Flags, Ensigns, Banners

[Sir Darric Vandhelm]

Why pirate?

Because pirates could choose in RL. Naval officers or merchants couldn't. It make sense to me also that custom flags should be limited to the pirate.

[Grim DeGrim]

I do believe that Admirals had their own banners. I remember reading that Nelson had his own.

And if you consider, the RN had "Blue" & "White" squadrons. They had flags for that. When you step back and ask the fundamental question: what is a player society? It is a Squadron of the National fleet... And they can have their own custom flag, the same as any other historical Navy (well, RN in this case).

Edited March 27, 2015 by Grim DeGrim

[Sir Darric Vandhelm]

Grim,  yes admirals had a personal flags and would raise there flag on the ship they choose to command.  These officers were 'flag officers', hence the term 'Flagship'.  It was a kind of message to the fleet that here was the boss.  Victory had jervis's flag at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent and Nelsons flag at the Trafalger (amoung others).

 

I think it would be fun if in a group, you could tag an enemy and the system would send a message to the team to "attack the 1st rate" and this would then be signalled using flags.

[Henry d'Esterre Darby]

Because pirates could choose in RL. Naval officers or merchants couldn't. It make sense to me also that custom flags should be limited to the pirate.

 

At least with regards to US ships, a number of Captains had a custom flag flying (Don't Give Up the Ship comes to mind).  The British had three different colored Squadrons, and they would fly a flag commensurate with the Squadron, as did the Spanish I believe.  The National Flag and Ensign were fairly standard, but I think there's room to fly a Squadron flag, which, since this is a game, could be custom for a particular group in my personal opinion.

[Grim DeGrim]

There we go. That's the kind of historical reference I was looking for. As such, it is therefore perfectly reasonable that groups in this game could have flags / banners, etc, that represent thier respective Fleets.

[Zeekoning]

Hi there

I want sail under this historical polish privateer jack ensign:P

 

While similar to the flag shown above, I would love to see the bloedvlag in the game.  It was originally used by the Dutch against the Spanish in the eighty-years war and can be seen in painting of Dutch ships throughout the time period represented.  Also, even though it was used to fight Barbary pirates, it soon was also flown by pirates.

 

Bloedvlag:

[Brigand]

While similar to the flag shown above, I would love to see the bloedvlag in the game.  It was originally used by the Dutch against the Spanish in the eighty-years war and can be seen in painting of Dutch ships throughout the time period represented.  Also, even though it was used to fight Barbary pirates, it soon was also flown by pirates.

 

Bloedvlag:

 

It may be nice to note that 'bloedvlag' mean 'blood ensign'. In its earliest form it was a plain, blood red flag. It was hoisted to signal 'engage the enemy in full'.

 

~Brigand

[Zeekoning]

It may be nice to note that 'bloedvlag' mean 'blood ensign'. In its earliest form it was a plain, blood red flag. It was hoisted to signal 'engage the enemy in full'.

 

~Brigand

Thanks

[William the Drake]

I came across this picture, provided by the Queen Anne's Revenge - Blackbeard facebook page.

 

The image seems to be fairly accurate of the captains and their respected flags, though there are some discrepancies, Such as Mary Read and Anne Bonny having their own design, when they would should have the same as Jack Rackham's, since that's who they sailed under/with.

 

The map also does not accurately show where the pirates operated, as the flags are simply strewn across the coast at random.

 

I do not know how authentic this picture is as a source from the era. (and I am going to assume that it is not)

 

[MacVaultDweller]

Flags, Ensigns, Banners as ship identifiers are a very simple and practical tool that engages the player in community interaction. Used as communication though could be somewhat tedious. Still we are faced with the fact that signal flag in fleet engagement were in many instances key to command and control and the making or breaking in many a naval action example being Nelsons splitting of the French and Spanish fleet during the battle of Trafalgar. Having recently spied the post "Battle of Trafalgar Nelson's Tactics Fail!!!" http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/5143-battle-of-trafalgar-nelsons-tactics-fail/ gave me pause to ponder on a solution.

Perhaps implementing a system that makes it necessary to have a line of sight in order to receive  player transmitted chat messages would provide the key tactical aspect that visual communication played in Naval actions of the time period.

[scepo]

While a nice and historical idea it would make teamspeak necessary for any fleet operations and would therefore only frustrate new players.

