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General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: Marcov on December 14, 2010, 05:28:32 am

Title: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Marcov on December 14, 2010, 05:28:32 am
I'm just tired of mentioning the word "fighters and bombers". Is there any word that can shortcut this?
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Hades on December 14, 2010, 05:40:05 am
strikecraft, duh
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Dilmah G on December 14, 2010, 06:35:00 am
What Hades said, also, you've got spacecraft, aircraft, military vehicles, carrier air wing, the squadron names, a whole bunch of stuff.
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: sigtau on December 14, 2010, 06:40:40 am
You could always have the name depend on the type of work the fighters and bombers are doing.  Assault craft would work in many cases, as an example.

Strikecraft, as Hades said, would also fit well, but to me sounds like something you'd use when you have bombers and a fighter escort making a run against some kind of capital ship.
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: MT on December 14, 2010, 08:03:32 am
Smallcraft.
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Angelus on December 14, 2010, 09:24:35 am
planes, strikecraft.

or



The small noisy metal things, that fly around and shoot occasionally on other noisy metal things that fly around and shoot occasionally on other noisy metal things.

or short:

T.S.N.M.T.T.F.A.A.S.O.O.O.N.M.T.T.F.A.A.S.O.O.O.N.M.T. 


:P
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Qent on December 14, 2010, 09:34:11 am
Quote from: Hecate tech entry
combat spacecraft
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Shivan Hunter on December 14, 2010, 11:26:42 am
In a universe I'm setting up that hopefully doesn't suck but probably does, two other species don't differentiate much between fighters and bombers and simply call anything piloted by a single person a "unit".

That probably doesn't fit in well with most Terran military jargon, though, and from a linguistic standpoint "unit" is probably the result of attempting to translate something that doesn't have a precise translation.

Strikecraft may also work well, depending on specialization. I wouldn't use it for recon craft or interceptors, though.
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: headdie on December 14, 2010, 12:09:45 pm
In a universe I'm setting up that hopefully doesn't suck but probably does, two other species don't differentiate much between fighters and bombers and simply call anything piloted by a single person a "unit".

That probably doesn't fit in well with most Terran military jargon, though, and from a linguistic standpoint "unit" is probably the result of attempting to translate something that doesn't have a precise translation.

Strikecraft may also work well, depending on specialization. I wouldn't use it for recon craft or interceptors, though.

what perspective is the player looking from, if it is these two species then probably light craft or perhaps single seater.

If the player is Terran and Terrans still make the distinction then aside from background information it is irrelevant.
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Mobius on December 14, 2010, 12:18:12 pm
"Combat spacecraft" is used in FreeSpace.
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Hades on December 14, 2010, 12:21:51 pm
Except the term is silly because it literally applies to almost every single ship in FreeSpace.

The Orion is built for combat and is a space craft, etc
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: headdie on December 14, 2010, 12:39:46 pm
Tactical craft (as opposed to capital ships being referred to Strategic craft)
Strike Craft http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strike_fighter
Attack Craft
Fighter craft (as a generic for both)
Recon Craft (if for example fighter type craft evolved from a specific role like recon they might still be referred to that role despite evolution and divergence of roles)
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Qent on December 14, 2010, 12:46:37 pm
Except the term is silly because it literally applies to almost every single ship in FreeSpace.

The Orion is built for combat and is a space craft, etc
True, if you interpret the terms literally; however, it's not called that in FreeSpace.
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Mobius on December 14, 2010, 03:29:44 pm
I did not know the Aquitaine was able to carry 150 Orions. :p
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Qent on December 14, 2010, 03:38:55 pm
So that's why Hecates are "more heavily armed." :P
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: TopAce on December 14, 2010, 04:08:40 pm
I've always treated fighter as a superordinate category. Ideally, it's clear from the context (the given wing's objectives) whether they are meant to be interception/space superiority or bombers. If not, then I propose one-seater.
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Scotty on December 14, 2010, 09:39:46 pm
Lt. Ash's Apollo had a co-pilot... :nervous:
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Marcov on December 14, 2010, 11:32:20 pm
I'm specifically referring to a term that includes both fighters and bombers.

