Starship Smackdown!

[Niomo]

For the rest of you voting Akira...I daresay that you're not Star Trek fans. 

They're Trek Fans, but they probably liked Enterprise over TNG.

[Evshell]

So for those of you that are simply voting Akira out of spite because you know the Galaxy would win, I suggest re-evaluating your assumptions. 

For the rest of you voting Akira...I daresay that you're not Star Trek fans. 

Um... let's keep it civil Athos.

[Athos]

So for those of you that are simply voting Akira out of spite because you know the Galaxy would win, I suggest re-evaluating your assumptions. 

For the rest of you voting Akira...I daresay that you're not Star Trek fans. 

Um... let's keep it civil Athos.

Umm...it's called humor; the sarcastic kind Evshell.

[Athos]

For the rest of you voting Akira...I daresay that you're not Star Trek fans. 

*This user takes offense at the above statement*

"Excellent" (Mr. Burns voice)

[Evshell]

So for those of you that are simply voting Akira out of spite because you know the Galaxy would win, I suggest re-evaluating your assumptions. 

For the rest of you voting Akira...I daresay that you're not Star Trek fans. 

Um... let's keep it civil Athos.

Umm...it's called humor; the sarcastic kind Evshell.

I'm sorry... your tone of voice did not come through in... text... try a winky face next time

[Sorripto]

We all knew this was coming. The one battle that would tear down the walls of fiction and bring us to the breaking point as nerds. Truly this is a smackdown for the ages.

[Athos]

So...let me get this straight.  Y'all are voting for a ship that was never a "hero" ship, one that we have never seen the inside of, or official technical specs, and that only appeared in a few moments on-screen?  And you're voting for this ship over one of the most iconic ships in Star Trek; a show that re-launched Trek and is arguably more successful than TOS?  That set the stage for DS9 & Voy?  Yeah... we're really thinking this one through; quite disappointing.

[Kheren]

There are a lot of personal criterias that are involved in our voting. IMHO, if the voting is only based on one's prefered show and popularity, the whole game becomes meaningless to me. The end result will be scripted from the start; something like Galaxy 1, Defiant 2 Constitution 3 and thus the whole exercise pointless before it starts; as meaningless and pointless as voting solely on combat capabilities which will give the Borg Cube winner from the start up.

Pointless and meaningless... but IMHO. And this is ONLY MY OPINION and can be discarded by anyone who doesn't agree with me.

What is really interesting in this game is the various reasons people provide for choosing one ship over another; THAT leads to surprises, like here, discussions, information and experiences shared regarding Star Trek and, yes, even feelings and frustrations like Athos is expressing here, be it humourous, sarcastic, heartfelt or whatever. It helps us know better not only Star Trek but one another; what Gene Roddenberry called the Human Adventure.

Hence why this present game is so good (thanks Evshell!).

I agree with Sorripto; this particular smackdown is the best of all because it does challenge our preconceived notions and expectations. I am myself quite surprised at this current turnout and hanging on the edge of my seat to see the final result. Whether my vote wins or loses is irrelevant; the experience is fun!

And no, friend Athos, I'm not voting out of spite (spite about what?) and I don't think anyone here does. As I said before in previous posts, the Galaxy had to grow up on me. In the beginning, I thought it an ugly space mushroom, a disproportionated caricature of the venerable Connie with it's overlarge saucer, squat frog-mouthed secondary hull and stunted nacelles... and a bit ridiculous with what looked like windows on the ceilings. And they were trying too hard to sell it to us from the very first episode (Oh look! it can separate! Look! it can turn around like the Millenium Falcon! Look, it can go soooo fast! Look! it has soooo many weapons! Look! it is soooo huge!).

It took me a while but excellent photography and cinematography made me eventually appreciate it's lines and curves; excellent storytelling made me appreciate it's capabilities, design and purpose; but most of all, excellent acting and character developpement made it truly come alive and worthy to succede, even challenge, the venerable Connie that gave it birth.

But the Akira wowed me from the very first second I saw it, a feeling only the Ambassador class bested in my eyes (another ship we saw too briefly). As brief as it's presence was on screen, I was immediately impressed by it's style, it's concept, it's capabilities, even over those of the great new Sovereign; and because it was so brief, I was left hungry to see more... and disappointed that I never did. I wanted to know who was the captain of that ship, the officers serving with him (or her or it) the crew manning it; for a second or two, I even dreamed I WAS that captain, helping the legendary Jean-Luc Picard save Earth from the Borg.

In but a few seconds, that ship left an impression on me that the Galaxy managed to do only after a good number of hour-long TV episodes and solid caracter portrayal and quality storytelling.

Yes, this is all totally subjective and personal. But to me, that is the whole point of this game; to learn how each of us feel and think and enjoy Star Trek, not who can show the longest, most detailed specs of those imaginary vessels or the one with the longest film time or story exposure. Not to know the ships but to know and especially appreciate one another a bit more.

And yes, that includes you too, Athos. Now I think I know you just a little bit better, and I appreciate it... and you. If the Akira finally goes down, then because of that, it will go down in a blaze of glory.

[Athos]

Good post Kheren, and I agree.  We're also supposed to be posting in order to sway votes, according to the start of this thing.

What the Akira and Ambassador is for you, the Galaxy is for me.  It didn't take me hours to appreciate it; I instantly appreciated the design and enjoyed learning more about its capabilities over time.  As I posted before, I actually like the Akira; it was a new/bold/unique design and fit with the times of what Starfleet was dealing with (prepping for the Borg, the Klingon/Cardassian war, the Dominion War).  The Akira is designed for battle; a torpedo boat. 

But, for me, compared to the Galaxy, it doesn't compare.  In battle, the Galaxy was more formidable; it has more capabilities, more of a multi-mission role than simply battle/border patrol.

This has been said many times, it all comes down to personal preference. 

[Niomo]

Well Athos, looks like our attempts failed. The vote has swung away from the Galaxy to the Akira.