Should there be Sub-Colors for the main 3x Divisions within StarFleet?

[Qonundrum]

Before of after they agree on an official mascot?

Like this one:

Spoiler

I would also advocate for something a little more standard:

Spoiler

It also doubles as a greeting between senior officers:

Spoiler

And not even by senior officers, here's an architectural advisor on an away mission:

Spoiler

The greeting also doubles as a sonar emitter, too!

 

[Qonundrum]

I actually use to think the TNG medical crew wore green & the sciences wore blue. Turns out they just wore those costumes a lot more, & they faded lol

However, I actually do think medical professionals should have uniform differentiation, as they do in most uniformed institutions. You want to be able to distinguish the life savers in most situations. I don't want to have a medical emergency going on during an evacuation, & inadvertently assume some botanist or physicist is going to help me save a life

The special herbs all them botanists can procure can do wonders! Ask the Jefferson Airplane, their White Rabbit even made it into Shore Leave...

 

[Nyotarules]

There should be different colours for personnel in:-

Command
Tactical/Security
Medical
Sciences
Engineering
Operations

 

[Longinus]

No. More than three colours would look gaudy.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

I have mixed feelings on the issue of more than three uniform colours, personally I'd be fine with three colours, personnally gold for operations, blue for staff (including science, medical and JAG) and either red or white for senior and flag officers in the "Command" track (ie Unrestricted Line in USN/CG terms).

However, if there are only three colours, then alternatively I would like to see some other method of differentating different specialisms. For instance, there would be at least five different cadres within the "blue shirts" - space science (including Bridge Navigators), life sciences, medical, nursing, medical service and JAG - and there are at minimum three discrete communities there, who should be indicated somehow, I'd be fine with a different symbol within the badge rather than a different tunic colour though.

 

[Nyotarules]

No. More than three colours would look gaudy.

Medical crew should stand out, they had them in all white uniforms in STD and STID. 3 colours are too limiting.

 

[Longinus]

Medical crew should stand out, they had them in all white uniforms in STD and STID. 3 colours are too limiting.

I think white can work as it is really not a colour. Though I think the white uniforms should basically be medical scrubs, and outside the sickbay the medical personnel use normal blue.

Instead of more department colours I'd rather see more uniform variants for different purposes.

 

[Mojochi]

Instead of more department colours I'd rather see more uniform variants for different purposes.

Now you're talking.

That's how I think the engineering crew should be different, and have at times been shown as such, with work suits, maybe tool belts

What might be cool for security is a top that is similar in style, but a different material, that could maybe reflect a certain amount of deflection for energy weapons, kind of like a cop's body armor

 

[J.T.B.]

A lot of these innovations (more specific division colors, medical whites, engineering suits, security body armor) seem to point back to the STTMP wardrobe.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

I think white can work as it is really not a colour. Though I think the white uniforms should basically be medical scrubs, and outside the sickbay the medical personnel use normal blue.

That makes a certain amount of sense.

Instead of more department colours I'd rather see more uniform variants for different purposes.

I don't think that's really an either/or thing, however I agree that at least three different variants could be available as "standard" uniform - class B service uniform [shirt and pants, TOS/TNG standard], operational duty uniform [similar to ENT or DS9/VOY uniform], research uniform [equiv to modern scrubs, used for within sickbay and science labs], cold weather uniform, desert uniform...

Now you're talking.

That's how I think the engineering crew should be different, and have at times been shown as such, with work suits, maybe tool belts.

I think the DS9/VOY uniforms were a decent choice for this role, though I'd go for tool belts.

What might be cool for security is a top that is similar in style, but a different material, that could maybe reflect a certain amount of deflection for energy weapons, kind of like a cop's body armor

Honestly, for combat operations I'd prefer the actual body armour we've seen occassionally (TMP, TWOK-TUC, DSC)

 

[fireproof78]

Instead of more department colours I'd rather see more uniform variants for different purposes.

I like this idea. I personally prefer the department colors being incorporated to most, if not all, specialty uniforms, even if in a small way. When you wrote about white as a possible color for scrubs, my first thought was having a division turtleneck underneath. Yes, one would imagine that scrubs would only be worn by medical personnel, I like the distinction anyway.

Honestly, for combat operations I'd prefer the actual body armour we've seen occassionally (TMP, TWOK-TUC, DSC)

Yes, this. Even if I don't agree fully with the DSC uniform choices the body armor vest is one addition that I want to keep for a long time. Besides, not just security go in to dangerous situations. In fact, they usually don't. It's usually the captain, first officer and chief medical officer.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

Yes, this. Even if I don't agree fully with the DSC uniform choices the body armor vest is one addition that I want to keep for a long time. Besides, not just security go in to dangerous situations. In fact, they usually don't. It's usually the captain, first officer and chief medical officer.

