History Main / WorkerUnit

* ''VideoGame/{{Homeworld}}'' has all construction done in TheMothership and (small craft only) in carriers. Resource collectors are used to [[AsteroidMiners mine asteroids]]. They then bring the resources back to the Mothership, a carrier, or a resource controller for processing. They can also be used to refuel fighters and corvettes (this feature is not present in the remastered version the game). Repair corvettes are used to, well, repair other ships. ''Cataclysm'' has the generically-named Worker, which actually combines the functions of a resource collector, a repair corvette, and a [[EnemyExchangeProgram salvage corvette]]. ''Homeworld 2'' has its resource collectors conduct mining and repair operations. The prequel ''VideoGame/HomeworldDesertsOfKharak'' has salvagers, which are the land-based version of the resource collector. Unlike the other games, salvagers only have one function - collecting resources. They also happen to be ''extremely'' slow, even slower than your [[BaseOnWheels land carrier]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Cossacks}}: [[VideoGame/CossacksEuropeanWars European Wars]] and its {{expansion pack}}s: Every country has peasants to build buildings and gather resources. Russian serfs are the slowest builders, and UsefulNotes/{{Ukrain|e}}ian peasants are the only ones that cannot be captured (not so surpising considering [[CreatorProvincialism the game was made in Ukraine]]).

* ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresIII'' introduces unique sets of worker units:
** German players start with settler wagons, which work more effectively than regular settlers (which they can also build). However, players cannot build them until a card is sent later in the game; they must be shipped from the home city.
** The French receive Coeurs des Bois, which are tougher than settlers and gather resources faster.
** Indian and Japanese villagers cannot hunt or gather from animals.
** Berber Nomads, available in ''The African Royals'' when allied with a Berber settlement, gather natural resources faster than regular villagers but work slower in mills, estates, and fields.
** The Italians in ''Knights of the Mediterranean'', on top of regular settlers, receive architects. They build buildings for free slowly or faster when paid for in full. They can only gather wood.
* ''VideoGame/AgeOfMythology'': Greek and Egyptian workers function essentially the same, though only the Greeks are called villagers and only they can pray at temples to gather [[GodsNeedPrayerBadly favor]] (Egyptians gain favor building monuments). Norse peasants only gather (dwarves are peasants that mine faster) while their basic infantry do most of the building, and the Atlantean citizens don't need to cycle while gathering, in addition to doing it faster, plus can turn into hero units in emergencies to aid in defending against myth units (and gain a gathering bonus). In exchange, they move slower, are three times more expensive and turning them into heroes requires an additional cost.

* ''VideoGame/EmpireEarth:'' Citizens occupy the role. Like in Age of Empires above, they need to cycle to drop off resources.
** In the campaigns for ''VideoGame/EmpireEarth'', players can also take control of a unique worker unit called the Engineer, which can only create buildings. In these scenarios, resources are gathered by other means.

* ''VideoGame/HaloWars'': The closest thing to worker units are the UNSC [[MiniMecha Cyclops]] (a modified variant of the Mjolnir Mark III Exoskeleton Prototype that is a unique unit to Sergeant Forge in multi-player and skirmish modes.), and the Covenant Engineer (a race of Biological Supercomputers created by the [[{{Precursors}} Forerunners]] that were later enslaved by the Covenant). They are the only units that can repair buildings. Resource gathering can be handled by any infantry unit and certain levels and maps some GarrisonableStructures such as Forerunner Supply Elevators can even produce an infinite amount of resources or supply other benefits.

** The Commander in [=TA=] and the [=ACU=] in the [=SC=] series are interesting variations, being {{Do Anything Robot}}s. They do the first round of heavy lifting in most missions due to being the sole starting unit.

** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert2'' added some tweaks for each faction's harvester units. The Allied Ore Collector has to roll out to an ore field as normal, but can teleport back to base for easy collection. The Soviet Ore Collector is reinforced with extra armor and has a machine gun turret to defend against infantry and light vehicles. Yuri's faction, added in the expansion pack, has a Slave Miner, which is a mobile ore processor with mind-controlled slaves using shovels to dig ore.

*** The poor GLA has a peasant that builds and gathers resources, and is so slow and inefficient that one of the upgrades you can purchase gives the poor guys some shoes that make them move faster.

** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'': All factions' harvesters are amphibious due to the game's emphasis on naval combat. The Allied Prospector also doubles as a builder unit, since it can unpack into a Command Hub and allow new buildings to be put up nearby. The Soviet Ore Collector can also deploy a metal shield around it to make it much harder to kill, while the faction also has the Sputnik, a secondary builder unit that can put down an Outpost to allow buildings to be constructed nearby. The Imperial Ore Collector can equip a laser turret for self-defense, but can't harvest while it's active, while all the Empire's buildings are unpacked from Nanocores.
** ''VideoGame/DuneII'' was the TropeCodifier for this sort of RTS game, which Westwood continued to refine in their ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer'' series. A slow, defenseless unit called a Mobile Construction Vehicle can unpack into a Construction Yard, which forms the heart of a base and assembles all the other buildings in it. A Harvester unit collects resources ([[Franchise/{{Dune}} spice]], [[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianSeries Tiberium]], or [[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert ore]]) for processing into credits at a Refinery building, and in some games additional Silos may need to be built to hold all the stuff until you can spend it.

* ''VideoGame/GalacticCivilizations2'': Colony ships establish new colonies (being consumed in the process) and transfer population to pre-existing colonies (re-useable). Trade ships help earn credits by cycling between one of your planets and another race's planet along a fixed trade route, gaining bonuses when passing through the area of effect of an economic starbase. Space miners set up mining facilities in asteroid belts, slightly boosting the closest planets military and social production. Surveyors harvest spacial anomalies and act as scouts. And finally, constructors build or upgrade starbases, but get consumed in the process.

** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerGenerals'' is a departure from the ''C&C'' formula in that Construction Yards are absent, in favor of Blizzard-style worker units. America uses bulldozers to build with, but can quickly collect supplies with Chinook helicopters, which can also serve as infantry transports if needed. China uses bulldozers to build and supply trucks to harvest, nothing special there. The poor GLA has a peasant that builds and gathers resources, and is so slow and inefficient that one of the upgrades you can purchase gives the poor guys some shoes!

** ''VideoGame/{{Starcraft}}'': All workers use the standard cycling method of resource collection, but use different construction methods. Terran [=SCV=]s use direct construction, Protoss Probes use summoning, and Zerg Drones use the growing method. The SCV can also repair mechanical units, and the Drone can burrow to protect itself. In ''Starcraft 2'', an additional temporary worker, the M.U.L.E., is available to the Terrans, which harvests resources at a faster rate, can repair mechanical units at the normal rate, but cannot construct buildings.
** ''VideoGame/WarcraftIIIReignOfChaos'': Each faction has a distinctly different worker unit to harvest resources and build or repair structures:

[[caption-width-right:239:Under-appreciated but really useful.]]

* ''VideoGame/AgeOfMythology'': Greek and Egyptian workers function essentially the same, though only the Greeks are called villagers and only they can pray at temples to gather [[GodsNeedPrayerBadly favor]] (Egyptians gain favor building monuments). Norse peasants only gather (dwarves are peasants that mine faster) while their basic infantry do most of the building, and the Atlantean citizens don't need to cycle while gathering, in addition to doing it faster, plus can turn into hero units in emergencies to aid in defending against myth units (and gain a gathering bonus). In exchange, they move slower, are three times more expensive and turning them into heroes requires an aditional cost.

* ''VideoGame/BattleZone1998'' and its sequel have Scavengers, which are large utility vehicles which are described as "vacuum cleaners with engines" -- the scavengers drive around, suck up [[UnObtanium bio-metal]] scrap, then go deposit it at the Recycler (or instantly add it to your scrap pool, in the sequel). Constructors build base structures such as gun towers and power plants. Tugs in both games can be used lift slow, heavy units off the ground and carry them over rough terrain or water very quickly, though they are rarely used outside of the singleplayer campaigns. All of the worker units can only be built at the irreplaceable [[MobileFactory Recycler]], meaning that destroying the enemy Recycler will [[InstantWinCondition instantly win the mission]].

** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerGenerals'' is a departure from the ''C&C'' forumla in that Construction Yards are absent, in favor of Blizzard-style worker units. America uses bulldozers to build with, but can quickly collect supplies with Chinook helicopters, which can also serve as infantry transports if needed. China uses bulldozers to build and supply trucks to harvest, nothing spcial there. The poor GLA has a peasant that builds and gathers resources, and is so slow and inefficient that one of the upgrades you can purchase gives the poor guys some shoes!

