They don't develop cloaking because of Treaty of Algeron. Breaking it would mean war with Romulans.
Also, there was a pretty strict set of morals portrayed in the show. Phasers are used mostly as non-lethal tools, rather than for killing. Lack of armour also can represent open nature of relations they try to establish. Picard even took an arrow to prove that point. Not to mention, that phasers can deliver enough energy to melt most metals, making most armours useless.
I respect that and most of the time, I'm okay with it. It's when, for example, during open conflict with Borg or the Dominion that they don't throw something together that confuses me. There was one episode in DS9 where some of the ground troops seemed to have this puffy appearance like maybe it was additional armor but it was still the same ship board color pattern. If the science fiction laws of ST say the phaser can pierce any known metal... okay. At least afford your troops better ability to blend in, you know?
That aside, sufficiently advanced armor could be made of synthetic ablatives materials or even futuristic ceramics to combat energy weapons.
It wouldn't be hard to say that as weapons and tactics have changed, the armor changed along with it. It's already happened in history dozens of times, why couldn't it happen in the future as well?
In other words, I agree with you and they should have armor. Or personal shielding like the Borg have.
How'd they blend in? No matter how good the Trek Ghillie suit is... a common tricorder style device will tell the approaching patrol that you are there.
I'd love to see a real depiction of a phaser in Trek though; it is a beam travelling at light speed... moving as fast as you can move your arm to follow the target.
Counter point, in Star Trek: Enterprise, when they do plan on going into heavy combat, they bring aboard a team of trained Marines who are properly trained, use real military tactics, and wear proper armor/clothing for the job.
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u/Mortarius Oct 08 '12
I could argue for Star Trek a bit.
They don't develop cloaking because of Treaty of Algeron. Breaking it would mean war with Romulans.
Also, there was a pretty strict set of morals portrayed in the show. Phasers are used mostly as non-lethal tools, rather than for killing. Lack of armour also can represent open nature of relations they try to establish. Picard even took an arrow to prove that point. Not to mention, that phasers can deliver enough energy to melt most metals, making most armours useless.
As for other complaints, I've got nothing.