Uniforms in the new series

[BigJake]

Aliens using melee weapons and wearing armor also furnished many of the show's cheesiest moments, if we're being real. I love me some Bat'leth as much as the next massive nerd, don't get me wrong, but there's no actual reason to be carrying it into real battles in the 24th century. Having Starfleet act that way too wouldn't improve things, surely.

 

[fireproof78]

I don't know if it would improve things or not. But, I would at least see it considered.

Also, same thing goes for more tactical style gear. And no, not vests or something SG-1 style, but I would like to see something a little bit more practical or a unique development of the technology available. Personal shields sound great, but we have not ever really seen them put in to place, have we?

Nor am I asking for full suits of armor, but something that offers a measure of personal protection against energy weapons. Again, personal shields? Well, how are they worn? Belt mounted? Backpack for heavy duty?

Just kicking out ideas, but I don't think it's that ridiculous to consider.

Edit to add: I recognize that they have been mentioned in passing, but apparently are either ineffective, or something else prohibits their use. And that's well and good, but why not explore it?

 

[Longinus]

The writers need to put the characters in danger. Giving them personal shields makes this harder. Thus no personal shields.
(Was such thing ever used in the shows? I remember Borgs having them, and Worf once jury rigging one on holodeck, but that's it.)

 

[BigJake]

I'm on board with personal shields. (They weren't used in the shows much, really, except that Holograms were somehow built out of force field technology. But they'd be a logical way to use that tech and to adjust to instant vaporizing weapons.) No reason they should totally eliminate danger any more than bullet proof vests do.

I guess one way to approach is that personal shields would all have different limits to their capacity to absorb damage, with a basic belt-mounted shield good for one or two phaser or disruptor shots (basically a counter-measure against fast assassination), a medium shield good for maybe a half-dozen shots, and a big back-pack sized generator for heavy combat.

 

[fireproof78]

The writers need to put the characters in danger. Giving them personal shields makes this harder. Thus no personal shields.
(Was such thing ever used in the shows? I remember Borgs having them, and Worf once jury rigging one on holodeck, but that's it.)

They were referenced but not really employed by Starfleet, save for Worf's work on the holodeck, which begs the question that if that can be improvised that way, it should be in general use?

I'm on board with personal shields. (They weren't used in the shows much, really, except that Holograms were somehow built out of force field technology. But they'd be a logical way to use that tech and to adjust to instant vaporizing weapons.) No reason they should totally eliminate danger any more than bullet proof vests do.

I guess one way to approach is that personal shields would all have different limits to their capacity to absorb damage, with a basic belt-mounted shield good for one or two phaser or disruptor shots (basically a counter-measure against fast assassination), a medium shield good for maybe a half-dozen shots, and a big back-pack sized generator for heavy combat.

Exactly my point. There are many different potential uses to explore.

 

[Longinus]

They were referenced but not really employed by Starfleet, save for Worf's work on the holodeck, which begs the question that if that can be improvised that way, it should be in general use?

Well, that was able to stop few bullets. It would probably been completely useless against a proper deathray. And besides, it is possible that the whole contraption relied on holodeck physics to work, and would not have functioned in real world at all.

 

[fireproof78]

Well, that was able to stop few bullets. It would probably been completely useless against a proper deathray. And besides, it is possible that the whole contraption relied on holodeck physics to work, and would not have functioned in real world at all.

Possibly, but they are also referred to in "Homefront" as being in mass storage for the ground troops.

As I said, how effective they are, I have no idea. I'm not looking for some magic device to protect the main characters or stop people from dying. I am looking for, what I see as a logical extension of a technology that Star Trek has had in its world for years. Just because its used doesn't somehow mean no one will ever die.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Sure, but how likely is that in practice*? Guns can misfire, but that doesn't mean SWAT teams carry broadswords around just in case.

(* I mean, yeah I've seen Star Trek shows, the answer is "whenever it's dramatically necessary." But the point is they're shown as a routine technology that's no likelier to fail than your average transporter or turbolift, both of which are portrayed as safe tech that people rely on routinely and reflexively.)

It may be unlikely for personal shields to flat-out fail, but they can still be disabled by an attacker. Technology like this always can.

The analogy to real-world firearms doesn't really apply, since there's no way I'm aware of for an enemy to stop a normal, run-of-the-mill gun from working. If you're shooting at someone, they can't make your gun fail, but they can dodge bullets or wear bulletproof vests (or just hope you run out of ammo). But we've seen Trek technology that can be shut off. Transporters, for example - we've seen transport inhibitors, scramblers, etc. No reason to think similar devices couldn't be invented to do the same to personal shields.

In fact, there's been actual Trek scenes where a starship's shields have been knocked out or forcibly lowered - remember the Reliant?

 

[Kor]

Special forces such as the Navy SEALs carry knives. So maybe in the Trek universe, combat-oriented units such as MACOs would do so.

Kor

 

[cultcross]

As long as we don't get more shield percentage dialogue, but about personal shields this time.

I agree that it's a logical use of the technology in Star Trek, but that doesn't mean it would be a good thing to have in the show. A logical use of the transporter would make everyone near immortal, but they don't show it used that way because it limits jeopardy and basically is over thinking what is a simple plot device to get your characters around. Once fictional technology stops being a plot enabler and starts becoming something to be constantly worked around, or worse a crutch, it is time to leave that tech out of the story. No explanation needed, just don't put it in. I personally think personal shields would fall in this category.

 

[ancient]

Yeah I can see a personal shield saving you from the first shot you get hit with, but like ship shields don't make ships invincible, a personal shield could only take a limited amount of damage.

 

[BillJ]

They really need to bring back personal phasers that disintegrate people.

 

[Tim Walker]

As I recall the Borg drones did the personal shield things. And by quickly adapting, the Borg could render your weapons useless.

 

[Cake]

The writers need to put the characters in danger. Giving them personal shields makes this harder. Thus no personal shields.
(Was such thing ever used in the shows? I remember Borgs having them, and Worf once jury rigging one on holodeck, but that's it.)

I remember that they had personal energy shields in TAS The Ambergris Element. They could swim with it to the bottom of an ocean.

 

[Longinus]

I remember that they had personal energy shields in TAS The Ambergris Element. They could swim with it to the bottom of an ocean.

They also had inflatable starships in TAS (and inflatable Vulcans.)

 

[Tim Walker]

While looking online at military insignia, I came across the insignia used in Starship Troopers. Didn't recognize the insignia, except for a sort of stylized eagle. Actually, I didn't even realize that these abstract symbols were insignia.

Which suggests that insignia should be based on actual, real world uniforms. Except for the iconic arrow head symbol.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

They really need to bring back personal phasers that disintegrate people.

Bring back? They've always been available. Every Trek show but Enterprise has had phasers which could disintegrate.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Bring back? They've always been available. Every Trek show but Enterprise has had phasers which could disintegrate.

But...we chose...not to...disintegrate...today. /Kirk

 

[BillJ]

Bring back? They've always been available. Every Trek show but Enterprise has had phasers which could disintegrate.

But they didn't seem to use them all that often. I want more disintegrations!

 

[fireproof78]

But they didn't seem to use them all that often. I want more disintegrations!

(Darth Vader) No disintegrations.