Black Fleet Tiger Shark, Corvette-1, Black Fleet Skate, Corvette-1, Black Fleet Ming, Corvette-2, Black Fleet Han, Corvette-2, Black Fleet Chen, Destroyer-1, Black Fleet Black Lotus, Destroyer-1, Black Fleet Black Rose, Destroyer-1, Black Fleet Nightshade, Destroyer-1, Black Fleet Wu-Jen, Destroyer-2, Black Fleet Darkness, Pirate Vessel-1, Black Fleet Terminator, Pirate Vessel-1, Black Fleet Eclipse, Pirate Vessel-1, Black Fleet Revenant, Pirate Vessel-1, Black Fleet Umbra, Pirate Vessel-2, Black Fleet Shadow, Pirate Vessel-2, Black Fleet Katana, Bomber-1, Luna Wakazashi, Bomber-1, Luna Claymore, Bomber-1, Luna Morningstar, Bomber-1, Luna Sai, Bomber-1, Luna Harpoon, Bomber-1, Luna Tulwar, Bomber-1, Luna Cestus, Bomber-1, Luna Scimitar, Bomber-2, Luna Excalibur, Bomber-2, Luna Hammer, Bomber-2, Luna Gungnir, Bomber-2, Luna New York, Carrier-1, Luna London, Carrier-1, Luna Rome, Carrier-1, Luna Moscow, Carrier-2, Luna Paris, Carrier-2, Luna Ronin, Corvette-1, Luna Shane, Corvette-1, Luna Marksman, Corvette-1, Luna John Wayne, Corvette-1, Luna Parsifal, Corvette-1, Luna Hero, Corvette-1, Luna Tristan, Corvette-1, Luna Yojimbo, Corvette-1, Luna Crockett, Corvette-1, Luna Daniel Boone, Corvette-1, Luna Robin Hood, Corvette-1, Luna Cyrano, Corvette-1, Luna Ranger, Corvette-2, Luna Mounty, Corvette-2, Luna Pimpernel, Corvette-2, Luna D’Artagnon, Corvette-2, Luna Lancelot, Corvette-2, Luna Errantry, Corvette-3, Luna Gawain, Corvette-3, Luna Gallahad, Corvette-3, Luna Thunor, Cruiser-1, Luna Heimdall, Cruiser-1, Luna Herakles, Cruiser-1, Luna Baldur, Cruiser-1, Luna Lugh, Cruiser-1, Luna Apollo, Cruiser-1, Luna Thunderbird, Cruiser-1, Luna Zeus, Cruiser-1, Luna Tyr, Cruiser-1, Luna Ramman, Cruiser-1, Luna Wodin, Cruiser-2, Luna Dagda, Cruiser-2, Luna Huan, Cruiser-2, Luna Baron, Destroyer-1, Luna Duke, Destroyer-1, Luna Satrap, Destroyer-1, Luna Marquis, Destroyer-1, Luna Viscount, Destroyer-1, Luna Padishah, Destroyer-2, Luna Czar, Destroyer-2, Luna Sultan, Destroyer-2, Luna Emir, Destroyer-2, Luna Khan, Destroyer-2, Luna Malik, Destroyer-2, Luna Rajah, Destroyer-2, Luna Chieftain, Destroyer-3, Luna Pasha, Destroyer-3, Luna Colonial Products, Spacestation-2, Luna Equus, Bomber-2, Mars Draconis, Bomber-2, Mars Centaurus, Bomber-2, Mars Eridanus, Bomber-2, Mars Cassiopia, Bomber-2, Mars Capricorn, Bomber-2, Mars Pegasus, Bomber-2, Mars Taurus, Bomber-2, Mars Canis, Bomber-2, Mars Crux, Bomber-2, Mars Pisces, Bomber-2, Mars Aquarius, Bomber-2, Mars Dephinus, Bomber-2, Mars Sculptor, Bomber-2, Mars Fornax, Bomber-2, Mars Ursa, Bomber-2, Mars Orion, Bomber-2, Mars Scorpio, Bomber-2, Mars Hydra, Bomber-2, Mars Corvus, Bomber-2, Mars Europa, Carrier-2, Mars Australia, Carrier-2, Mars Africa, Carrier-3, Mars Asia, Carrier-3, Mars America, Carrier-3, Mars Cassini Gap, Corvette-2, Mars Agincourt, Corvette-2, Mars Marathon, Corvette-2, Mars Bosworth, Corvette-2, Mars Concord, Corvette-2, Mars Rubicon, Corvette-2, Mars Normandy, Corvette-2, Mars Anzio, Corvette-2, Mars Cheng-Du, Corvette-2, Mars Bunker Hill, Corvette-2, Mars Hastings, Corvette-2, Mars New Orleans, Corvette-2, Mars Lexington, Corvette-2, Mars Omaha Beach, Corvette-2, Mars China Sea, Corvette-2, Mars Jerusalem, Corvette-2, Mars Bonaparte, Cruiser-3, Mars Alexander, Cruiser-3, Mars Sun-Tzu, Cruiser-3, Mars Pershing, Cruiser-3, Mars Washington, Cruiser-3, Mars Robert E. Lee, Cruiser-3, Mars Caesar, Cruiser-3, Mars Pompeii, Cruiser-3, Mars Rommel, Cruiser-3, Mars Pericles, Cruiser-3, Mars Beowulf, Destroyer-2, Mars Gilgamesh, Destroyer-2, Mars Hiawatha, Destroyer-2, Mars Jason, Destroyer-2, Mars Hercules, Destroyer-2, Mars Theseus, Destroyer-2, Mars Blood, Bomber-2, Titan Avenger, Bomber-2, Titan Devastator, Bomber-2, Titan Chaos, Bomber-2, Titan Annihilator, Bomber-2, Titan Maelström, Bomber-2, Titan Hurricane, Bomber-2, Titan Thunderbolt, Bomber-2, Titan Lightningstrike, Bomber-2, Titan Nova, Bomber-2, Titan Wardog, Bomber-3, Titan Typhoon, Bomber-3, Titan Krakatoa, Bomber-3, Titan Whirlwind, Bomber-3, Titan Tora, Bomber-3, Titan Quake, Bomber-3, Titan Volcano, Bomber-3, Titan Striker, Bomber-3, Titan Holocaust, Bomber-3, Titan Terror, Bomber-3, Titan Relentless, Bomber-3, Titan Flare, Bomber-3, Titan Firestorm, Bomber-3, Titan Armageddon, Bomber-3, Titan Ragnarok, Bomber-3, Titan Doomsday, Bomber-3, Titan Apocalypse, Bomber-3, Titan Gauntlet, Bomber-3, Titan Impact, Bomber-3, Titan Divine Wind, Bomber-3, Titan Avalon, Carrier-2, Titan Valhalla, Carrier-2, Titan Atlantis, Carrier-2, Titan