[TJJones]

Originally Posted by Commodore

According to the floorplan in the Playmates Enterprise bridge playset, these are the bridge positions:
-Commander
-Navigation
-Helm
-Auxilary Science
-Auxiliary Communications
-Security
-Threat Assessment
-Damage Control
-Readiness
-Science A
-Science B
-Defense
-Weapons
-Observatory
-Environment
-Engineering
-Communications A
-Communications B

This doesn't include the four data screens

Ooh, very cool. I think they all make great sense from a shipboard management point of view. Thanks for sharing, Commodore.

[Akula2ssn]

I can certainly appreciate the multiple communications stations, especially for a vessel that also can serve as a flagship of a fleet. I also rather like the idea of a threat assessment station. That would definitely be a good place to have a Tactical Action Officer (TAO) present.

[Captain Tom Coughlin]

I would imagine that if the ship is involved in fleet operations and they need to coordinate things with multiple ships they would need more than one communications station, and a dedicated threat assessment station seems to make sense as well.

[Akula2ssn]

What I particularly like about the dedicated threat assessment station (of course this is speculation on my part on what the station can show the operator) is that you aren't dumping additional responsibilities on the weapons officer more specifically the "gun boss". You can let the "gun boss" focus on the operation of the weapons batteries and directing the weapons crews.

The TAO at the threat assessment station can focus completely on the tactical situation and direct the defense of the ship or fleet. That person is basically the one person in the room other than the CO or XO that can order weapons hot.

[Captain Tom Coughlin]

That is an interesting point. Star Trek, simply be necessity at times due to the nature of TV and the need for central characters has a tendency to consolidate character's responsibilites. An engineer that is responsible for all things engineering, a tactical officer that is responsible for all things defense, a doctor who singlehandedly takes care of these large crews and what not. It leaves you wondering just what in the world the other 400 people on the ship are responsible for!

[Akula2ssn]

Yeah I also felt that they piled a lot on the plates of the characters. However, in defense of the status quo on Star Trek, it's not entirely unrealistic. When we look at say the Navy, they do tend to run the ship via committee which is not really economical, but it does allow for greater combat survivability. The Coast Guard, on the other hand which isn't normally expected to see combat, will run with much much smaller crews. Hell the engine room on the new Legend-class cutters is unmanned most of the time except for maybe one person making rounds every hour or so. However, I suspect that if they had to be deployed for combat, just as they were in both world wars, they could add additional crew members just as they did back then.

So small bridge crew or large bridge crew, I'll give them more slack though I do have my personal preference of a larger bridge crew.

The main thing I didn't like about the new bridge is the lighting. And that isn't even unique to the bridge. I actually felt that much of the ship was way too bright. Even though the ship's primary mission is exploration, but it is also a primary combatant. Combat conditions or any situation where the ship could be taking damage are the most likely times that you'll lose primary lighting. The last thing you want is to have bright lighting then suddenly lose primary lighting and have most of the crew fumbling around while the rods in their eyes are warming up.

[Howlin' Wolf]

I would probably be more at home on the Kelvins' bridge.

[NCC-73515]

Originally Posted by Commodore

According to the floorplan in the Playmates Enterprise bridge playset, these are the bridge positions:
-Commander
-Navigation
-Helm
-Auxilary Science
-Auxiliary Communications
-Security
-Threat Assessment
-Damage Control
-Readiness
-Science A
-Science B
-Defense
-Weapons
-Observatory
-Environment
-Engineering
-Communications A
-Communications B

This doesn't include the four data screens

I'll ask you about his in an old thread.

[Dominus of Megadeus]

"When I see the new bridge I touch my...Uh, wait...Was that wrong???"

[I-Am-Zim]

I just watched Galaxy Quest again. That is one of the best Star Trek movies ever made. Funny. When I see the iBridge, it reminds me of the bridge of the NSEA Protector. Especially the captain's chair.