Her Imperial Majesty's Space Navy

[Gimi]

First of all, sorry for my late reply. Unfortunately RL is busy, and limiting the amount of time I have to put into HIMSN and Oolite in general. This is not likely to change soon, but I'm trying to organise something like a design document for HIMSN. No idea if and when it will be completed.

Storm:
I have not yet looked much into logos, crests and emblems, but eventually I would probably want a whole series including, but not limited to:
The main emblem/coat of arms for the HIMSN
The HIMSN intelligence command.
The HIMSN logistics command.
The HIMSN Operations command.
I would also like to have something like RL Navy Command standards, pennants and squadron/fleet crests.
And to top this off, I would prefer to have all this relate to RL from a heraldic point of view. As a first, that would mean a closed "imperial" type of crown rather than an open one. So if anyone is willing to dig in and make something like this it would be much appreciated.
I don't mind it looking modern and stylised though, and if you look through some of KZ9999 and other posts in the Oolite Icon competition thread on this forum there are some good sets that could be used in a modified form maybe. But all this is probably a bit far into the detail at this stage.

As for your Asp, the design is very nice, and I'm very tempted to "commission" new ship models for HIMSN, but unless Griff and Smivs say no, I would suggest going with those two versions to prevent this thing growing to big too fast. I also want HIMSN to fit in with the two dominant ship sets (standard & Griffs). But I would not mind if you have a look at the station variants needed for the OXP.
Also, I'm not opposed to introducing other ships like the Gnat, but again, that is something for a later version and preferably through a mission of some kind.

[Cody]

... if you look through some of KZ9999 and other posts in the Oolite Icon competition thread

KZ's rank insignia are cool - I have one on my dashboard.

[Gimi]

KZ's rank insignia are cool - I have one on my dashboard.

Agree, but they contain the Elite avian, so would need to be modified to be used as Pennants (my initial thought).
I don't want to mix in the Elite or Oolite avian into HIMSN symbols.

[Cody]

<nods at the jefe> Replace the avian with whichever crest?
Any of these would be easily altered to suit, I'd think:

[Gimi]

<nods at the jefe> Replace the avian with whichever crest?
Any of these would be easily altered to suit, I'd think:

Would need to obtain permission from KZ9999.
I have vector versions of some of the insignia, so editing them should be fairly easy for someone with the right skills.

[Cody]

Would need to obtain permission from KZ9999.

Aye, and he ain't been around for three years or so - but his Box is still extant, with all his stuff.

[Storm]

Firstly, a smaller Perenties-class escort carrier besides a Komodo-class fleet carrier. The escort carrier is about 530m long, with a single prow-facing docking bay.

First of all, sorry for my late reply. Unfortunately RL is busy, and limiting the amount of time I have to put into HIMSN and Oolite in general. This is not likely to change soon, but I'm trying to organise something like a design document for HIMSN. No idea if and when it will be completed.

Storm:
I have not yet looked much into logos, crests and emblems, but eventually I would probably want a whole series including, but not limited to:
The main emblem/coat of arms for the HIMSN
The HIMSN intelligence command.
The HIMSN logistics command.
The HIMSN Operations command.
I would also like to have something like RL Navy Command standards, pennants and squadron/fleet crests.
And to top this off, I would prefer to have all this relate to RL from a heraldic point of view. As a first, that would mean a closed "imperial" type of crown rather than an open one. So if anyone is willing to dig in and make something like this it would be much appreciated.
I don't mind it looking modern and stylised though, and if you look through some of KZ9999 and other posts in the Oolite Icon competition thread on this forum there are some good sets that could be used in a modified form maybe. But all this is probably a bit far into the detail at this stage.

As for your Asp, the design is very nice, and I'm very tempted to "commission" new ship models for HIMSN, but unless Griff and Smivs say no, I would suggest going with those two versions to prevent this thing growing to big too fast. I also want HIMSN to fit in with the two dominant ship sets (standard & Griffs). But I would not mind if you have a look at the station variants needed for the OXP.
Also, I'm not opposed to introducing other ships like the Gnat, but again, that is something for a later version and preferably through a mission of some kind.

Flags, insignia etc. more along the lines of the british Royal Navy would be quite cool. Maybe for the heraldry, include a pair of Lave Tree Grubs, Rampant?

I've also now got my Gnat, Asp Mk II and Constrictor models all UV-mapped and ready for texturing, so they're available if wanted. My Sidewinder is almost there too, just the topside hull needs a little work.



I'll see what I can put together for some stations. What kind of roles will the stations need? I'm guessing a deep-space surveillance/monitoring station, research station, storage depot and repair and maintenance facility of some kind.

[Gimi]

Firstly, a smaller Perenties-class escort carrier besides a Komodo-class fleet carrier. The escort carrier is about 530m long, with a single prow-facing docking bay.