* The ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresIII'' introduces unique sets of worker units:

* ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpires'': Villagers act as worker units here, using cycling to gather resources (except in ''III'') and direct construction.

* ''VideoGame/RiseOfNations'': Workers are responsible for gathering resources through structures and constructing most, if not all, buildings.

** ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar2'' removed workers altogether, with light infantry and tech-based heroes filling in for repair and construction duties, while some other field structures have been relegated to global abilities.

[[folder:[=4X=] Games]]

** In ''Civilization V'', certain civ-specific unique units had limited building abilities. [[UsefulNotes/TheGloryThatWasRome Roman Legions]], for instance, had the ability to construct roads and forts in reference to [[TheEngineer their real-life prowess in doing exactly that]], whereas Samurai could construct fishing ships to tie in with the Japanese unique power that draws culture from them.
** In ''Civilization VI'', each Worker has a limited number of "charges" to build improvements or remove natural resources; the Chinese and Aztec have the special ability to spend those charges towards building World Wonders and city districts, respectively. The game also introduces Military Engineers in the Renaissance Era, who can build defensive and offensive improvements, and retains Roman Legions' Fort-building ability.
* Workers (later engineers) and settlers in ''VideoGame/{{Freeciv}}''. The former are commonly used for terrain improvements, roads and railroads, the latter for building new cities, even though they also have all the terrain improvement capabilities.
* Certain [[DesignItYourselfEquipment subsystems]] in ''Videogame/StarRuler'' can make a ship a dedicated worker unit, or a MilitaryMashupMachine. Ramscoops allow ships to generate their own fuel (which can be transferred automatically to nearby ships), ammo generators generate ammo, cargo bays allow ships to trade good between planets, repair lasers allow ships to repair each other, mining lasers allow ships to [[AsteroidMiners mine asteroids for ore]] which can then be further processed on-board via a variety of machining subsystems. Inductors and Inducers allow ships to speed up or slow down other ships, to catapult ships out of orbit very quickly or to slow down a ship low on fuel.

[[folder:Real-Time Strategy Games]]

* Female citizens and Citizen Soldiers in ''VideoGame/ZeroAD''. The former can build structures and gather resources while the latter can do the same plus has decent fighting skills. However, the more Citizen Soldiers fight, the less effective they become with their domestic tasks.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Achron}}'', all units of all three factions are able to fight, some of them are just capable of building as well, usually the infantry. Each race collects resources via buildings called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin resource processors]] that are completely useless for everything else.
* The ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpires'' series: Villagers act as worker units here, using cycling to gather resources (except in ''III'') and direct construction.
* In ''VideoGame/AgeOfMythology'' Greek and Egyptian workers function essentially the same, though only the Greeks are called villagers and only they can pray at temples to gather [[GodsNeedPrayerBadly favor]] (Egyptians gain favor building monuments). Norse peasants only gather (dwarves are peasants that mine faster) while their basic infantry do most of the building, and the Atlantean citizens don't need to cycle while gathering, in addition to doing it faster, plus can turn into hero units in emergencies to aid in defending against myth units (and gain a gathering bonus). In exchange, they move slower, are three times more expensive and turning them into heroes requires an aditional cost.

* ''Videogame/BattleZone1998'' and its sequel have Scavengers, which are large utility vehicles which are described as "vacuum cleaners with engines" - the scavengers drive around, suck up [[UnObtanium bio-metal]] scrap, then go deposit it at the Recycler (or instantly add it to your scrap pool, in the sequel). Constructors build base structures such as gun towers and power plants. Tugs in both games can be used lift slow, heavy units off the ground and carry them over rough terrain or water very quickly, though they are rarely used outside of the singleplayer campaigns. All of the worker units can only be built at the irreplaceable [[MobileFactory Recycler]], meaning that destroying the enemy Recycler will [[InstantWinCondition instantly win the mission]].

** As of ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'', each faction has a distinctly different worker unit to harvest resources and build or repair structures:

** ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar 2'' removed workers altogether, with light infantry and tech-based heroes filling in for repair and construction duties, while some other field structures have been relegated to global abilities.

* Imps in both ''VideoGame/DungeonKeeper'' games can mine out rooms, dig for gold, claim land, and retrieve fallen units, but are nigh-useless in combat. They're also unique in that they're MadeOfMagic by their Keeper and have no other physical needs.

