Another Shuttle Idea: Workbee

[Archived Post]

I was think on this the other day. Deep Space Nine had the workbee which was a one or two person repair craft. The Next Generation Technical Manual also mentioned the Sphinx work shuttle. I suspect that functionally, they are one and the same. I propose that one of these two be added to both factions (Sphinx for Federation, Cardassian Workbee for the KDF). There could be two Bridge Officer slots. One universal, and one Engineering. Maybe it could have Auxilary to Battery, Dampiners, or Structural as a build in power.

[Archived Post]

I think it would be cool to have it around ESD (or Utopia Planetia) as an NPC ship. But, I don't see how it would be useful as a player ship. The work bee goes all the way back to Star Trek TMP. There were work bees flying around the Enterprise as she was being refit. IIRC one was hauling a cargo sled as Kirk and Scotty were riding the shuttle pod to the Enterprise. It's a single seat dockyard support craft. It doesn't even have a onboard life support system, you have to be in an EVA suit just to fly the thing. It doesn't have engines, just RCS thrusters.

[Archived Post]

I'd rather see the larger Support Craft (Tal'Kyrs, Captain's Yachts and Chariots) be given an additional shuttle weapon-only aft weapon slot which will also allow the introduction of Maquis-style Heavy Raiders to the game.
Still, Workbees would either be used as an NPC ship or be deployed by a BOff for a repair ability similar to the Gorn Repair Drones.

[Archived Post]

The workbee would be an awesome out of combat hull regeneration buff. Once you're out of combat and able to drop shields, fire off your workbees powertray icon, and a small swarm of workbees cloud around your ship, making little welding sparks... and effectively halving your repair time.

Useful in those situations where you've gotten into a scuff that's a bit too much for your ship, so you have to fight the boss ship, then run out of range, heal back up and come in for a second attack to finish him off.

[Archived Post]

This would be nice as a power. But taking it a step further, I think pretty much ALL ships should have little worker bees come out and visibly repair damage after combat. The way it is now, the battle damage just fades away magically. Anyone else agree with me on this?

[Archived Post]

The workbee would be an awesome out of combat hull regeneration buff. Once you're out of combat and able to drop shields, fire off your workbees powertray icon, and a small swarm of workbees cloud around your ship, making little welding sparks... and effectively halving your repair time.

Useful in those situations where you've gotten into a scuff that's a bit too much for your ship, so you have to fight the boss ship, then run out of range, heal back up and come in for a second attack to finish him off.

This would be nice as a power. But taking it a step further, I think pretty much ALL ships should have little worker bees come out and visibly repair damage after combat. The way it is now, the battle damage just fades away magically. Anyone else agree with me on this?

This would be awesome. I hate the way that hull damage just fades away. I had a pretty intense battle where I almost got blown to bits. My hull was scared everywhere, there was flashing and sparking (I think it was supposed to be the SID.) But then, before I could take a good screencap, the hull was totally healed.
I want to see the ship limping along surrounded by worker bees.
You could even have it as a duty officer mission. Have engineer duty officers repair ship, with the ship unable to warp out to sector space until repairs complete.

[Archived Post]

I think it would be cool to have it around ESD (or Utopia Planetia) as an NPC ship. But, I don't see how it would be useful as a player ship. The work bee goes all the way back to Star Trek TMP. There were work bees flying around the Enterprise as she was being refit. IIRC one was hauling a cargo sled as Kirk and Scotty were riding the shuttle pod to the Enterprise. It's a single seat dockyard support craft. It doesn't even have a onboard life support system, you have to be in an EVA suit just to fly the thing. It doesn't have engines, just RCS thrusters.

And yet they are still using type 8 shuttles when type 9 and 10 (Star Trek Insurrection) should have replaced them by now. I am suggesting it as a craft geared towards engineering since the Fighters are more for Tactical, and the Vulcan shuttle is geared for Science. The Runabout, Captain's yaht and Delta Flyer are more flexible for the individual captain's preferences.