Why we’re sailing away from Flagship and embracing the dread.
And why we'll have a new name on the bow.
It’s official — Flagship is no more.
Earlier this month, the awesome folks at Tuesday Knight Games reached out to review our WIP Mothership hack and kindly explained to me their naming policy for third-party content related to Mothership. As someone had already warned me in private (thank you!), they ask that no third-party materials include the words "Mother" or "Ship" in the title to avoid confusion and ensure players don’t mistake independent creations for official releases.
Totally fair.
Mothership is a powerful, distinctive brand, and I fully respect their vision and the care they take to protect it. I’ve loved the game from the beginning and admire their clarity in keeping the publishing space healthy and respectful. And I love the amazing community of creators, artists, and designers they have empowered with their work.
So… it’s name-changing time.
And yes — even though Flagship was historically and thematically accurate, it was never carved in stone. For me, it was always a bit of a pun-meets-placeholder — a way to kick my brain into the right creative waters every time I sat to write or design something for the game. It was a shortcut for everything I wanted this project to explore: hierarchy, power, naval dread, ambition, and isolation on the high seas. It cut right through my mental fog (more about that in future personal posts).
That said, alongside my amazing partners at PlusOneExp, I began sailing my mental seas in search of new names. We brainstormed a few — some good, some not so good, some weirdly close to existing games, some spot on. But one name started rising to the surface.
Until we sealed the deal…
So, our beloved Mothership hack focused on Nautical Horror is now called…
Not the actual cover…BTW
The name draws inspiration from the word "Dreadnaught" — which later became "Dreadnought."
While most people associate dreadnoughts with massive, armored warships of the 20th century, the term actually dates back much earlier. The very first HMS Dreadnought was launched in 1533. After her, at least twelve vessels (including submarines!) bearing the same name sailed the seven seas across almost six centuries.
The 1906 HMS Dreadnought
But there's more to the name than hulls and cannons.
Dreadnought or Dreadnaught literally means "dread nought," i.e., "fear nothing." And it’s also an old term for someone fearless, daring, and bold — a perfect fit for the kind of characters this game celebrates: explorers, exiles, saltbacks, sea dogs, and all the lost souls who look into the watery abyss... and jump anyway.
So why the spelling twist? Why DreadNAUTS?
Here’s why:
To differentiate it from the historical naval vessels;
To emphasize the “-naut” suffix — from the Greek nautēs, meaning “sailor” — like cosmonauts, astronauts, taikonauts, aeronauts, or even the mythic Argonauts;
To honor the players: our Dreadnauts aren’t just the ships — they’re you, the characters who brave the Sea of Madness, seeking gold, glory, meaning, survival, or salvation in an unforgiving world of wind, water, and woes.
So, there you have it — we have a new name.
DREADNAUTS.
Strong.
Short.
Dripping with meaning.
Just like the old one.
Do I still catch myself saying Flagship by accident? Absolutely.
But give it time. Dreadnauts is already starting to sink in.
It feels bolder, sharper, and honestly — way more badass.
The Dude abides…
So, what is YOUR opinion?
Do you like the new name? Or dread it?
Do you have a better idea?
Don’t be shy — be bold, dread not!
Comment below or send me your thoughts at hexplorepublishing@gmail.com.
Until next time,
Keep your boat afloat.
— Luiz
Excellent name choice!
You're welcome.