The T-280 space construction vehicle (or SCV) is a type of terran general-purpose engineering vehicle.
SCV pilots are called "SceeVees." Nicknames include "plas-jockey", "lug nut" and "wrench swinger".[1]
Overview
- An SCV pilot(src)
An SCV during the Great War
The T-280 SCV is a reliable vehicle[2] used to construct and maintain everything from remote outposts to space platforms as well as harvest resources[3] and general reconstruction efforts.[4] They are used by both military and civilian interests throughout the Koprulu sector for their versatility and reliability,[3] and are regarded as a foundational unit for terran forces.[5]
Hardware
The T-280 is a bi-pedal walker,[6] the pilot's arms and legs extending into its exoskeleton.[7] It stands just over twelve feet tall[8] and is constructed out of neosteel.[6] SCVs have been observed to be equipped with fusion cutters[3] plasma welders,[8] a power drill, utility clamp, and heavy-duty thrusters. the thrusters allow an SCV to hover. These thrusters were added after SCV prototypes proved unable to keep up with projected efficiency rates. Due to last minute integration, the thrusters were barely optimized for day-to-day operation, and are prone to overloading whenever they are set to high burn. The T-280’s manufacturer began work on new, more energy-efficient thrusters, but discarded the project upon learning that SCV races were popular in certain parts of the sector. As one would expect, this has not deterred the pilots from making "personal" adjustments.
An SCV harvesting minerals
Older SCVs had reinforced plating until the manufacturer decided to cut back on “unnecessary expenses”. This decision proved very unpopular among SCV pilots, and even spurred riots—which were quelled fatally by security forces—on one or two remote planets. Yet, the body count from the protests was dwarfed by the 58.8% increase in casualty rates due to flimsy vehicle plating.[6]
Within a few months of the end of the Brood War, a new SCV model had been introduced,[9] albeit still retaining T-280 designation.[10] It features improved motivators, allowing smoother operations.[9]
The scent of rig grease from SCVs can be used by the zerg to track them.[1]
Systems
An SCV under attack by zerglings
The SCV's cockpit is equipped with multiple displays that provide critical information to the pilot—fuel readouts, structural integrity data, and real-time 3D topography mapping algorithms. Designed to operate in hazardous atmospheres, all SCVs boast the latest version of the COMFORtroller climate control system, which regulates, cycles and purifies the air inside the cabin—allowing the vehicle to operate for up to two weeks in a vacuum. Nonetheless, it’s common to see jury-rigged SCVs successfully getting the job done, despite being held together with components as unusual as gardening equipment or beer cans.[6]
SCVs are known to be outfitted with various feedback modules to help improve pilot feedback and performance. One such module is the onboard force feedback module (or OFFM, referred to as OFF ME), which allows the SCV pilot to move the SCV arms and generate a force proportional to the motions of the pilot, allowing for greater range of movement and greater combat effectiveness against close range attackers such as zerglings. Bill "Pearly" Bousquette developed a feedback module known as the biometric accumulator, which contains a learning heuristic that naturally adapts to the pilot's quirks and preferences.[1]
Service
A post-Brood War SCV
The T-280 model became prominent for its performance during the construction of Tarsonis' space platforms.[3] It was widely adopted and became a staple in terran engineering by 2489[11]
During the reign of the Terran Confederacy, volunteering to pilot an SCV appeared to be an alternative to military service.[12] The PEB (Preferred Experience Base) was hostile environment engineering, with combat experience a plus.[13]
Risks associated with SCV operation has had little impact on the Dominion's ability to recruit pilots who, fearful of the front lines, are willing to work overtime on distant planets for low wages.[6]
Game Unit
StarCraft
The SCV is the terran worker unit. SCVs count as a biological and mechanical unit; they can be healed by medics and other SCVs, but are also vulnerable to a wider range of abilities.
The SCV has more hit points than the drone and probe, which may be useful when repelling early game rushes. An SCV may defeat a basic zergling if the SCV attacks first. This also makes SCVs less vulnerable to raids than their counterparts, since they take more hits to defeat.
The construction of a terran building may be interrupted by destroying the SCV assigned to build it, since the SCV remains heavily exposed during the process. Nevertheless, another SCV can be commanded to finish the building by right-clicking on the incomplete building with an SCV selected.
