It's probably a safe bet that the next Trek series will be based on a ship. So my question to you is: What class of ship would you love to see our heroes onboard? Regardless of universe, era, and what not, what ship (either canon or non-canon) would you love to see the spotlight on for a new series? I have three that really spring to mind, for different reasons: Ambassador-Class. I love this ship (the one we actually saw on screen not the rejected design), with her solid look and classic lines, I prefer her to the Galaxy-Class. Archer-Class. The minute scout ship from the Vanguard series, the whole concept of which just intregues me. Sabre-Class. I love small ships and this is just such a different and interesting design.
My picks: Non-canon: Odyssey-class (early 25th-Century design) http://www.treknews.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/starship-enterprise-f.jpg (for a series set 50 years after VOY) Canon: Nova-class (upgraded) http://images-cdn.perfectworld.com/common/sto/uploads/sto_news_rhodeisland_190811.jpg (for a series set 15-20 years after Nemesis) Dreadnought-class http://www.startrek.com/uploads/assets/articles/QMx.png (for a post-Section 31 series, although I'd have it repurposed and given traditional Starfleet livery)
I agree. Lots of fan art has shown there's a lot of new and interesting design possibilities in the basic Federation starship.
I'd like to see a Luna-Class, a Delta Flyer-Class (or upgraded equivalent), the evolution of the Defiant-Class, and a new mid-size design. I like the old (TNG), smaller designs a lot. Instead of focusing on 1 big ship, I think it would be fun to split the main characters between a couple (or a few) mid-size and smaller ships that form a loosely structured squad; they team up for some missions and are relatively alone for others, but all are assigned the same sector so they are always somewhere in the neighborhood. I think this would allow for more complex plots, versatility in source material, and visually interesting space combat (not that I think combat should define the show).
As for small ships, Serenity (of Firefly fame) is an example. The ship was just big enough for the continuing characters plus a few guest stars.
I really like capital ships as a setting. It doesn't have to be 'the flag-ship of the Federation', but it should be grande. Mainly because I really like the 'naval explorer'-feeling, and think Starfleet should send their most representative ships out there to seek out new lifeforms and make first contact with new civilisations...(and most effectively protect the lives of their crews) I really like the design of the Souvereign-class (of Enterprise-E fame), although the new ship shouldn't be that flat. Also I like the idea of the ship having another smaller hero-ship. Like the Captain's Yacht, or a bigger version of the Delta Flyer. Something were the main ship goes on a diplomatic mission, while the smaller ship goes on a science exploration tour, and the people on the smaller ship having adventures on their own, until they return to the big mothership.
I like the saucer and engineering sections. I would like the hero ship to be somewhat smaller than what's come before, 450 to 500 feet and a crew of about 80, get away from the "mega-ship." And it wouldn't be a new construction with it's first crew, maybe a decade old with it's third or fourth captain. Have the ship possess some back history. Instead of having a large auxiliary craft in the flight deck, have it be like the Prometheus and a section (much larger than the Delta Flyer) of the saucer detaches.
It's Star Trek, the shield percentage will drop like like the stock market on Black Tuesday. Then an under powered, out of date ship will take it out.
Re: In response to T'Girl.... There is a Captain's Yaht that fits on to the saucer of the Galaxy class. I believe the Sovereign class has a similar arrangement.
I've liked this design since first seeing it on the Hidden Frontier fan series "The Helena Chronicles" as the 'hero' ship USS Helena. It also has a sensor pod similar in design to the later Nebula class ships, which you can't see here in this angle. Yes, the nacelle struts are tempting targets, but you can say that from the Constitution class onwards! As for a new series ship, Star Trek:Renegades might have an idea or too! Mark
And while you're concentrate on little target one, big target two is castrating your war ship. Oh well.
EDIT: Just so you don't have to read all the below: Kelvin Class and some older ships. For me, I have to think of the ships in the context of a story. So, here is the story. The federation helped to establish a number of colonies on planets in a vast backwater area of Federation Space (The " Back Frontier"). They wanted to secure and eventually develop the area it as an expansion of the Federation and a bufferzone. Unfortunately, tensions and conflict along other borders led to the massive area generally being ignored. Colonies fell in to disarray and despair. Marauders from multiple races (including some of the colonies) generally wiped out the space fairing trade capabilities. In the haste to establish the area, not all of the systems were properly explored and there are some "surprises". Lawlessness is rampant. To add to the problem, the Federation for many years has used the area to dump refugees. Starfleet doesn't seem to care - the area is not of immediate concern, but the Federation finally sees a problem - or at least some folks do. They direct Starfleet to secure the region. So, they dispatch 4 ships. Two old style Ptolemy ships set up as freighters. One very outdated but well maintained and modified Saladin class battle scout (with its own story), and a new Kelvin class ship called the USS Reluctant which Starfleet can spare because deep space missions are at a minimum. Problem is, the real reason they can spare it was that it was commissioned hastily to make room for more relevant ships in dock and they were already about to decommission it - so it may have a few "issues". The Crews? Rag Tags or ready to send to pasture. The Reluctant's captain? A man who by all rights should be on the lines - but liked to make reality clear to Starfleet a little too often - and is near broken. The mission? Re-establish order, diplomacy and trade, with an escort on the freighters. Silence the complaints and embarrassment for Starfleet (but he and the crews will do more than that - He will take possession of the situation and in helping everyone else, he will help himself). Finally, the area is not totally devoid of support. There is a K2 class space station that was towed out long ago. It's basically 2 K class stations glued together. It was once owned by Klingons (sold to them) then they sold it do a Hartford Mudd - an entrepreneur who made a (failed) resort of it, left it to his nephew, James Kahn, who is not an entrepreneur and thought it would be a sure bet moving to the "Back 40" where it would be a meeting place for all of the leaders of the colonies to discuss issues. Luckily for him, part of the mission to refurbish the station so that when the Federation visits it seems all is OK. They send a designer with the captain. Unlucky for him, there are no supplies sent, and he is tasked by the Captain of the Reluctant to make it seem like a high class place worthy - not of the Feds - because they will never visit (but at some point they do) - but of hosting high level meetings between colony leaders in a way that makes it seem like the authority/support of the Federation exists. And lastly, there is a TOS dreadnought docked at the station. It was a relic when it got towed out. In theory it functions, but in reality it was used as extra space for housing refugees before transporting them to colonies. Now it sits docked to the station and hasn't even been boarded in years. Lol....sorry - I know that is not what was expected. But that is my lame vision of the next series I would like to see - and the ships...With the Reluctant (Kelvin class) being the main one. EDIT - yes, now that I have more time, I will admit I accidentally posted to the wrong thread.