Designing the USS Archimedes (Obena Class) - Ft. Lower Decks Production Team

[@gorgonzola86]

Dear Mike McMahan, if you happen to read the comments too: Please consider bringing the Ambassador Class back in a future season of Lower Decks. Lower Decks is the only way this legacy starship class could ever be brought back into the franchise.

[@seanoneill9606]

That would be good to see.

[@gorgonzola86]

@@seanoneill9606 I am hesitant if we should start a real campaign on it. First: Is it really our most urgent ship to wish for a comeback? At the moment I think yes. But maybe we should discuss that first. Second: I do not want to spam an online petition portal with just that. 🙂

[@Optimusx1]

I support this.

[@S1nwar]

Ambassador-prototype please!

[@seanoneill9606]

@@gorgonzola86 Not the most urgent. But amongst those we want to see.

[@Pantherblack]

McMahon has such an infectious energy, dude landed his dream job and it shows every time he speaks. Every series should be so luck to have that.

[@_WillCAD_]

I love this ship. Obena and Parliment are my favorite new designs from LDS (though I must admit I really enjoyed seeing the Luna class Titan come to life, she's not my favorite design but she looked beautiful in the LDS animation). I also love that Mike has both a Spock helmet and a life-size Shaxs standup behind him!

[@DUIChamp]

I think the designers kind of (not purposely) indirectly addressed a critique I've heard about new Trek in that it doesn't feel like a military organization. This is a critique usually aimed at Discovery and SNW. I like how he said Star Fleet is not a military org and things will be different in the 2360s-2380s. Good episode.

[@30SecondAstrology]

It's never been a military organization, ever. All weaponry is for defense while exploring.

[@martinsimek3963]

@@30SecondAstrology Except it is. Starfleet is a military organization of United Federation of planets. Sure it incorporates other goals (mainly exploration and science) but it is also a military and it has military structure. It has ranks and operates starships with weapons. It is evolved from the term of what we have nowadays, but it's a military. It is indeed quite blurry even from Gene Roddenberry and other authors. But in my opinion saying Starfleet is not a military is like saying Defiant is not a warship. Playing with words. We can call it whatever we want, but in terms of understanding the purpose, military is one of the words to describe the Starfleet as.

[@jasonwalker9471]

@@martinsimek3963 I'd say its military role is more like a coast guard than an expeditionary military force like the "real" military forces we have today. Yes the have weapons, yes they'll conduct patrols, etc, yes they've received some degree of combat training, but they obviously aren't a proper military force. From their ship designs to their command structure to their emphasis on peaceful exploration and co-existence... they're just not military. Naval police like the coast guard? Sure. That's one of their roles. Launching invasions and planetary assaults? They suck at it, and aren't set up with that in mind. But just like the coast guard, when the shit hits the fan and war is declared, everyone in Starfleet can be conscripted to an active military role.

[@lesigh1749]

@@jasonwalker9471 Nicholas Meyer said that when he was making TWOK. Its not quite the US Navy but its also not a civilian outfit like NASA, and is at least as military as the coast guard.

[@coltjohnson6781]

This is nice, and I love that you incorporate the team behind lower decks. I want to say that I appreciate and applaud both the fans and creators with the cooperation. It’s so refreshing, everyone is very passionate about Star Trek. Blessed

[@txrwauy]

Another great interview with a production team that actually make an enjoyable, fun Star Trek show. I like how they give the Starship crews agency in tweaking the paint schemes on their ships. A lot of military aircraft have nose-art in times of war and Astronauts get input into their mission patches - so this makes sense in universe.

[@taylort1064]

The whole team did a great job! You guys should be very proud of your work!

[@martinsimek3963]

Seriously ? A kitbash of Excelsior and Sovereign ? 5 minute work of 12 year old ST fan

[@hettbeans]

@@martinsimek3963 Seems like a lot of people like it.

[@martinsimek3963]

@@hettbeans Yes, but a lot of people would simply like "anything" ST related (or SW or any major franchise). Simply because they expect quality and are non-critical. Objectively - what is there to like ? I mean design wise. The ship is kind of nice. That is because it combines parts of two very well designed starships. But that does not imply "great job" of design...

[@danspawn85]

The painted design on the hull is a good idea, provided is a mural of the combined history of the peoples of the UFP. History through hull art.

[@Stronghand-yw1lk]

I don't care ,that's a newfangled Excelsior and I love it!

[@rafaelsays175]

Lower Decks is in good hands

[@seanoneill9606]

Indeed.

[@jfbrko290]

I have to come down off my high horse because I owe a sincere apology to Stuart and Sam. I said some pretty rough shit in my comment on the previous interview video because it seemed definitively like that was going to be the only video. I have never been happier to say that I was an idiot. I love that you guys brought up the Archimedes and wanted to talk about it with the folks from the Lower Decks team.