[McCullogh]

I love the concept of limited ingame communication, to simulate the slowness of communication in the times.  I think people would log into TS anyway and communicate that way, as they do in PotBS, but thats a seperate issue.

 

Here is an idea for those of us that would prefer a more immersive experience and forgo the TS route. 

 

To simulate the use of flags as communication in battle, line of sight would be required, a captain would enter communications into a "text box" and those commands would appear at the top of the screen for all ships within the line of sight of that ship, or other ships that were able to relay signals.  It would read something like "Cmdr Hood of the HMS Valiant signalling all ships tack in succession."  

 

To simulate dispatches, I see a blockading force approaching one of our ports and dispatch a cutter to get word to friendly forces.  All ships my cutter passes receives a notice on the top of their screen, "Dispatches, enemy force attacking St. Johns"  When my cutter reaches admiralty headquarters, then NPC cutters could be dispatched to spread the word.  The cutters could be attacked by opposing nations to limit the word getting out.

[nudo-face]

KNM Kongelig Norske Marine

(Royal Norwegian Navy)

 

 

"Sildesalaten"

Union between Sweden and Norway

[Månis]

 

KNM Kongelig Norske Marine

(Royal Norwegian Navy)

 

 

"Sildesalaten"

Union between Sweden and Norway

 

This game takes part before the Union of Sweden and Norway

[nudo-face]

This game takes part before the Union of Sweden and Norway

So Norway will be under Denmark?

and norway will get our own flag?

[Månis]

Atm Norway is under Denmark and sails under danish flag.

[Siegfried]

I was reading about this topic and I think that english flag should be the red ensign for the caribbean and north atlantic area. Before 1864 they have the red ensign for merchant and red squadron. In 1864 was when they stablish the red for merchants and white for all Royal Navy.

 

White ensign was for home waters, France coast and mediterranean. The blue ensign was South atlantic and pacific.

 

This is the reason for al british colonies in pacific have blue flags and the caribbean and north american colonies (included United States but they add the white stripes) was the red ensign.

 

Am I correct that the game english flag should be this? 

Edited May 17, 2015 by Siegfried

[kaboki]

 

KNM Kongelig Norske Marine

(Royal Norwegian Navy)

 

 

"Sildesalaten"

Union between Sweden and Norway

 

 

 

I don't want to sail under the Sweedes, a little late for this game, Denmark- Norway fits more, and also especially considering United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway was a personal union wich ment in reality at that time Norway had already got it's own independence (1814) , we only shared Monark at the time:) I may add, the swedish king never got the popularity among Norwegians as the danish king:D, still stands today

 

As a proud Norwegian I hope I never see that flag in NA haha

Edited May 26, 2015 by kaboki

[Bart Smith]

Here are some i made - few old and few new ones:

 

If you got any idea about flag but dont know how to do it feel free to ask

[SirSwiggitySwooty]

It would be great if you could link flag textures up to the forums or steam groups so there would be able to have smaller fleets and smaller groups

[Grunf]

Not technically flags ensigns or banners, but last week i went to Boston and naturally i visited USS Constitution including the museum, so i noticed that she had multiple figureheads, here are the ones i saw in museum

 

1906 - Wartime figurehead

 

 

1906 - Peacetime figurehead

 

@admin - will those also be put in the game ?

[Charles Caldwell]

I thought I'd create a weathered 'correct' port flag for you.... I've added folds but any element can be removed.

 

Could I ask you to review the current 'Royal Navy Ensign port flag' and replace with this correct version.

 

Thank you.

 

 

[Prater]

I have a dds of this if Game Labs wants it

 

[Lord Hood]

Perhaps we should consider having a port admirals flag also. This way you could have the generic flag along with their distinction above or below.

[Cdr.ODon]

Royal Navy rank flags:

Lord High Admiral:                                                                  Navy Board:                                                

 

        

 

Customs and Excise flags:      https://flagspot.net/flags/gb~cust.html                              

 

Irish (Green) Ensign: 

 

 

 

 

 

Austrian Naval Ensigns:

 

(1749-1786)                                                     (1786-1915)                                                       Austrian Commodore and Senior Officer (18thC)

   

 

  Austrian Commodore and Senior Officer (1786-1915):            Cornish flag: