[Blue Lion]

Because it's 39, not 3. Why would a single wing have more spacecraft than an entire squadron?

IMO it's probably a designation given to mixed scout patrols...

Maybe that's how they assign numbers?

Imagine how many fighters/bombers are out at any given time in any given system. They can't all be Alpha/Beta/Gamma 1-4.

A lot of these designations are given to convoys (Iota, Mu, Omega).

I don't see a ship getting a designation Gamma 39 to be all that odd.

Is the description of the wing names ever clearly defined? Alpha, Beta, Gamma?

[Mobius]

TBH I never meant that comment to be taken srsly.

Then you shouldn't have posted in the first place.

Maybe that's how they assign numbers?

Imagine how many fighters/bombers are out at any given time in any given system. They can't all be Alpha/Beta/Gamma 1-4.

A lot of these designations are given to convoys (Iota, Mu, Omega).

I don't see a ship getting a designation Gamma 39 to be all that odd.

Is the description of the wing names ever clearly defined? Alpha, Beta, Gamma?

*facepalm*

Sorry, but you completely misunderstood the basics.

First of all, wing designations are used in FreeSpace just like in the real world, using the Name + Number formula.

Also, no one said that whenever the player launches he is supposed to be the only Alpha 1 in the system. That'd be silly.


The player's callsign should have been various throughout the campaign but probably decided to focus on a single callsign for FREDding and gameplay reasons - being Beta 1 in one mission, Alpha 1 in another, Gamma 1 in a third mission, Delta 1 in a fourth mission would have confused people. Despite this, that's how callsigns should have worked.

In other words, don't take gameplay reasons seriously when discussing facts based on the Universe.

[Blue Lion]

Sorry, but you completely misunderstood the basics.

First of all, wing designations are used in FreeSpace just like in the real world, using the Name + Number formula.

I must have missed the training mission where they explained that out. Which one is that?

Also, no one said that whenever the player launches he is supposed to be the only Alpha 1 in the system. That'd be silly.

There could be dozens of Alpha 1s in the same system and even in the same fight!

The player's callsign should have been various throughout the campaign but probably decided to focus on a single callsign for FREDding and gameplay reasons - being Beta 1 in one mission, Alpha 1 in another, Gamma 1 in a third mission, Delta 1 in a fourth mission would have confused people. Despite this, that's how callsigns should have worked.

Ok, got it. Ignore how the game is, pretend it is how you think it should be. 

In other words, don't take gameplay reasons seriously when discussing facts based on the Universe.

Isn't it true the only "fact" is he calls himself Gamma 3 9?

[Mura]

There's one rule that must never be forgotten and has been once and again be forgotten in this forum, and that is the RULE OF COOL.

It was there with the cutscenes, it was there on the supernova, it's always out there for sci fi.
Though, it's always fun to point out what seems to be true ingame and what it should be in real life, but don't let it get to you ;D

that is... in my opinion.

[Snail]

Then you shouldn't have posted in the first place.

Comments like this convince me you have some kind of god complex.

[Scotty]

It is used in designation for patrols, temporary unit groupings, and combat callsigns.  In this instance (guess) Gamma Three-Niner would be Gamma Wing, Wing 3 (for redundancy.  After all, Gamma is the third letter of the Greek alphabet), and Niner would be the ninth ship in the squadron.  Or it could possibly be an altered call sign for a large mission, where there is more than one squadron sortieing a Gamma wing, for example, the 53rd, 107th, and 232nd (Or whatever the Suicide Kings are) all sortieing Gamma.

[Snail]

It is used in designation for patrols, temporary unit groupings, and combat callsigns.  In this instance (guess) Gamma Three-Niner would be Gamma Wing, Wing 3 (for redundancy.  After all, Gamma is the third letter of the Greek alphabet), and Niner would be the ninth ship in the squadron.  Or it could possibly be an altered call sign for a large mission, where there is more than one squadron sortieing a Gamma wing, for example, the 53rd, 107th, and 232nd (Or whatever the Suicide Kings are) all sortieing Gamma.

I like this.

[Droid803]

Yeah. Much better explanation than just 'Gamma 39'.

[redsniper]

This thread is bad and you all should feel bad, but especially Mobius for being so incredibly asinine about this whole subject.

[Knight Templar]

Y'all are essentially arguing over how the flux capacitor works, ignoring the fact that it's there to be cool.

Highly amusing.

[Dilmah G]

It is used in designation for patrols, temporary unit groupings, and combat callsigns.  In this instance (guess) Gamma Three-Niner would be Gamma Wing, Wing 3 (for redundancy.  After all, Gamma is the third letter of the Greek alphabet), and Niner would be the ninth ship in the squadron.  Or it could possibly be an altered call sign for a large mission, where there is more than one squadron sortieing a Gamma wing, for example, the 53rd, 107th, and 232nd (Or whatever the Suicide Kings are) all sortieing Gamma.

That's what I was thinking as I read this topic. Most plausible IMO.

[Snail]

This thread is bad and you all should feel bad, but especially Mobius for being so incredibly asinine about this whole subject.

Terminal depression.

It is used in designation for patrols, temporary unit groupings, and combat callsigns.  In this instance (guess) Gamma Three-Niner would be Gamma Wing, Wing 3 (for redundancy.  After all, Gamma is the third letter of the Greek alphabet), and Niner would be the ninth ship in the squadron.  Or it could possibly be an altered call sign for a large mission, where there is more than one squadron sortieing a Gamma wing, for example, the 53rd, 107th, and 232nd (Or whatever the Suicide Kings are) all sortieing Gamma.

Case closed in my opinion.

Would anyone care to add it to the FS Trivia page on teh Wiki?

[Scotty]

Meh, it's non-canon.  It may be the best speculation we have, but it isn't.

[Dilmah G]

Meh, it's non-canon.  It may be the best speculation we have, but it isn't.

Well that's how the whole RL system works isn't it? Although it's speculation we have enough reason to believe it's at least 1/4 true.

[Blue Lion]

It's still just guesswork. It's never really seen anywhere else.

I don't think people will start adding in niners to their in game talk.

[Dilmah G]

It's still just guesswork. It's never really seen anywhere else.

I don't think people will start adding in niners to their in game talk.

Fair enough, but as far as non-canon explanations go this is probably the best we've had

[Blue Lion]

I think it's a pretty good explanation.

[redsniper]

It's so ridiculously trivial that it doesn't need an explanation. It's just a callsign meant to sound cool and military-like for the cutscenes. Frak.

[Scotty]

It's so ridiculously trivial that it doesn't need an explanation. It's just a callsign meant to sound cool and military-like for the cutscenes. Frak.

   I was having fun.

[Dilmah G]

It's so ridiculously trivial that it doesn't need an explanation. It's just a callsign meant to sound cool and military-like for the cutscenes. Frak.

That's probably true