* In ''Videogame/FromTheDepths'', transports are needed to move cargo between resource extraction zone, deliver repair material to fleets, and pick up salvage. Most of the AI factions have some sort of cargo ship with huge amounts of cargo and negligible defenses, [[NotPlayingFairWithResources though only the player actually requires them]].

* In ''VideoGame/HaloWars'' the closest thing to worker units are the UNSC [[MiniMecha Cyclops]] (a modified variant of the Mjolnir Mark III Exoskeleton Prototype that is a unique unit to Sergeant Forge in multi-player and skirmish modes.), and the Covenant Engineer (a race of Biological Supercomputers created by the [[{{Precursors}} Forerunners]] that were later enslaved by the Covenant). They are the only units that can repair buildings. Resource gathering can be handled by any infantry unit and certain levels and maps some GarrisonableStructures such as Forerunner Supply Elevators can even produce an infinite amount of resources or supply other benefits.

* Both sides in ''VideoGame/TotalAnnihilation'' had multiple construction units. There are construction robots, ground vehicles, aircraft, ships and hovercraft. This allows you to use different units to build in different terrains. On top of that, there are advanced versions of construction units that build advanced structures. One significant difference here is that these units do not perform routine resource collection. The construction units build dedicated structures to gather resources. They also have the option to reclaim map objects and wreckage, but this is on a per-object basis.

* ''VideoGame/{{Warzone 2100}}'' has a 'truck' module that can be fitted to any ground-based chassis, as well as the combat engineer cyborg. Both are used to directly construct and repair buildings, and capture oil wells. Repairing units is done by another class of cyborgs/modules.

** ''VideoGame/DuneII'' was the TropeCodifier for this sort of RTS game, which Westwood continued to refine in their ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer'' series. A slow, defenseless unit called a Mobile Construction Vehicle can unpack into a Construction Yard, which forms the heart of a base and assembles all the other buildings in it. A Harvester unit collects resources ([[Franchise/{{Dune}} spice]], [[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianSeries Tiberium]], or [[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert ore]]) for processing into credits at a Refinery building, and in some games additional Silos may need to be built to hold all the stuff until you can spend it.

** In ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'', all factions' harvesters are amphibious due to the game's emphasis on naval combat. The Allied Prospector also doubles as a builder unit, since it can unpack into a Command Hub and allow new buildings to be put up nearby. The Soviet Ore Collector can also deploy a metal shield around it to make it much harder to kill, while the faction also has the Sputnik, a secondary builder unit that can put down an Outpost to allow buildings to be constructed nearby. The Imperial Ore Collector can equip a laser turret for self-defense, but can't harvest while it's active, while all the Empire's buildings are unpacked from Nanocores.

* In the ''[[Videogame/{{X}} X-Universe]]'' series, [[SpaceTrucker Transport (Small)]] and [[MileLongShip Transport (Large)]] are the basic workers for the [[NGOSuperPower player's empire]] once it's [[AnEntrepreneurIsYou sufficient built-up]]. TS class ships (both the player's and the NPC traders) ferry wares between factories, are the only way to mine [[UnObtanium Nividium]], and are the generally the best way to pick up salvage after a large battle. TL class ships are the only way to [[RidiculouslyFastConstruction build space stations]], though it's possible to hire a NPC TL to construct your stations for you. Both classes of ships can be armed - and with [=TLs=], often decently - so it's possible to turn them into an InstantMilitia if needed.

* ''VideoGame/GalacticCivilizations 2'': Colony ships establish new colonies (being consumed in the process) and transfer population to pre-existing colonies (re-useable). Trade ships help earn credits by cycling between one of your planets and another race's planet along a fixed trade route, gaining bonuses when passing through the area of effect of an economic starbase. Space miners set up mining facilities in asteroid belts, slightly boosting the closest planets military and social production. Surveyors harvest spacial anomalies and act as scouts. And finally, constructors build or upgrade starbases, but get consumed in the process.

* In ''VideoGame/SwordOfTheStars'', colony ships add population and infrastructure to planets, being consumed in the process, in addition to claiming worlds without imperial populations (either because it hasn't been colonized yet or someone nuked the previous occupants). Tankers refuel other ships, refineries refuel and produce new fuel. Mining ships extract resources from uninhabited systems and take them back home. And salvage ships repair damaged ships or reclaim resources from destroyed ones. The expansions introduce freighters that increase income through trade and constructors that build space stations.
* ''Videogame/GenjuuRyodan'' has mana generator units where they gather mana for the player to summon units.
* POW Armors and Craft Modules in ''VideoGame/RType Command'' can both rearm and refuel ships, and the Craft Module can repair other ships, clear mines, [[AsteroidMiner mine Solonium from asteroids,]] and claim Hangars.

