FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This is just a traditional FAQ, which in may pre-empt many common FAQ's. But if you wish you can send me any additional questions....
| GENERAL |
| Question: Give us some personal info... |
| A - Fairly sane and well adjusted male, that spends perhaps too much time in front of a computer screen obsessing about Star Trek, and sci-fi in general.... is that enough? |
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Question: How serious a Trek fan are you? |
| A - Oh, I'm very serious, believe me. I consider myself a 'die hard Trekker' with no holds barred, and I'm just as much a die hard Tolkienite! (being they that are fans of JRR Tolkien's writings - Lord of The Rings, The Silmarillion, The Hobbit...etc) |
| Question: Why did you create Trekmania? |
| A - I wanted my Star Trek voice, opinions and contribution to be heard and felt. It's only a very small contribution to Trek fandom, as there are so many sites out there, but it is one nonetheless, and it's mine. |
| Question: How old are you, where do you live, what's your occupation? |
| A - 30 (at time of writing - and never to be updated ;), and I live in Bristol, (2) in the UK. It's a nice city, of about half a million people and is situated on the west coast of England. I work as a computer engineer. |
| Question: What plans do you have for the site in the future? |
| A - Continual improvement. Whenever I have an idea to expand or develop things in certain areas, I get on and do it, simple as that. The site's evolved a lot since I began all this back in 1999, now it's 2003 and the site's still evolving. I like to create as many as the pictures, graphics and GIFs as I can, but to build a completely original site is very hard, as there is an accepted and known format for a website with established sections and criteria covered. As far as fan dedicated subjects go Star Trek is probably one of the most represented subjects on the web! So it's difficult, as there's an awful lot of sites like this out there. But I DO NOT compete, or wish to compete with anyone, or anyone else's site. Star Trek is a friendly genre, and we're all friends, and all contribute our voices in our own unique way. |
| Question: How many hits does Trekmania get per day/week? |
| A - It varies quite a bit. Around 1,500 visitors per week. |
| ABOUT THE SITE |
| Question: Can I advertise on your site? |
| A - If you have a high quality site, faithful to the Trek fandom community you may of course advertise your site at Trekmania, on the Links or Banners page. There's more info on that there. |
| Question: Heh, can we be affiliates/partners with your site? |
| A - I'm obviously very grateful for any such offer, but in many cases I have to humbly decline, unless there are special circumstances... How I prefer to view it, affiliation or partner sites are determined by the factor that I've got to know the webmaster really well and we've become firm friends, in chatrooms, forums, ICQ etc. That has been the case with my partners so far all of whom are my friends - and we're actively involved with each other's sites, sharing information, images, and ideas. I have to decline partnership offers if these grounds aren't met, otherwise there is no real reason or benefit for being partners... sorry about that, but perhaps one day. |
| Question: Where did you get all your starships stats? |
| A - It's a combination of research (see About) and speculation, along with corroboration with the likes of Bernd, and discussion and debate with my good friends at Flare. But I believe the figures give a fair and realistic idea... |
| Question: When will you update the movie section? |
| A- It's all a matter of time. I promise these will be done as and when I have the time. There's lots of research left to do on these, as well as many screencaps left outstanding. Also, this affects the Wavs section which is still lacking for the latter movies. |
| STARSHIPS IN 3D |
| Question: Can I use some of your CGI starship images on my website? |
| A-
You may reproduce these images elsewhere, but these following guidelines must
be adhered to:
You may use whatever images are currently available on the site, I cannot make custom images. Whatever images you use must not be altered or amended. Photoshop adjustments/blowups etc are fine, but the original text credit of 'The Red Admiral' must stay in place (if present), a text credit for the image inserted on the page, and a text link back to www.trekmania.net inserted. You must also use your own webspace for the hosting of the image. Hotlinking/bandwidth theft is strictly prohibited. I must also receive a URL of the site/location for where these images will be displayed... |
| Question: I have a starship design, will you build it for me in 3D? |
| A- Generally the answer has to be no. I am not a business, I do it only for myself, for fun. Besides, I just do not have the time. Building a starship mesh from scratch is a big undertaking, and I just wouldn't have the time to live my life if I was building everyone else's starship designs. |
| Question: Can I have some of your starship meshes...? |
| A- Sorry, no. None of my meshes are available for download. Although I consider my meshes reasonably good, I'm still constantly pushing for higher standards of accuracy and detail. I don't want to distribute any of my models because A), I know in many cases of other meshes of any particular canon ship that I believe are better than mine, and B), my models are my property and I don't see any need to simply give them away. If someone wants a model of a particular class of ship high quality meshes are available for download at sites like http://www.scifi-meshes.com/, http://www.3dgladiators.com/, and http://lwg3d.com/LWG/, and many other fan sites besides. The best way to get hold of starship meshes is to build your own, that's why I started out, and that's how I've learned. |
| Question: What about your ship-lists and stat tables, can I use those on my site? |
| A- I cannot allow the copying of any ship lists or stat. tables on the site, or the reproduction of any text, unless you are an already existing affiliate/ partner site and wish to exclusively 'quote' material stating its source came from Trekmania. In all truth the main point of creating your own Trek website is to input your own opinions and ideas and create your own material. |
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QUESTIONS ON STAR TREK Because, like any other serious, opinionated Trekker, I have definite ideas about the franchise and the Star Trek universe in general. I've input some of them here; about what I really think of it all, where it succeeds, where it falls down, and what could be improved, and why the whole thing's so special to me.
