For two decades of Trek sim writing, these awards have persisted as some of the most commonly used. Originally developed for use in Obsidian Fleet, individual honors often transferred with sims and players as they changed fleets or operated independently, causing this system to be unofficially adapted for or interspersed with other Role Play award systems.
Here provided are the original textured ribbon image, a flat version, and a slim (slightly raised) version. Original ribbons were displayed 140x50px. Here they are displayed 120x40px These were later “remastered” as flat images. The slim version is shown at 100x25px and were made for tighter image stacking on a ‘salad bar’ presentation.
As you scroll further, you will also find additional retired awards, time served awards, and annual awards. Not all of these awards have multiple image options available or detailed descriptions. A few of the awards have non-standardized designs and updates to fit the original style-set better may be amended to this archive for design and display consistency sake, and to accommodate potential adoption as active awards (marked with an *).
At the very end of this page are included the oldest original ribbons attributed to user ‘crummfly’, and these have minimal if any surviving descriptions, but it is obvious these were the basis that formed the redesign and issue of the subsequent awards. An initial revision was attempted to apply a ribbon texture, so where possible both are supplied.
These awards may be used as is, or altered and customized as any GM sees fit; they are here made available to any game in any fleet or to games operating independently. They are presented here roughly as they have been preserved over the years (minor edits favor simplicity in descriptions, but meaning is retained) in case anyone wishes to match them to awards earned in the past, or to employ in part or in whole. Even if these are not directly adapted, they may serve to inspire any innovative game master to develop unique awards with which to encourage players.
No attribution is required, however these were originally developed in Obsidian Fleet before the Fleet retired the distribution of these awards at the fleet level, making them optional for GMs to adapt. If employed in part or in whole, hyperlinked thanks to obsidianfleet.net and/or to rpgquartermaster.net would be fitting and appreciated where possible.
Classic Ribbons: Essential Set
Captain’s Merit
Awarded to the crew member of whom the Captain finds deserving of recognition.
Crew’s Choice Award
Elected (via vote or other selection process) by members of the sim.
Good Conduct Medal
For exceptional performance of one’s duties.
This medal denotes a committed and dependable individual both on and off duty.
Recruitment Award
This award is to recognize those who have successfully recruited a new player who remains on the sim for a minimum period of 3 months.
Library of Excellence
Awarded for writing style that is clear, precise, and easy to follow.
Professional Merit
Awarded to the writer demonstrating considerable talent in characterization and roleplay, and generally being a joy to interact with.
Creativity Award
The Creativity Award is presented to those who come up with an outstanding idea during a mission, or to writing that is surprising or inspiring.
Humor Award (Deforest Kelly Award)
This award is meant to help us all remember that a bit of light-heartedness goes a long way; even in the face of danger.
Non-Player Character Award
Our settings are populated by countless other people who are important to our featured characters. This award marks the achievement of development engaging, detailed NPCs and adding realism and dimension to the sim.
Outstanding Volunteer Award
For the player who makes every effort to find significant ways to lend a hand to the sim’s command staff.
Meritorious Newcomer Award
This award will be given to the newcomer who makes themselves known and puts in the most effort to make their character a valuable addition.
Most Improved Player
This award will be given to the player that shows the most improvement from the previous month.
Purple Heart
Awarded to personnel who are injured in the line of duty.
Ribbon of Compassion
The awardee must have truly gone out of their way to help out a fellow crewman.
Diversity Ribbon (Whoopi Goldberg Award)
In the interest of diversity, this award is granted to individuals who have done an exemplary job writing and developing their non-human characters. The award may also be given in recognition of other well written diversity factors.
Service Accommodation
Awarded to the crew member who performs his/her character’s job and advances above and beyond the job description they were “hired” to follow.
Member of Merit
Awarded to the crew member that shows considerable talent in working with other crewmembers to create a winning plot line worthy of the vessel’s reputation.
Medal of Honor
This medal is awarded for the showing of bravery and valor in the heat of combat.
Medal of Exploration (Zefram Cochrane Award)
For those who excel at writing unique and well-thought out styles and posts during a mission. This could be anything from a new and strange planet or moon, an abnormal nebula or subspace distortion, ancient ruins of a civilization long past, or anything else of this nature.