* ''VideoGame/AdvancedStrategicCommand'': Has a lot of these, depending on the unit set, of course. Different transports are required for [[http://asc-hq.org/unitguide/html/11Ui4.html ammo]], [[http://asc-hq.org/unitguide/html/10Ui2.html fuel]] and [[http://asc-hq.org/unitguide/html/25Ui2.html construction materials]] that all runs out rather quickly. Field repair vehicles, to fix units without hauling them all the way to the factory. Generators to keep your mines and factories running when you don't have enough powerplants connected to them. Bulldozers to construct [[TunnelNetwork pipelines]], bridges or runways for planes. Builder vehicles to create buildings and turret foundations. Resource prospectors to know where to build a mine or oil platform. Icebreakers. Almost anything requires a proper WorkerUnit and some spent resources.
* This doesn't really affect gameplay at all, but the Iron Legion's Rifle Grunts in ''VideoGame/BattalionWars'' spend their every waking off-duty hour happily digging in the Nerocite mines.
** In the main ''VideoGame/NintendoWars'' series, your infantry generally fill the closest thing to a worker role by capturing cities and factories.

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* ''VideoGame/GrimGrimoire'': Has unique worker units for all four schools of magic. Besides collecting mana and building defense structures, each school's worker unit has an additional ability: Glamour's Elves can [[HealingHands heal other units]], Necromancy's Ghosts can [[TakingYouWithMe perform a kamikaze]] for big damage, Sorcery's Imps can attack, and Alchemy's Blobs can [[StandardStatusEffects slow enemies down]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'':

** As of ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} 3'', each faction has a distinctly different worker unit to harvest resources and build or repair structures:

*** The Orcish Peon is much like the Peasant, though Peons are hidden while building structures, and when an enemy attacks they can enter Burrow buildings and throw spears from them, making them more effective than the Orcs' dedicated defensive structures. With the Pillage ability researched Peons can gain gold by attacking enemy buildings, though if you're attacking with Peons, [[DesperationAttack something has gone very wrong]] [[CherryTapping for one or both sides]]).

* ''VideoGame/StarWarsGalacticBattleGrounds'', being an ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpires II'' reskin, has worker units for all factions who can harvest resources cyclically and build and repair structures. They are droids for all factions barring the Gungans (who use a non-sentient but related species called the Glurrgs), the Wookiees (Who do the work themselves), and the Separatists from the ''Clone Campaigns'' expansion (who use Geonosians). The game also has Utility Trawlers available to all factions which are capable of fishing further off the coast than regular workers, while the Gungans can also uniquely build some underwater structures with them.