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| Question: What's your favourite episode? |
| A - Darmok (see 'Top 50 Episodes') But I believe there is a difference between 'favourite' episode, and 'best' episode. I believe Darmok to certainly among the best. But I think my 'favourite' is Trials and Tribble-ations. |
| Question: Who's your favourite Trek babe? |
| A - Hmm, so many to choose from... They just about all could qualify, but I think, above all, I have to choose Terry Farrell (Jadzia Dax). But I sure wouldn't mind being Michael Dorn in This Picture..! |
| Question: What's your favourite class of ship? |
| A - Constitution Class. I like many other classes, such as the Galaxy (a beauty) and when I first saw 'ST First Contact', and that Akira Class ship swooping down, I thought wow. I also like Defiant Class, it really kicks ass. My favourite ship by the way is the original Enterprise -NCC 1701 |
| Question: What's your favourite Trek series of all time? |
| A - Very tricky question, but I believe TNG wins it by a nose. |
| Question: What do you believe is the best and worst movie? |
| A - ST II: The Wrath of Khan, and ST First Contact are the best, but I loved ST IV: The Voyage Home as well. In fact, as many know, the even numbered movies are the best. No doubt which the worst is, ST V. And Roddenberry de-canonised it. No wonder.... |
| Question: What's your favourite character from each series? |
| A - Spock from TOS, Picard followed by Data from TNG, Sisko from DS9, and The Doctor from VOY. Also I'd like to say Seven from Voyager as well. A very interesting character that comes with lots of possible story material. She's also an extreme babe as well, there's no denying that, -hey, can I be blamed for saying so?!... and that skin tight suit...wow, that's not for Borg efficiency is it! |
| Question: What's your most memorable Trek moment? |
| A - On screen, Sisko approaching Kirk and Spock on the Enterprise bridge at the end of Trials and Tribble-ations, and saying what an honour it had been to serve with them. Gives me goose bumps every time. Off screen, and personally for me, the excitement of getting the tape of 'The Best of Both Worlds' from the US in 1990. Though I had to wait the whole of that summer before getting the part 2 conclusion! |
| Question: What's your favourite Trek enemy? |
| A - Well out of the key enemies we've had over the years, like the Klingons, Romulans, Cardassians, Borg, Dominion etc, I suppose right now the Romulans have the upper hand as far as an interesting adversary goes. I've always been interested in their race, and, in a way you love to hate them. The Klingons are established allies, and Trek has explored their culture to a great extent, and the Romulans are yet to receive a seriously deep examination. We've yet to see any kind of definitive showdown with them - so far. I'm looking forward to the next TNG movie as it shall heavily involve the Romulans. In many ways some of the best shows have involved them ie, The Defector, Unification, Face of The Enemy, In The Pale Moonlight etc etc. Also, I can't deny liking Q (who's more of a roguish villain than a military foe / opponent) |
| Question: Do I not like the Borg then? |
| A - Sure I do, but they used to be special, having an awe of terrifying mystery and power during TNG. Since then though they've been done so many times, that they've lost some of their fearful edge, and are just 'another' plain adversary. And I believe 'individualizing' the Borg via a Queen in 'First Contact' was a mistake. |
| Question: Would you join Starfleet if you had a space/time machine and went to the Trek universe in the 24th century? |
| A - Who wouldn't, I'd love to more than anything. But I think fear of such a hazardous job may make me hesitate. |
| Question: What would be your ideal crew to serve with? |
| A - I'd have Captain Picard, the XO would be Spock, the Dr. would be The Doctor (VOY), the Chief Engineer would either be Scotty or O'Brien, (to drink and play darts with), the special character (even though I already have the Doc and Spock), would be Data. I've got to have a women there, I think Dax (Jadzia) is great and so smart, I love her! so she's there as well, oh, and Seven too.. |
| Question: If you had power of the Star Trek franchise, what would you do with it? |
| A - Oh my, what indeed. I abstain... (in fact one thing I would do is de-canonize Captain Archer's new ship 'Enterprise', and totally redesign it!). |
| Question: Are you pro or con a gay character being introduced on Enterprise, or any other Trek incarnation? |
| A
- Ah, the gay debate. Well, in my view, there would be only one reason to introduce a gay character, and that would be the
of course relevant issue of pushing for gay rights etc. I'm not against
that at all, but (and this is my opinion only, and I hope I do not upset anyone in saying this) is that I would prefer Star Trek to be not too in-your-face as far as being a soap box. I prefer
Star Trek to present social issues in its stories in the form of subtle allegories
- this has always been a strength of the show, and gay allegories have been done well in TNG and DS9 (Outcast, Rejoined), and there's always room for this type of story, but I don't think a recurring gay character would be the popular answer. One fears the camp
