In a thread on the T5 Connie topic some time back, I mentioned that in my opinion, the easiest and fasted way to implement a T5 option for those who wanted a TOS look was to give a TOS skin to both the T2 Constituion and the Excelsior. While such as ship would not be canon, I posted an picture of an experiment I made, where I edited a demo and placed the texture from the TOS Connie on an Excelsior. I really liked the look of it, and thought that it could be thougth of as a homage to the TOS era, the way the Star Fleet engineers developed the NX Escort.

My initial attempt was just thrown together, and I was also using a sector that had yellow lighting, which made the ship look tan in color, but there were suggestions to try reskinning other ships, such as the Miranda and Prometheus. So, I went back to my demo editing, and created a bunch of examples of STO ships using the TOS texture. While I was at it, I decided to edit the Excelsior picture by hand, to show what could be accomplished if the devs came out with a new model to go with the texture. In short, I gave it hybrid nacelles, similar to the old TOS style, but with the "notch" cutout on top, and the blue lighting on the inside of the nacells. (But the pennant on the outside)

Here are my results. I want to add that this is NOT a T5 Connie thread, it is neither a request for these skins nor a suggestion that TOS style ships be added to the game. It is an example that I came up with and which I want to show to those who might be interested. This isn't really a suggestion for a C-Store purchase, either, but I'm putting it in this forum because I think it's probably still the best place for it.

23rd century Constitition class - This is of course the TOS Connie itself, for reference.

23rd century style Excelsior - As I mentioned above, this is an actual edit of a picture, as well as being a substiution of the TOS texture for the standard ship materials.

The Constitution Refit 23rd century style - With the old saucer and secondary hull, this could be the "Phase II" Enterprise. I kind of like how the pennants appeared on the nacelles, I fiddled the the demo to make them show up, but they were actually out of place so I had to relocate them.

23rd century style Miranda - I could have edited this to add the old style nacelles, but decided not to bother.

23rd century style Cheyenne - The Cheyenne with just the textures replaced.

23rd century style Cheyenne (full version) - I went ahead and edited this picture to substitute the original nacelles and saucer. The look I had in mind was something similar to the Stargazer, but with the TOS style. The Heavy Cruiser doesn't really have a true round saucer option, like the old Stargazer did.

23rd century style Luna - I did not want to try the Sovereign, as again, its saucer is not perfectly round. However, the Luna seemed to be a good choice in the Miranda/Nebula mold, so I tried it out. I keep being surprised by those brown patterns.

23rd century style Prometheus - Finally, this was suggested in the thread, and I tried it out. I was really surprised as just how good this looks, even with no substitutions of the nacelles or the like. The brown patterns are subtle, but nice, and I was very surprised to see the TOS Bussard Collector patterns showing up here. This isn't a image edit or anything, it really did come out like that. I added a couple of closeups of that Bussard Collector so you can see it. Also, the pennant turned out in a lucky spot, it wasn't actually on the model's surface, but I used some perspective tricks where I could and edited the image where I couldn't.

Anyway, as I said when I first posted this, I really like the brown patterns on these ships, but I have no idea where it is coming from. Perhaps the bronze sensor on the original model. All I know is that this seems to turn out looking neat through sheer luck alone. That, and the whiter surface of the original Enterprise may appeal to me more than the silver grey.

For changing the texture option, I say yes.

For changing the look to TOS style, I say no.


Either way, this should really be low on the priority list, in my opinion.

After every other era gets some love and they spruce up the game more.

Well, I for one like the idea. And the TOS Excelsior looks cool. :p

I'm a fan of TOS stuff, just kinda meh on including it on the high tier ships. Too much of a clash between visual styles.

I would fully support the idea of "Hull Packs", either via crafting or C-Store. One new texture that can benefit an entire faction's worth of ships. Maybe more.

Heheh, that's gotta be it. I don't know where else it could be coming from.

now take the intrepid and do it up with Motion-Picture style bits and pieces.

and a three nacelled dreadnought from both TOS and TMP

I honestly did this in the first place because I don't like the three nacelle designs, and I know Roddenberry made a point that the nacelles should come in pairs afterwards. But I can see the "Dreadnaught" design using the TOS technology evolving into a sort of "prototype" of the Excelsior. (Even though the Excelsior was a prototype of her own) Or at least, it could be called a 2409 "homage" using the modular system to create the "Dreadnaught that might have been".

The rest of them were just a lark, but I don't think I would mind just the white skin as an alternative. It doesn't have to be TOS technology, just a slightly different paint job.

Also, after the fact I realized that the perfect design for the TOS Cheyenne would be to give it the Miranda's roll bars top and bottom.