** In ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'', all factions' harvesters are amphibious due to the game's emphasis on naval combat. The Allied Prospector also doubles as a builder unit, since it can unpack into a Command Hub and allow new buildings to be put up nearby. The Soviet Ore Collector can also deploy a metal shield around it to make it much harder to kill, and have the Sputnik, a secondary builder unit that can put down an Outpost to allow buildings to be constructed nearby. The Imperial Ore Collector can equip a laser turret for self-defense, but can't harvest while it's active, while all the Empire's buildings are unpacked from Nanocores.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' series: As of ''Warcraft 3'', each faction has a distinctly different worker unit.
*** All four primary workers (the Peon, Peasant, [[WillOTheWisp Wisp]] and Acolyte) can repair structures and mechanical units, harvest gold (by cycling in case of Peons & Peasants, or via magic in buildings in case of Wisps & Acolytes).
*** All four can construct structures - directly in case of Peons & Peasants (multiple Peasants can be assigned to build a building faster at the cost of more resources), through summoning in case of Acolytes, and through the 'growing' method in case of Wisps. Acolytes can also Unsummon their buildings to regain a fraction of the materials used to build it, while Peons with the Pillage ability gain money every time they attack a building (if you're attacking with Peons, [[DesperationAttack something has gone very wrong]] [[CherryTapping for one or both sides]]).
*** All except the Acolyte can harvest lumber, while the Undead use their basic combat unit, the Ghoul, to harvest it. The Wisp harvests slower than the others, but it doesn't consume the tree it's orbiting and automatically adds it to the player's lumber total without needing to transport it.
** All worker units have some means of emergency defense:
*** Peasants be temporarily turned into emergency Militia to defend the base (their life doesn't change, but they have more armor end up dealing as much damage as a Footman, making them dangerous in swarms. In fact, immediately turning the 5 starting Peasants into Militia and attacking was a popular strategy, now nerfed into the ability only being available at the starting Town Hall, making defending expansion bases harder.
*** Wisps can't attack, but they can explode to drain mana and hurt summoned creatures. To make up for this, most Night Elf buildings are living trees that deal heavy damage, but not when working and obviously have limited range (uprooting them causes them to lose armor).
*** Acolytes can't fight well, but that's what the Ghouls are there for. They can be sacrificed into Shades, explorers that can't attack but are invisible to most enemies.
*** Peons are hidden while building structures, and can also enter Burrows (the orc food building, of which a base will have plenty) and throw spears from them. Fully-staffed burrows are even more effective than towers at killing things.
** A mercenary worker unit, the Goblin Shredder, is also available. It harvests lumber using the cycling method, but hauls in much larger loads than the standard workers. It's also a reasonable fighter, but using it as one is terribly inefficient due to its cost.
* ''VideoGame/{{Starcraft}}'': All workers use the standard cycling method of resource collection, but use different construction methods. Terran [=SCV=]s use direct construction, Protoss Probes use summoning, and Zerg Drones use the growing method. The SCV can also repair mechanical units, and the Drone can burrow to protect itself. In ''Starcraft 2'', an additional temporary worker, the M.U.L.E., is available to the Terrans, which harvests resources at a faster rate, can repair mechanical units at the normal rate, but cannot construct buildings.
* ''VideoGame/{{Warzone 2100}}'' has a 'truck' module that can be fitted to any ground-based chassis, as well as the combat engineer cyborg. Both are used to directly construct and repair buildings, and capture oil wells. Repairing units is done by another class of cyborgs/modules.
* ''VideoGame/SinsOfASolarEmpire'': A space-based RTS, it has constructors, refinery ships and trade ships as workers, which construct orbital structures, help generate resources(via refineries) and help generate money(via trade ports) respectively. There are also colony ships, which establish colonies on unclaimed or newly-conquered planets. As of ''[[ExpansionPack Entrenchment]]'', there are also special worker ships specifically designed to construct Starbases.

** In ''VideoGame/AgeOfMythology'' Greek and Egyptian workers function essentially the same, though only the Greeks are called villagers and only they can pray at temples to gather [[GodsNeedPrayerBadly favor]] (Egyptians gain favor building monuments). Norse peasants only gather (dwarves are peasants that mine faster) while their basic infantry do most of the building, and the Atlantean citizens don't need to cycle while gathering, in addition to doing it faster, plus can turn into hero units in emergencies to aid in defending against myth units (and gain a gathering bonus). In exchange, they move slower, are three times more expensive and turning them into heroes requires an aditional cost.
* ''VideoGame/RiseOfNations'': Workers are responsible for gathering resources through structures and constructing most, if not all, buildings.

* ''VideoGame/StarWarsGalacticBattleGrounds'' has worker units for all factions who can (in different configurations) do both the jobs harvesting resources cyclically and building and repairing structures. They are droids for all factions barring the Gungans (who use a non-sentient but related species called the Glurrgs), The Wookiees (Who do the work themselves), and the Separatist from the ''Clone Campaigns'' expansion (who use Geonosians).
** The game also has Utility Trawlers available to all factions which are capable fishing (one the methods of gathering resources) further off the coast than regular workers. They are also the only way build structures for the Gungans since they live on the water.