clichés, for one, and precisely how interesting would it be for the majority when following the romantic adventures of this gay character? I am not homophobic, nor do I have any problem with
gay people, I just fear Star Trek is not the suitable place to explore these issues in any depth. Star Trek is already a genre specific show, and although the characters are possibly the most important element, it is not a soap opera, and indeed, the
male/female relationship issues have in the past fallen short in many
episodes, so I can't see how it would be any different in a gay environment. I see no problem in simply 'having' a gay character in the cast, whether recurring or semi-recurring, ie to simply show them as a regular member of the crew, but that would be in a way a cop-out, because if you're not going to do anything meaningful with a gay character, then why have a gay character in the first place...? This is a difficult issue, with plenty of room for further debate.... |
| Question: What would you have liked the new Trek series to be? |
| A -
I do have a few ideas about that actually. I was never really a fan of the
'Sulu on
the Excelsior' series idea. I'm afraid a series set in that era would be a
step back, a de-evolution of the franchise. I thought they could've done
either of two
things with the format. A) set it in the Trek present (2370's), or B) go way
back to the very beginning and have a 'birth of the Federation' series.
That would be a wonderful and fascinating idea. But with this new 'Enterprise'
series they've gone back further to before the Federation. There will no
doubt though are a large number a canon flaws and chronology violations. (For
the latest on Enterprise visit those who have their
very thumb on the pulse of all things Star Trek, Trek
Today)
As for other ideas, I do not believe a step forward into the future would've been a good idea either, it's been done once, from TOS to TNG eras, another leap would've been confusing and unnecessary. But one thing is clear, for any future Trek series I think they have to set the show on a starship, not that I didn't like DS9, that was different, but if they set it on a Starbase again it could never be as good as DS9, and the long queried Academy series would be a flop I'm sure. There's one true, best format for a Trek show: a starship. Period I do indeed hope they again revisit the Trek present (Voyager era) in episodic format, I would hate to have seen the last of that era for good. If they did, I think this new show would have to be bigger and grander than TNG, so a new, supreme starship class would have to be created, but I wouldn't like the idea of them wanting to tone it down from DS9, and make it less action orientated in favour of human drama, romance etc. Yes, it's a show about humanity, philosophy etc, but at its core is science fiction. Star Trek is about the final frontier; about the unknown; it's about mystery, awe, wonder and even fear. This is the direction any further new series should take. Let's not try to copy old ideas and formats too closely, but establish a new identity, but if they followed some of the same criteria and format ideology laid down by TNG, they can't go too far wrong. I also don't want to have to see a whole new group of aliens and enemies, as if they just 'appeared' out of the ether. This is what will be happening in 'Enterprise'. Yet none of these species will have been heard of in the 24th century, as if by that time they had disappeared from existence. The 'Suliban' for instance don't appear in my Trek Encyclopedia !.We've got a whole set of established alpha quadrant foes already. The Cardassians and Romulans as principle adversaries are perfectly adequate for the 24th century. If the creators want something new every now and again, there's plenty of lesser known races to explore, such as the First Federation, the Tholians, Gorn, Tzenkethi, Talarians, Sheliak, and so forth....... As far as 'Enterprise' is concerned there are plenty of races to look at that we know about. The Klingons for one (without flat foreheads), the Tholians perhaps, and Romulans too, but their faces can't be seen by any Earth ship crew because they weren't seen in until the mid 2260's in 'Balance of Terror'. Other benign races could easily include the Andorians (and we already have seen this race), Tellerites and Vulcans of course. Perhaps another idea is to scrap a serial format altogether and do an ambitious new 'Federation Anthology' series. Each week could be a new ship, starbase, set of characters etc. The scope for such a show would be enormous. It needn't be confined to one time frame either. For instance, one week we could see what happened to Tom Riker at the Cardassian labour camp, the next we could go back to the 22nd century and see an episode detailing the loss and take over of the USS Essex ('Power Play'). And the week after that, the Battle of Cheron, or Picard aboard the Stargazer, a young Kirk on the Republic, the first contact incident with the Cardassians, etc, etc. I don't believe there would be a Trek fan out there who wouldn't be excited by that kind of show. But to have to change and design sets, equipment and costumes etc every week would be a huge task, and the budget would be tremendous. But if it could be pulled off it would be truly wonderful. |
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