SCVs may support operations beyond the base by repairing buildings and mechanical units, and constructing fortifications in the field. SCVs working in concert may accelerate repairs but this costs additional resources. SCVs may repair the buildings and units of allied and enemy terran factions alike. Unlike medics, which can heal allied protoss and zerg units, SCVs may only repair terran units and structures.
SCVs have the ability to carry campaign items such as psi-emitters or data disks.
The three workers have equal speed, but the SCV has the slowest acceleration.
It is voiced by Glenn Stafford.[14]
Abilities
Restores the hit points of a terran mechanical unit or building. Repairing costs resources.
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Upgrades
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Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
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Quotations
Unit wireframe
StarCraft: Ghost
SCV in StarCraft: Ghost
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This article or section contains information about StarCraft: Ghost, which has been declared non-canon. Elements may be taken as 'flavor lore' however.
The content may be significantly out of date. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details. |
SCVs could be controlled in StarCraft: Ghost. Their boosters could be used to make them hover. They could carry objects between their arms using an electric field. This including enemies.[15]
StarCraft II
The SCV reappears in StarCraft II.
Five SCVs can be held at a time in a command center or planetary fortress (upgraded to ten with Neosteel Frame).
SCVs can patrol, a very useful ability considering they can auto-cast repair. While multiple SCVs are able to simultaneously repair a unit/structure, only one SCV can construct a structure at a time due to reasons of balance. SCVs may repair any allied unit that is considered "mechanical" regardless if it is terran or protoss, but they can only repair terran structures. It is the only terran multiplayer unit without a ranged attack.
Abilities
The SCV builds structures and harvests minerals and vespene gas. Idle SCVs can be selected by pressing F1.
Restores the hit points of a mechanical unit or building, terran or protoss. Repairing costs resources.
The ability can be autocast.
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The command center or planetary fortress may load and unload five SCVs. This may be done while a command center is in flight. The number of SCVs is increased to ten with Neosteel Frames.
Wings of Liberty
In StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, SCVs appear from the second mission, "The Outlaws", Raynor's Raiders already having access to them. Later in the campaign SCVs can be built in pairs.
Multiple SCVs can build a structure. Each additional SCV reduces build time. Building cost remains the same.
This revolutionary computer allows multiple SCVs to work on the same structure simultaneously. The onboard assistant is so efficient at coordinating SCV efforts that building costs are unaffected. This upgrade is vital when trying to get a base up and running quickly, or when trying to rebuild a broken defense.[16]
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Dual Fusion Welders SCVs repair twice as fast.[16]
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 Orbital Depot An SCV drops a fully constructed supply depot instantly. We can now call down supply depots straight from orbit due to our new understanding of protoss architecture. Key point joints have been added to the supply depot's structure, allowing the supply depot to survive the violent turbulence of breaking through an atmosphere. Now an SCV simply has to place a beacon, and the crew on the Hyperion will handle the rest. [17]
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Damaged mechanical units recover hit points when out of combat, at a rate of 0.6015 each second.[18]
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 Vanadium Plating Armor upgrades increase health of affected units by 5% per level.[17] We have created a new lightweight alloy called vanadium. Vanadium diffuses weapon impacts much more efficiently than traditional armor plating, and it better preserves the life of our units. Now each of the armor upgrades in the armory and engineering bay increases unit life by 5% in addition to increasing armor.
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Quotations
Development
Early SCV model
Early versions of the SCV had a blue exhaust instead of the current orange. This was not correspondent with the player's color.[19]
Known SCV Pilots
An SCV pilot
- Lieutenant Chewitel "Choosey" Wsoro
- Sergeant Bill "Pearly" Bousquette
- Sergeant Marcus Jans
- Petty Officer Wolfe
- Corporal Liam Griffud
- Engineer Jim Smith
- First Welder Steiglitz
- Addams
- Blake
- Cortez
- Vigo "Tuna" Czark
- Kobayashi
- LeFleur
- Dean Mozian
- Nguyen
- Patel
- Pard
- Pfaff
- Corbin Phash (formerly)
- Rieff
- Eddie Rimes
- Drew Roder
- Dave Warner
- Wenders
- SCV (Unity of Races)
SCV Variants
References
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