If you can have just one sci-fi/fantasy gadget...

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Smiley
It's always baffling why starships are so big and heavily crewed. Did the electronic revolution never happen in that alternate timeline?

Big + many people = advantage in combat

[:) Smiley]

Big + many people = bigger target, easy to infiltrate

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Smiley
Big + many people = bigger target, easy to infiltrate

Bigger target - yes, but also much tougher
Easy to infiltrate - can go either way

[BeBMan]

Big = also bigger guns

[Urban Ranger]

Bigger guns and more guns

[BeBMan]

Yeah, and not to forget thicker hull armor and bigger shields

[Urban Ranger]

Definitely.

Big starships are badazz.

[Dis]

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove
I want a Borg cube. Borg cube beats Galaxy class starship any day of the week.

it's ugly though. I like my space ships phallic shaped.

[Dis]

Originally posted by Smiley
It's always baffling why starships are so big and heavily crewed. Did the electronic revolution never happen in that alternate timeline?

the federation is based off the U.S. Navy.

And the U.S. Navy today still requires heavy crews despite our technology. Although the U.S. Navy isn't as technologically advanced as people think (except for weapons technology of course). I see better technology in the private sector. When I was in computer use was low. Everything was done on paper.

In any case they needed large crews so they had a large supply of "extras" that could be killed during battlescenes. Because unlike the U.S. navy, the officers do all the work- not the enlisted men. All they really needed is officers.

Chief o'brien is like the only enlisted person I have ever seen on the show.