Lemuria, Carrier-2, Titan Zinj, Carrier-2, Titan Creus, Corvette-3, Titan Tethys, Corvette-3, Titan Mnemosyne, Corvette-3, Titan Prometheus, Corvette-3, Titan Helios, Corvette-3, Titan Kronos, Corvette-3, Titan Ouranos, Corvette-3, Titan Gaea, Corvette-3, Titan Cronus, Corvette-3, Titan Hyperion, Corvette-3, Titan Theia, Corvette-3, Titan Rhea, Corvette-3, Titan Themis, Corvette-3, Titan Phoebe, Corvette-3, Titan Tethys, Corvette-3, Titan Atlas, Cruiser-1, Titan Coeus, Cruiser-1, Titan Finn, Cruiser-1, Titan Polyphemus, Cruiser-1, Titan Antaeus, Cruiser-1, Titan Oceanus, Cruiser-2, Titan Atlas, Cruiser-2, Titan Paul Bunyon, Cruiser-2, Titan Colossus, Cruiser-2, Titan Behemoth, Cruiser-2, Titan Surtur, Destroyer-3, Titan Goliath, Destroyer-3, Titan Leviathan, Destroyer-3, Titan Ymir, Destroyer-3, Titan Polyphemus, Destroyer-3, Titan Cerberus, Dreadnaught, Titan Grendel, Dreadnaught, Titan Gorgon, Dreadnaught, Titan Take anything you can use. Keith "Fleet Admiral" Curtis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcholmes Posted February 11, 2004 Report Share Posted February 11, 2004 Originally posted by BobGreenwade Schwartzenegger cannot become the US President; the Constitution states that the President must be a natural-born citizen, and Arnold is naturalized. (Though your basic point is a very good one.) "Damn constitutional amendment of 2012! I mean, heck, if the original restriction was good enough for Washington, it should be good enough for anyone!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jhamin Posted February 11, 2004 Report Share Posted February 11, 2004 An idea I've been kicking around for my Star Hero fleet was to use the US Navy practice of picking a scheme for each type of ship and sticking with it, then trying to find a nice international feel for united earth ships. Options: Military Leaders - Hannibal, Alexander, Rommel, Ghengis, Sun Tzu, etc. Of course, I perfer myth as a source for future names: Mythical Warriors - Galihad, Hiawatha, Sigurd, Gilgamesh, etc Mythical Creatures (really appropriate for uber-battleships) - Kraken, Grendel, Fafner, Windigo, Kinie Ger, etc Legendary Scientists/Wisemen (good for science ships) - Daedelus, Myrlin, Imhotep, etc Mythical Weapons - Mjolner, Excalibur, Gae Bolg, etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzinbane Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 Stars Just type in your search engine: Brightest stars and you'll get lists of good names. Some are commonly heard all over (Rigel, Deneb, Capella) but many have alien sounding names and barring making up something from scratch could be good for both Earth based or alien ship names. Here are just a few: Adhara, Achernar, Mimosa, Sargas, Nunki. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadmaster Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 Probably nothing originl at this point (already many good suggestions) but what I typically use in MOO2 is Exploration / scout ships - explorers / explorers ships: Columbus, Beagle, Kon tiki, Sir Francis Drake etc Destroyers - Famous military figures / warriors: Patton, MacArthur, Rommel, Beowulf Cruisers - Cities: San Francisco, Kiev, London Battlecruisers - States / national leaders: California, Nevada, Quebec, George Washington, Lenin Battleships - Countries: United States, Scotland, China Dreadnaughts - Planets / Stars / Mythic gods (depending on how many I build): Earth, Mars, Apollo, Athena, Thor, Sol, Betelguise Superdreadnaughts? (the deathstar looking things) - Galaxies: Andromida, Alpha Centari Other popular names are action words Invincible, Titanic, Endeaver or Cultural names Apache Warrior, Viking, Zulu, Knight Often ship names will identify the type and class (battleships named after states, class grouped by region California Class (California, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona), New York Class (New York, Pensylvania, New Jersey) etc Typically I'll split the classes into specific themes of the above, for example 3 classes of Batlecruisers (American Presidents) George washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, (States) California, Oregon, New Jersey (European Leaders) DeGaul, Churchill, Hindenberg Or armed scouts vs science vessels Darwin, Powell, Lewis & Clark vs Coronado, Drake etc This way at a glance I know which class of Battlecruiser I am looking at and its capability. If my first battle cruisers are the American Presidents and my most recent is Communist leaders I know which of my ships