That is a very good design Storm. As for the role escort carrier, not sure yet. As you probably understand by now, I want to keep the number of ships and designs down to a bare minimum. There is an opening for a smaller type of carrier, but not sure where that one is going yet. Can I keep that design in reserve for now.

I'll see what I can put together for some stations. What kind of roles will the stations need? I'm guessing a deep-space surveillance/monitoring station, research station, storage depot and repair and maintenance facility of some kind.

For stations, I gave the following description for the main HQ a while back:

HIMSN HQ: (One off HQ complex)
• Fairly large and majestic, but a bit messy and asymmetrical. (Size of the Wild Ships station seems about right)
• Should show/indicate that the navy has expanded and bolted on parts as the war with the Thargoids has carried on.
• Dominant communications and sensor arrays not unlike Storms Tionisla Chronicle array for communicating with the fleet, research and self protection.
• Maybe a docking facility for larger ships (I don’t expect to see actual docking, but adding a battle damaged ship permanently docked in one of the bays could be cool.
• Research and development facility attached maybe.
• A close by depot and storage facility with shuttle traffic between the two would be nice.

In addition I think a HIMSN Command Outpost/regional HQ would be needed.

For later (version 2) I'm looking at a one off Naval Ship Yard that builds capital ships and an intelligence HQ. The latter would be introduced/revealed as a part of a mission in version 3 if we get there.

One idea that came up in the forum that I did jot down was a counter rotating core/docking port for one or more of the stations. (Eye Candy)

[Rese249er]

...As for the role escort carrier, not sure yet. As you probably understand by now, I want to keep the number of ships and designs down to a bare minimum....

Seems like a smaller carrier would be good for a smaller strike force or system defense, with the larger carriers playing a tactical reserve/heavy strike role.

EDIT: Stellar navy tactics, assuming some form of FTL comms, could have a reserve force in a nearby system to witchspace in if the current strike force is in trouble. This would have a variable chance of working due to the various issues such as nearest system, possible misjumps, and other vagaries of space travel.

[Gimi]

...As for the role escort carrier, not sure yet. As you probably understand by now, I want to keep the number of ships and designs down to a bare minimum....

Seems like a smaller carrier would be good for a smaller strike force or system defense, with the larger carriers playing a tactical reserve/heavy strike role.

Yes, and a smaller carrier is in the plans. It's the form, shape and role of this carrier that is yet to be decided. There are some ideas for missions that might have an impact on design choices. Need to get all this sorted.

The concept and design for this thing is nowhere near completed.
What I have (as described earlier on) is a fairly good idea for version one (Eye Candy only).
Storm is jumping ahead a bit faster than I can keep up. So while I really like and appreciate the work, I'm not sure where to go with it yet.

[Switeck]

EDIT: Stellar navy tactics, assuming some form of FTL comms, could have a reserve force in a nearby system to witchspace in if the current strike force is in trouble. This would have a variable chance of working due to the various issues such as nearest system, possible misjumps, and other vagaries of space travel.

The time taken by jumps is so great that if anyone needed help they'd be dead before help could arrive. Unless the Navy has a go-anywhere drive that takes 0 time, reserve forces waiting to jump in doesn't work well.

[Rese249er]

...The time taken by jumps is so great that if anyone needed help they'd be dead before help could arrive...

True. Perhaps jump-outs staggered by a few minutes would be a better tactic...
*is now considering Ooniverse warfare tactics very seriously*

[Gimi]

The time taken by jumps is so great that if anyone needed help they'd be dead before help could arrive. Unless the Navy has a go-anywhere drive that takes 0 time, reserve forces waiting to jump in doesn't work well.

From a military perspective, there is not much that makes sense in Oolite. Not that we should not try to make it as feasible as possible, but never at the cost of game play in my view. But I do agree, a reserve force would be of limited use in the Ooniverse. The only use I can think of is reinforcing systems close to the action and choke points, but the player would never see that happening. But I will not let such trivial matters come in the way of some good in-game eye candy though .

[Commander McLane]

But I do agree, a reserve force would be of limited use in the Ooniverse.

Well, there is an ubiquitous reserve force, and we're all part of it. It consists of every pilot who was ever issued a license, which greatly reduces the need for putting dedicated naval reserve forces everywhere.

[Gimi]

But I do agree, a reserve force would be of limited use in the Ooniverse.

Well, there is an ubiquitous reserve force, and we're all part of it. It consists of every pilot who was ever issued a license, which greatly reduces the need for putting dedicated naval reserve forces everywhere.

So true, but now you are getting into version 3 and potential missions.
Can one, in a practical way, script lots of NPC ships jumping in from near by systems to avert a pending invasion or incursion?