Worf began the series as a general relief officer. Honestly, Roddenberry did not want him on the show at all, but he got tired of people asking to see Klingons in the 24th century. Based on the Tasha Yar thread I did, I have grown interested (for comedic reasons) in such things as Chief Engineer Worf firing the warp core at any nearby alien vessel. So how would Worf fare and operate in any other position on the Enterprise-D besides Tactical?
Honestly I think Worf could do okay as a counselor, he'd be hard and he'd push you but if he respects you he'll listen to you and we'll do his best to help you.
The fans. Roddeneberry wanted none of the past in TNG. Militantly so. Which is why in "Naked Now", they talk about the original Enterprise like it's just some ship they don't know about, and why in the early series they talk about characters like Spock as if they have no idea who he is ("ambassador Sarek's son..."). While at the same time, McCoy had a cameo in the pilot.
Other than something like Ops or XO Worf would need to be written differently to have a different position. A Klingon engineer would be cool but then he would have to be less committed to his romantic notion of warrior culture and more interested in science and academics. And it might be a subject of ridicule to overcome when he meets other Klingons. He'd have more to prove in Sins of the Father.
I don't know about that. Worf took a lot of shit for being in Starfleet at all, despite the fact that he was a tactical officer. The Klingons have engineers and scientists too -- they couldn't operate starships without them, and wouldn't have reached space at all. I'm not sure what it looks like, but I think Klingon engineers and scientists find ways to express their warrior-ness.
I am picturing Engineer Worf declaring blood feud and eternal vengeance on the designer of the warp-core protection systems (ejection, backup cooling system, lack of a SCRAM/shutdown button). In fact that would make the entire arc with the designer of the warp core (Bhrams) a bit different. It would start off very confrontational "HOW CAN I PROTECT THOSE IN MY CHARGE IF THE TOOLS YOU GIVE ME FAIL TO PERFORM? HAVE YOU NO HONOR?!" and (hopefully) evolve into a mutual respect as they work to resolve the problem-of-the-week. I could see him being very demanding of those who serve under him, not sure how he'd handle the demands placed on "his" ship -- Honor and pride demands he pushes things to the absolute breaking point but it also demands that he does not place those in his charge at undue risk. It could be a very interesting dynamic to have a Klingon engineer in a TNG setting... I may have to ponder this further. On a more comedic note... "Paging Dr. Worf to the Maternity Ward... Doctor Worf to the Maternity Ward... " Ship's Psychologist.. It would be like the Geico commercial with the drill-instructor in the same role. Other than that I could see him fitting into any other position largely as written.
I get the feeling Worf would be annoyed being promoted up and out of security. He'd be jelly of the guy who got the gig as tactical chief. I don't see him lumbering around running engineering and he'd be chewin' the carpet in science. He might do the XO stuff mind you though.
There are Klingon engineers and scientists but they are ridiculed. The way they assigned Alexander to engineering suggests they see it as a dumping ground for the weak. In Suspicions the Klingon scientist was implied to be an outcast. Security, away team duties, and tactical all double as outlets for aggression and control. I don't see aggression being as adaptable a trait in the engineering team. An engineer solves problems in logical ways. Not that it would not be possible, just his Enterprise personality would have to change more to fit in with Klingons, which might be interesting in itself. He'd be the voice suggesting the technical solution when all the other Klingons want to charge.
I guess that's true. Doesn't make a lick of sense though, does it? I don't think a civilization could progress to interstellar space travel if the skills and knowledge needed to get them there was an object of ridicule in their warrior culture's code of respectability and honor.
Maybe there's a secret Klingon nerd culture who just hide their interests more than human nerds do, and get left alone as long as they keep delivering the requested engines and weapons.
Chief Medical Officer Worf could have been interesting: "Worf, how is he?" "He is alive... barely." << stabs subject with a Klingon Daggar >> "Now he is not. Stovokor is preferable to the disability he would have faced."