* ''VideoGame/GrimGrimoire'': Has unique worker units for all four schools of magic. Besides collecting mana and building defense structures, each school's worker unit has an additional ability: Glamour's Elves can [[HealingHands heal other units]], Necromancy's Ghosts can [[TakingYouWithMe perform a kamikaze]] for big damage, Sorcery's Imps can attack, and Alchemy's Blobs can [[StandardStatusEffects slow enemies down]].
* ''VideoGame/DuneII'' used a Construction Yard, a building that was used to build the other buildings in the base a set radius from the Yard or another building. Resource gathering was handled by a unit called the Harvester. A vehicle called the Mobile Construction Vehicle or MCV could also be constructed, and could then deploy into a new Construction Yard at a new location.
** Most ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer'' games used the same interface, with a few exceptions.
*** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerGenerals'': The [=GLA=]'s construction unit also serves as the resource gatherer, and is the least efficient of all the factions.[[note]]They don't even have shoes to start with![[/note]] The American and Chinese armies use bulldozers for construction, and a different unit (the transport helicopter and truck respectively) to gather resources.
*** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert2'' also has different Ore Collectors for its factions. The Soviet collector is reinforced with extra armor and has a machinegun turret to defend against infantry and light armor. The Allied collector can teleport back to the ore processor after collecting ore but has to drive the normal way to the ore field. Yuri's faction, added in the expansion pack, has a Slave Miner, which is a mobile ore processor with mind-controlled slaves using shovels to dig ore.
*** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'': The Prospector (Allies) and Ore Collector (Soviets and Empire, with different capabilities) move ore from ore mines to ore refineries. They're all amphibious and can repel infantry assaults by running them over.
** The Prospector also doubles as a constructor, since it can transform into a Command Hub and allow new buildings to be built nearby. The Soviets have a separate constructor type (the Sputnik) with the same transforming capabilities as the Prospector (the transformed form is called an Outpost). The Soviet Ore Collector can deploy a metal shield that makes it much harder to kill.
** The Imperial Ore Collector can equip a laser turret to defend itself, but can't collect while it's active. All of the Empire's buildings are unpacked from Nanocores.
*** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberiumWars'': GDI and Nod [=MCVs=] are virtually the same, except the Nod variant is a walker. The [[AlienInvasion Scrin]] use floating Drone Ships for the same purpose. The basic GDI harvester is armed with a light machinegun. The ZOCOM faction uses a rocket-armed variant, and the Steel Talons use a heavily-armored harvester with a bunker that can be occupied by an infantry unit. The Nod harvester is equipped with an InvisibilityCloak (except those used by the Black Hand faction, which lacks stealth tech). Scrin harvesters float over the battlefield and pick up Tiberium crystals with their tentacles. While unarmed, they can heal in the presence of Tiberium. The Reaper-17 faction equips its harvesters with DeflectorShields. The [[TankGoodness MARV]] in the ''Kane's Wrath'' expansion can, besides kicking lots of ass, instantly collect and process any Tiberium it drives over.
* ''VideoGame/{{Globulation}}'' has worker, scout and fighter... uh... [[BlobMonster creatures]]. Without workers you cannot collect resources, and thus cannot do anything at all -- even keeping units alive requires a worker collecting raw foodstuff and bringing it to an inn.
* ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar'' has a different worker unit for every race; all of them only construct and repair structures, resource gathering is handled autonomously by capturing points or building generators. Each one is also slightly different from the others. To wit:
** The Space Marine Servitor has no special abilities whatsoever, but is one of the faster moving and more durable (read: least paper-maché-armored) worker units, and can later make use of the Space Marine's Drop Pod ability to quickly redeploy.
** The Chaos Heretic can burn its own [[HitPoints HP]] to build faster.
** The Eldar Bonesinger can fight (but isn't at all good at it), repairs vehicles and structures twice as fast and for less than a third the cost, can be upgraded to temporarily disable enemy structures it can reach, and most importantly, can teleport long distances, for example, to construct a [[PortalNetwork Webway Gate]] behind enemy lines...
** The Ork Gretchin come in large hordes that cost virtually nothing, have abysmal combat prowess, but move and build fast and can be upgraded to be invisible, even when repairing your tanks mid-battle.
** The Imperial Guard Techpriest Enginseer is surprisingly durable and has some combat prowess. They also repair vehicles and structures four times as fast as other worker units, and can man the fairly powerful bunker weapons as well as a full squad of infantry, while costing much less and not taking up unit {{cap}}.
** The Tau Earth Caste Builder has above-average sight radius and below-average cost. Besides this it has nothing special going for it, really.
** The Necron Builder Scarabs are free (but slow to build) and travel in small squads. They are also the only Necron unit able of capturing control points, and their only detector (but also ''the best'' detector ''in the game'').