Ribbon of Commitment
Given to a person who has truly put forth an undisputed amount of extra effort. This refers primarily to out of character circumstances. Recruiting, pulling the crew together, posting, helping to fill in the “gaps”, and helping maintain their ship’s website are just a few of the things that could count toward this award.
Silver Star
The crew member that demonstrates supreme postings, posts often, and plays his/her character “to the hilt” will receive this award. Arguably considered one of the highest honors a crew member can receive.
Bronze Star (amendment)
A player who demonstrates excellence in posting and playing his/her character “to the hilt” will receive this award.
Classic Ribbons: Time Served
Classic Ribbons: Fleet and Unit Awards
Some of these programs continued, while the images were discontinued. Others were retired altogether.
(* Other Unit Awards, Gold, Silver, Bronze, to be added)
Classic Ribbons: Extended
These ribbons existed as far back as 2005 or even earlier, and were discontinued over time but many remained in use on individual sims. Additional versions of the images may or may not be supplied here.
Air Medal
For proficiency in the flight operation of various craft piloted during any mission.
Marksmanship
Proficiency with firearms is a valued skill and this ribbon is to recognize those individuals who prove exceptional in their use.
Flying Cross
Presented for exhibiting outstanding flying abilities, usually under duress or other challenging circumstances.
Geneva Peace Ribbon
This ribbon is presented to individuals who were responsible for attaining a peaceful resolution between two conflicting parties.
Rose Award
Awarded for well written themes of love and/or romance.
Friendship Ribbon
For the development of a meaningful character friendship.
Antagonist Award
This award denotes a players exceptionally well crafted villain contributed to a sim’s plotline convincingly over a series of posts.
POW Ribbon of Sacrifice
Given to Starfleet officers who are captured by enemy forces for any length of time.
Humanitarian Cross
In recognition of efforts to relieve suffering of any person(s) within or outside of federation borders.
Training Badge
For completing and passing a course of study.
Plot Development Citation
For developing the current plot line and making it original and unexpected yet not unbelievable.
Heart of the Tiger
Awarded to the crew member that writes supreme battle posts, making their posts enjoyable and exciting to read in the heat of battle.
Exemplary Courage Medal
Officers who voluntarily put themselves in grave danger by sacrificing themselves above and beyond the normal call of duty qualify for this medal.
Kublai Khan Award
This award is presented to an individual who is a key part of developing new tactical combat maneuvers while in hand-to-hand combat.
Tactical Superiority Award
Presented for the development of innovative defensive or offensive tactics and/or combat maneuvers while in ship-to-ship combat.
Technical Medal
Awarded to the crewmember that follows the technical standards of the Star Trek universe, incorporating them into their posts convincingly, or otherwise generally good at dazzling with convincing treknobabble.
Engineering Ingenuity Award (Montgomery Scott Award)
This is given to those who develop useful new technologies, Engineering-oriented upgrades, and techniques.
Excellence in Medicine (Pattterson Award)
Issued for Medical Excellence, this can be awarded for curing a disease or medical condition, or for finding a new disease or ailment.
Intelligence Prowess Award
This award is given for superior action in the area of intelligence. This could be from uncovering a spy, obtaining pertinent information, counteracting a terrorist, or anticipating a plot against the Federation.
Unsung Hero Award*
For recognition of support actions in character. While heroism is often recognized, the silent and ever ready support crew can be overlooked. Ever reliable, their support makes the real difference when the heat is on.
Community Builder Citation*
This Crewmember is always going out of his or her way to help the crew connect with one another and knit the sim much closer together. Awarded to anyone who makes a constant indisputable effort to be welcoming to new players and encouraging to longstanding members.
Scheherezade Award*
Named after the mythical heroine of the Arabian Nights, the Scheherezade awards intricate story-crafting. This goes beyond simple matters of spelling, grammar, and legibility; rather, it is for the obvious effort put into posts to make them enjoyable to read for all members of a platform and not just as enjoyment for the writers who created them – for telling a tale within a tale woven into the greater plot of the sim.
Classic Ribbons: Departmental Service Badges
Liberty has been taken here to divide the historically awkward “support services” badge so as to provide individual service badges for Fighter, Intel, and Diplomatic departments.
Classic Ribbons: Tour of Duty