are the most modern and capable, similar groupings can identify armament as well missle cruisers will have their own theme to identify them as differant from phaser armed ships. There are endless ways of naming ships the main thing to me to make them "realistic" is to use some kind of system and stick to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgotghrrl Posted February 14, 2004 Report Share Posted February 14, 2004 I did a space opera game once where we had 7 "Classes" of ships each named after one of the continents. you know Africa class fighter, Asia class carrier Europe class cruiser etc etc and each ship in that class was named after a particular country or city on that particular continent. Flagships of each fleet were named after countries and the fleet ships were cities. love always xgoth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Major Tom Posted February 14, 2004 Report Share Posted February 14, 2004 Alternatively, you could name the high-firepower battlecruiser type ships after volcanoes (St. Helens, Rainier, Mauna Loa and Olympus Mons, just to name a few), and the battle- ship/dreadnought type ships after swords of ancient legend/ myth (Excalibur was already mentioned in another post, but there are other sword names that could be used -- Ar'ondight, Balisarda, Colada, Durandal, Flamberge, Nagelring, Philippan and Sauvagine, for example). Major Tom The Poster formerly known as Space Cadet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Owl Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 A landscaper, I'm fond of the Latin names for plants. Not so much for Earth stuff, but good for alien planets and their warships. "Captain, the Tajates warships just uncloaked! They've formed an alliance with the Echinops and are going to massacre Primula!" Nobody has to know I just said the marigolds have teamed up with the thistles and are going after the primroses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolgroth Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 In the SciFi campaign I'm trying to kick off, I'm using an exploration/journey theme. Right now I have the Exodus and the Odessey. In the campaign, several combination sleeper/generation ships have been launched towards nearby class "G" stars. This is the backdrop of the campaign and only one ship is going to be detailed to any extent, but I need more names for "filler." Anybody have an Asian, South American, or African name that would fit the theme? I was tempted to use Trail of Tears, but I'm looking for a more hopeful sounding title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McCoy Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 Originally posted by BobGreenwade In addition to the above, the names of historical heads of state is another source of ship names -- Presidents and Prime Ministers from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Indonesia... Imagine a couple of Liberty-class dreadnaughts named the Karzai and the Musharraf. Past UN Secretary Generals. Nobel prize winners. Battle sites, Shilo, Gettysburg, Lexington, Normandy, Alamo; may want to skip over the USS Pearl Harbor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobGreenwade Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 Originally posted by nolgroth Anybody have an Asian, South American, or African name that would fit the theme? I was tempted to use Trail of Tears, but I'm looking for a more hopeful sounding title. Kate Monk's Onomastikon is one of the best sources for personal names around, on the Web or elsewhere. Some areas even include the meanings of the names; in other cases an inexpensive (or online) language dictionary can help. You could take some of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolgroth Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 Originally posted by BobGreenwade Kate Monk's Onomastikon is one of the best sources for personal names around, on the Web or elsewhere. Some areas even include the meanings of the names; in other cases an inexpensive (or online) language dictionary can help. You could take some of these. I was actually hoping for anything not Western culture related that corresponds to the "arduous journey with a worthy goal at the end" theme as stated in the other two names that I had come up with. Which reminds me to remind myself Odyssey not Odessey. Knew it looked funny at the time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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