Weathering on starships? Seriously?

[Tesral]

Dramatic sensor

The "sensor" that weakens the shields, or lessens the effect of the weapons, or makes the ordinarily stable technology flaky on the PC ship whenever the writer feels a sense of heightened drama is required. The use of false danger to heighten the dramatic moment or attempt to create dramatic tension where none would normally exist.

[Richard Baker]

I think Star Fleet ships should look cleaner than most but some weathering helps give them a 'history'. These ships don't just cruise in deep space, they travel through regions under conditions we can only guess at. Gasses, radiation, giant green space hands, all of these should leave some marks over time.

I don't think so. The ships are equipped with deflectors exactly to avoid this.

Deflectors can stop a lot but we have seen several occasions (DS-9- 'Way of the Warrior' and ST-6 for instance) where deflectors are on and functioning but get overloaded and allow energy to pass through and strike the hull.

[NCC1966]

I think Star Fleet ships should look cleaner than most but some weathering helps give them a 'history'. These ships don't just cruise in deep space, they travel through regions under conditions we can only guess at. Gasses, radiation, giant green space hands, all of these should leave some marks over time.

I don't think so. The ships are equipped with deflectors exactly to avoid this.

Deflectors can stop a lot but we have seen several occasions (DS-9- 'Way of the Warrior' and ST-6 for instance) where deflectors are on and functioning but get overloaded and allow energy to pass through and strike the hull.

Yup, one of the items at the long list of inconsistencies of the series...

[Moongrim]

Deflectors not always getting everything is the main reason why Starfleet has an entire section devoted to engineering. (Starfleet Corps of Engineers).

Why?

One of the corollaries of Murphy.

Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.

[nova1972x]

"One creature's torment is another creature's delight."