[@SGUDistantHope]

We have mentioned before that this is part of a multi creative team interview series. We have a batch of Trekyards themed interviews with the Lower Decks Team, Prodigy Team and Picard Team lined up! :)

[@jfbrko290]

@@SGUDistantHope if you have mentioned it, then all the more reason for me to apologize. I'm sure that I missed that mention.

[@-GeordieDan-]

Great going, guys! Wish the LDS guys worked on DIS/SNW etc.

[@ryvlaw]

If only the live-action creators would put half as much heart and thought into it.

[@josephflemming7370]

Great job team! I really appreciate all of the work, love and detail they put into the show! Also kudos Trekyards for the interview!

[@thribs]

I can’t wait until Eaglemoss make it. Oh wait…

[@FelineSublime]

As popular as the original ship was and how many were either lost or proved their age in the Dominion War, I could totally see Starfleet Command to commission an all new Excelsior after the conflict. This is this generation's Excelsior to the Sovereign class Enterprise.

[@UnlimitedFlyers]

Wow! So much inspiration to draw from this fun interview/conversation! Kudos to all involved!!!!

[@slighter]

Still so many open questions left… but at least now we know that Sonja Gomez decided on her own to put a TNG communicator on her primary ventral hull.

[@Sephiroth144]

Well, not so much "decided to", but she lost it during a hull walk and it was left out there for like three weeks... It was kind of an inside joke to paint it there once she gave up and replicated a new one. (Legend says the physical communicator is still down there, magnetized to the hull, waiting for someone pure of heart to find it.)

[@slighter]

@@Sephiroth144 I wonder how she managed to be allowed to use a TNG communicator when the rest of the fleet was already using the VOY-style ones... or maybe she wasn' t, and the people making the joke took some artistic licence. That would explain it nicely, I think.

[@Sephiroth144]

​@@slighter Most likely, different ships (or ship classes) have different uniforms. After all, her entire crew (and the Titan's, for that matter) was wearing the same late TNG-era uniform (and communicator), whereas the Cerritos (and the other shown California-Class ships) crews are all wearing early TNG-era uniforms- though the Cali-class combadges all lack the backing seen in TNG/DS9/VOY...

[@slighter]

@@Sephiroth144 I agree concerning uniforms, but concerning com badges we saw significant consistency throughout the franchise. Regardless of the uniform they always adhered to the standard communicator of the area. The Cerritos is an exception in that regard as to it and its crew having separate communicators. But even they are not usingthe old style combadges anymore.

[@Sephiroth144]

@@slighter EXCEPT, the Archi was using the new style Combadges, including Gomez- only the paint job on the hull was the old TNG style. The crew were wearing the TNG-movie style combadges (with the rectangle packing). (The Titan and the Security personnel who arrested Freeman also follow this uniform/combadge style). The California-Classes we've seen, (not just the Cerritos), have the combadges with no backing, just the Starfleet chevron. (The Admiral, (Mariner's dad), also has the California-Class style uniform and combadge.)

[@thomashill6347]

Thank all for sharing your time and thoughts Gentlemen.

[@Jayleon72]

Don't forget that what became the "Star Fleet" delta was originally the ship badge of the enterprise with other ships and stations having a different shaped badge. Every division has its division badge, even in the TNG age e.g. "Assimilate This" being the famous NX Defiant mission badge and NX 01 and NX 02 having their own as well. So each captain and division having a bit of their own preference in design isn't a stretch based on EVERYTHING the LD design team have been doing thus far, even if the TNG Delta on the bottom of a post VOY ship might well have been not fully thought about, because of the philosophy applied they wouldn't be worried looking at it as something on the radar to watch for, continuity wise. Kind of a cool way to give meaning to those who care about having realistic design progression that we love the franchise for and also perfectly reasonable justification for those who aren't as uptight with continuity as some of us ship guys can get. This is why Lower Decks gets a lot of love form all sides of the fandom design wise. And the fact they have been doing it working from home. Wow! Guys, just Wow!

[@lesigh1749]

Its pretty silly that every ship have different uniform designs though. but Lower decks isn't a serious show. I dont know about getting lots of love, Lower Decks is basically Rick and Morty in starfleet, and doesn't really capture Star Trek. honestly I dont know what they were smoking when they decided this was what Star Trek fans needed.

