Runabouts---How useful are they?

[Mikey]

They are like a Humvee. Under armed and armored... but used front line.

That's exactly the issue - "used front-line" =/= "meant to be used front-line."

[Deepcrush]

They are like a Humvee. Under armed and armored... but used front line.

Partly, the Humvee is meant to be a fast light all condition transport. Most of the complaints I've heard about the Hum is that its not an MBT. That seems to be the major complaint about the runabouts from what I hear. They aren't full size warships, but then again why would they be. They're transports.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

They're a step between shuttles and starships, useful for more applications than shuttles but cheaper than starships.

[Mikey]

Deep's got it right - to further the Humvee example, most of the complaints about it can be boiled down (somewhat cynically) to some variation of "It's not very good at doing things it wasn't meant to do." The knock on runabouts is the same - they're not good at doing things that they weren't meant to do, or they shouldn't be able to do the things which the writers needed them to do.

[McAvoy]

I agree. At least they are better than a regular shuttle. Or at least we think so.

Not only that they look like they are relatively comfortable too.

[Deepcrush]

Considering they have full size quarters in the aft, its a pretty sure thing that they are by far more comfortable for transport then standard shuttles.

[McAvoy]

Exactly.

The humvee comparison works well if we make the interior much more comfortable to drive in.

It's a pity we never saw the aft section of the runabout. If I remember correctly, it was designed to be sort of modular which was never done.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Exactly.

The humvee comparison works well if we make the interior much more comfortable to drive in.

It's a pity we never saw the aft section of the runabout. If I remember correctly, it was designed to be sort of modular which was never done.

I... believe we were gonna see it in their sole TNG appearance, which was also an instance of them performing their design function and doing it well.

[Mark]

Yep....as a medium range personnel transport, they are great.

As a mini starship exploring the Delta Quadrant, or being used for full blow military activities........not so much.

[Sonic Glitch]

Yep....as a medium range personnel transport, they are great.

As a mini starship exploring the Delta Quadrant, or being used for full blow military activities........not so much.

So, as previously observed i believe, they're really good at the things they're designed and meant to do but not so great at the things they aren't meant for?

How 'bout that.

[Mark]

I'm still on my first cup of coffee!

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

*Hands Mark a gallon cup* better?

[Mikey]

I think that overall, the runabout was an incompletely developed version of this:

[Mark]

*Hands Mark a gallon cup* better?

God, where was this about 8 o'clock?

[Graham Kennedy]

I think that overall, the runabout was an incompletely developed version of this:

God I love those things. Wonderful, wonderful design. Love the combat version too...