Personally, I kinda like the entire field uniform, though I agree that the service uniform has some odd choices (I'd prefer subdued primary colors rather than metallic).

Similarly, the "security uniform" would be something that's worn by those crewman and officers by default but would still be available to other personnel as needed.

 

[fireproof78]

Personally, I kinda like the entire field uniform, though I agree that the service uniform has some odd choices (I'd prefer subdued primary colors rather than metallic).

Similarly, the "security uniform" would be something that's worn by those crewman and officers by default but would still be available to other personnel as needed.

I think a good combination would be appropriate. The field uniform in DSC is a nice addition, but you cannot see the division color on the DSC service uniform. Also agree about the metallic. '

I'm just trying to figure out the most practical way to have a security uniform that would offer protection but be relatively easy to put on and/or still identify other departments, if that makes sense.

 

[Longinus]

I like this idea. I personally prefer the department colors being incorporated to most, if not all, specialty uniforms, even if in a small way. When you wrote about white as a possible color for scrubs, my first thought was having a division turtleneck underneath. Yes, one would imagine that scrubs would only be worn by medical personnel, I like the distinction anyway.

Yes, definitely.

 

[fireproof78]

Yes, definitely.

It frightens me when we agree.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Yes, this. Even if I don't agree fully with the DSC uniform choices the body armor vest is one addition that I want to keep for a long time. Besides, not just security go in to dangerous situations. In fact, they usually don't. It's usually the captain, first officer and chief medical officer.

Similarly, the "security uniform" would be something that's worn by those crewman and officers by default but would still be available to other personnel as needed.

Similarly, the "security uniform" would be something that's worn by those crewman and officers by default but would still be available to other personnel as needed.

You know the modern tactical vest worn by military / police is something that you wear over your Uniform for extra protection and for carrying extra tactical gear. Since DSC had a decent looking one, we can just have a updated "Futuristic Tactical Vest" that is available to everyone, but everybody that serves in Security / Tactical / Soldier applications wears it by default since they are expected to be able to go into combat mode literally at a moments notice. Given that there has been numerous instances where a ship was invaded by foreign personnel through beaming on board some how and taking over. Having some staff being ready to fight 24/7 isn't a bad thing.

Preparedness is what saves lives.

Other StarFleet officials can have tactical vests ready in their quarters and with the press of a button, transport the vest / suit / gear onto their body via transporter technology.

They can do the same with Combat Suits like in Tokusatsu with Kamen Rider / Super Sentai / Metal Heroes.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Personally, I kinda like the entire field uniform, though I agree that the service uniform has some odd choices (I'd prefer subdued primary colors rather than metallic).

Metallic reflective colors seem like a bad idea when out in the field on an alien planet. All that reflective-ness is going to attract unnecessary attention by reflecting glints of light at a distance.

 

[TommyR01D]

TMP had six colours. (Blue was avoided due to bluescreen):
Command - White
Orange - Science
Green - Medical
Yellow - Helm/Communications
Red - Engineering
Grey - Security

Later movies:
Command - White
Blue/grey - Science/Communications
Green - Medical
Yellow - Helm/Engineering
Red - Cadet
Black - Security
Violet - Services
Dark blue - Federation Forces

As I mentioned two years ago, the TWOK department colour scheme wasn't followed that faithfully on screen, and you can frequently spot characters wearing the wrong uniform. Scotty, in particular, seems to swap back and forth between engineering yellow and command white for no apparent reason.

On a television series I could envision any more than three colours becoming a problem for the costuming department - even if the main cast could be assigned the right colour, it might be difficult to organise for the extras and guest stars.

Interestingly, Doctor Who went for a similar palette with the New Paradigm Daleks - the Supreme was white, the strategist was blue, the scientist was orange, the Eternal (never defined) was yellow and the drone was red. This contrasted with the more TNG-esque system of the Time War Daleks who had bronze for all the common drones and red for the commander.

The 2010 system wasn't used that often before it was quietly dropped and the old designs restored. I'm sure that was at least partly down to the practical issue of the props needing to be continually repainted for scenes where you needed more than one of the same division.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

As I've noted previously, I'm not against having only three divisions - though I'm not convinced that all sections are in the right place - however there are a number of more specialist positions that should easily distinguishable from "the crowd" (reactor/antimatter handling specialists, security, commanding officers, physicians to name a few) if only be different badges rather than different colours for greater uniformity.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I'm in the three division colors are enough crowd, but I agree with the idea that there perhaps should be different uniforms for medical, engineering, and security personnel befitting the work that they do.