[@Jayleon72]

@@lesigh1749 Firstly Love the username. It's a phrase i use a lot, so thanks for that dopamine hit :). I totally appreciate your POV, as pretty much every Star trek services has had a Marmite affect of fans and i say this as a VOY and ENT fan. For me, while looking at Lower Decks as not capturing star trek is perfectly valid, I look at it as a valid thing because at nearly 50 my experience tells me that sometimes things are like on the Ent D with very professional, very highly motivated work environments where the people are like the crew on TNG and also there are other work areas where people do a great job but they are all a bit goofy or you know "human". While i like continuity I have become a bit more forgiving in my old age and Im actually finding it easy to accept LD as canon and proper Star Trek. Maybe its landing for me as I was very disappointed with the new films and the first season and a half of DISCO and the majority of the new ship designs post Dominion war. Still, by listening to others I have been able to understand why VOY and ENT are rightfully considered missed opportunities, though I do still adore them both. So thank you for replying as its important to understand why the show doesn't land for someone and as i said you're not wrong for feeling that way. Interestingly what's your view on view screens also being windows? for me that's a hard no and something Im working on trying to understand as i just dont get it. I mean I know its for dramatic affect but I think its utterly ridiculous

[@thomashill6347]

Thanks for sharing the interview with us TREKYARDS

[@philly83]

Great group working on a great show

[@kennethwilson7579]

How do the hangar bay doors on a excelsior class star ship work . They look as if they are not able to function as do the doors on the Enterprise .

[@randybentley2633]

The crew personalization option reminds me of the FASA Chandley class USS Blackheart

[@Vintech64]

I love that you guys are getting important guests.

[@MrSheckstr]

So Starfleet may not be the “military “ but they are clearly an amalgamation of several branches of “uniformed services” including but not limited to : the merchant marines, the NOAA, the surgeon generals office, the coast guard, the various uniform corps of engineers , NASA, etc. Many whoms departments rely heavily upon military support in peacetime, AND during times of crisis and warfare are directly or indirectly absorbed into the department of defense for the duration. I personally equate Starfleet to the British Royal Navy during the ages of discovery…. Ready for times of war, and in times of peace obligated to maintain a national presence , as well as provide logistical support and protection to all sorts of missions scientific and diplomatic

[@ofmanynicknames]

2:02 I think he's saying "tighten it up" but I am definitely (mis?)hearing "Titan it up". Not sure if that was an intentional joke or just a coincidental homophone.

[@CaptApril123]

omg! I just noticed the 'Spock' helmet

[@dotmatrix7383]

Sad we'll never get this as an Eaglemoss model now :(

[@1garysan]

Awesome!!!! Great to see this! 🙂 Massive credit to the team doing Lower Decks!!

[@sw-gs]

So this ship entire existence to introduct Star Trek Online captain choice of designs.

[@stevenewman1393]

🖖😎👍Very cool and very nicely well done indeed guys, And very well informatively executed and explained in every detail for sure, And it's a very beautiful starship indeed👌...

[@seanoneill9606]

Cool interview.

[@rrrhh6168]

Great interview, sadly too short 🥲

[@chrisgwilliam9893]

👍🏻

[@sidewire8777]

Bruh I thought that ring was my phone I wonder who it was

[@thomashill6347]

Hi all I just missed you all ☹😢But I am looking to hear your thought gentlemen.

[@ZeroB4NG]

These guys should be making the live action shows, not comedy cartoons.

[@nickr0785]

Bros, it's an Excelsior II class variant I don't care what you call it.

[@HappiestGnome]

"We hear from our fans that it's just a cartoon, just animated" tees up praise for the creatives' ... consistency w canon. Ouch. Watch everybody's faces drop. Most of your audience stopped giving a shit about the cartoon format a while ago, and while it's titillating, consistency with canon would not have saved the show if the characters and the stories weren't solid. Strange praise indeed. Billups: Damnit. We don't have much time. Rerouting the vent system would take a whole team. Rutherford: If we bypass the indicontrols and suppress the sativents, it should function as a... Both: Rudimentary plasma filter!

[@terrywest111]

It is my favorite new ship introduced in all the new productions. Well done guys. But when it comes to breaking the whole uniformity thing for the ships... that's a big no no. Don't do that, because that sort of violates what's been seen on screen. You start to lose seriousness. (Granted, this is a cartoon and a comedic one at that, but you need to accurately depict the franchise which for the most part Lower Decks does) And again, no matter what Picard said Starfleet IS the military for the Federation. There has to be a bit of discipline and uniformity set into Starfleet otherwise it cannot hope to contend with the militaristic threats out there like the Dominion, the Romulans, the Klingons, etc.

[@Sephiroth144]

Plus, the minor details of WHO fought in the Cardassian Border Wars, the Klingon Wars, the Dominion War...

[@TheCNYMike]

I thought it was Excelsior class. 🙄

[@Sephiroth144]

Mike, Mike, Mike, luv you're work, man, but come off the "Starfleet isn't a military"; seriously, remind me, who fought the Klingons, the Borg, the Dominion...? Was it the Tellarite Merchant Marine? The Vulcan Science Academy...? Starfleet isn't "just" a war fighting force, but it absolutely IS a military. (Crikey, militaries nowadays aren't "just" war fighters- the Army has cooks, engineers, researchers, doctors, accountants, etc- and back in the day, explorers as well (Lewis and Clark (i.e., Captain Lewis and 2LT Clark) come to mind))

[@spikedpsycho2383]

Copy excelsior, give sovereign nacelles.... rename digital kitbashing

[@JamesFuentes526]

I really, really, really don't agree with their justification for their style choices.