You know, the small little ones that go pew pew at each other and blow up turrets of big ships, travel in wings, and are between 12 and 40 meters long.
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: IronBeer on December 14, 2010, 11:55:12 pm
"Strike craft". People will know what you're talking about, then use "Fighter" or "Bomber" if you need to be specific.

Example: "Capital ships of Destroyer class or larger almost always carry a contingent of strike craft, usually brought along to foil strike craft operations of opposing forces."

Just my 2cents, of course.
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: karajorma on December 15, 2010, 12:47:30 am
I've always used strike craft myself.
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Scotty on December 15, 2010, 01:40:09 am
I'm specifically referring to a term that includes both fighters and bombers.

You know, the small little ones that go pew pew at each other and blow up turrets of big ships, travel in wings, and are between 12 and 40 meters long.

My reply was directed at TopAce's recommendation of one-seater. :P
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: TopAce on December 15, 2010, 02:26:56 am
Lt. Ash's Apollo had a co-pilot... :nervous:

It's just one cutscene. There's a long thread about it in Gen FS, I guess.

Anyway, I'm aware that it's not a very precise term, but neither is strikecraft for that matter. What applies to combat spacecraft applies to strikecraft as well.

I've been thinking of a shortened/blended variant of "piloted spacefaring vehicle," though this definition would probably be valid for transports and support ships. Just brainstorming.
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Hades on December 15, 2010, 03:48:56 am
Lt. Ash's Apollo had a co-pilot... :nervous:
Actually it's interesting to note that with fighters having one pilot in-game, those pilots are usually hugely out of scale, for instance, the Hercules' pilot is 3 meters tall, which leads me to believe that fighters were meant to have two pilots, like in real life.
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: ssmit132 on December 15, 2010, 05:14:29 am
I didn't realise the Hercules' pilot was STILL 3 metres tall...

Maybe they're flown by Vasudans in disguise? :P
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Hades on December 15, 2010, 06:00:10 am
no, they got this guy to fly it

(http://www.sportsbastards.com/media/1/20070306-ShaqHam.png)
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: T-Man on December 15, 2010, 07:02:42 am
I've always used strike craft too. A lot of games and series i've known (such as Homeworld 2) use the term, and as fighters/bombers are usually launched to strike at targets or strike at other fighters/bombers, it fits the majority of cases. "Combat spacecraft" does work too though; in the situation you can assume listeners will know he means fighters/bombers (unless they're carrying self-assembly cruisers or something :lol:).
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Marcov on December 15, 2010, 06:11:38 pm
I've had an idea.
 
Spaceplanes.  :nod:
 
It's like aircraft carriers and navy planes of today. The capital ships from FreeSpace are called "spaceships", obviously 'cause they're "ships in space", and spaceplanes, 'cause they're "airplanes in space".
 
Although I do think the term sounds quite ridicolous.
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: General Battuta on December 15, 2010, 06:14:45 pm
No, spaceplane means something else and something very specific. It'd be a misuse here.
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Dragon on December 16, 2010, 02:39:06 pm
I think that strikecraft would be good, most people would understand what you're talking about when you'll use that word.
"Small craft" or "Combat spacecraft" would also work (and "combat spacecraft" seems to be canon).
Additionaly, FS fighters and bombers were stated to be atmospehric capable, so "spaceplane" wouldn't be a complete misuse (and the term could have evolved since today).
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Qent on December 17, 2010, 03:46:33 pm
FS fighters and bombers were stated to be atmospehric capable
Remind me where again?
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Dragon on December 17, 2010, 03:51:37 pm
Most likely in FS reference bible (correct me if I'm wrong).
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: Scotty on December 17, 2010, 05:08:44 pm
And the cutscene where Vasuda Prime gets glassed, IIRC.
Title: Re: A sensible word that could group fighters and bombers
Post by: MatthTheGeek on December 17, 2010, 05:24:18 pm
The ANI, not the cutscene.