** The Dark Eldar Tortured Slave is the frailest of all worker units, but does not have to work on a built structure past starting it (but cannot speed up the construction by using multiple ones). They are also one of only two Dark Eldar units that can harvest souls, needed to fuel their global abilities.
** The Sisters of Battle Ecclesiarchal Servitor is pretty much a clone of the Space Marine one, but instead of Drop Podding it has the ability to deal considerable damage to enemy structures if unopposed.
** ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar 2'' removed workers altogether, with light infantry and tech-based heroes filling in for repair and construction duties, while some other field structures have been relegated to global abilities.
* ''VideoGame/BattleRealms'' puts its own spin on the concept. While Peasants from all four clans use cycling and direct construction, they also form the backbone of the military in the game, as they use military buildings to upgrade themselves.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Achron}}'', all units of all three factions are able to fight, some of them are just capable of building as well, usually the infantry. Each race collects resources via buildings called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin resource processors]] that are completely useless for everything else.
* Imps in both ''VideoGame/DungeonKeeper'' games can mine out rooms, dig for gold, claim land, and retrieve fallen units, but are nigh-useless in combat. They're also unique in that they're MadeOfMagic by their Keeper and have no other physical needs.
* Both sides in ''VideoGame/TotalAnnihilation'' had multiple construction units. There are construction robots, ground vehicles, aircraft, ships and hovercraft. This allows you to use different units to build in different terrains. On top of that, there are advanced versions of construction units that build advanced structures. One significant difference here is that these units do not perform routine resource collection. The construction units build dedicated structures to gather resources. They also have the option to reclaim map objects and wreckage, but this is on a per-object basis.
** SpiritualSuccessor ''VideoGame/SupremeCommander'' simplifies that to three increasingly potent and expensive amphibious Engineers per side. The sequel further simplifies that to one per side, with more structures unlocked by research.
** The Commander in [=TA=] and the [=ACU=] in the [=SC=] series are interesting variations, being {{Do Anything Robot}}s. They do the first round of heavy lifting in most missions due to being the sole starting unit.
* ''VideoGame/CompanyOfHeroes'' has engineer units. While they are capable of fighting, they're not especially good at it, with the lowest accuracy in the game. They're much better suited to building and repairing. However, they can get [[KillItWithFire flamethrowers]], which greatly increases their [[IncrediblyLamePun fire]]power.
* ''Videogame/BattleZone1998'' and its sequel have Scavengers, which are large utility vehicles which are described as "vacuum cleaners with engines" - the scavengers drive around, suck up [[UnObtanium bio-metal]] scrap, then go deposit it at the Recycler (or instantly add it to your scrap pool, in the sequel). Constructors build base structures such as gun towers and power plants. Tugs in both games can be used lift slow, heavy units off the ground and carry them over rough terrain or water very quickly, though they are rarely used outside of the singleplayer campaigns. All of the worker units can only be built at the irreplaceable [[MobileFactory Recycler]], meaning that destroying the enemy Recycler will [[InstantWinCondition instantly win the mission]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Netstorm}}'' had no less than 7 rather varied worker units for resource collection (construction didn't require units), which your initial choice of temple would limit to 3 or 4 available (counting the always-buildable golems). On some maps, these could pick up spells and also double as the only fully-controllable offensive units (Netstorm was one of the earliest instances of a "tower versus tower" style of gameplay).

* In ''Videogame/FromTheDepths'', transports are needed to move cargo between resource extraction zone, deliver repair material to fleets, and pick up salvage. Most of the AI factions have some sort of cargo ship with huge amounts of cargo and negligible defenses, [[NotPlayingFairWithResources though only the player actually requires them]].
* [[VideoGame/MachinesWiredForWar Machines]] has four different worker units, dozers for building, locators for finding resources, transporters for moving mined materials and technicians for researching new technologies.
* ''VideoGame/{{Homeworld}}'' has all construction done in TheMothership and (small craft only) in carriers. Resource collectors are used to [[AsteroidMiners mine asteroids]]. They then bring the resources back to the Mothership, a carrier, or a resource controller for processing. They can also be used to refuel fighters and corvettes (this feature is not present in the remastered version the game). Repair corvettes are used to, well, repair other ships. ''Cataclysm'' has the generically-named Worker, which actually combines the functions of a resource collector, a repair corvette, and a [[EnemyExchangeProgram salvage corvette]]. ''Homeworld 2'' has its resource collectors conduct mining and repair operations. The prequel ''VideoGame/HomeworldDesertsOfKharak'' has salvagers, which are the land-based version of the resource collector. Unlike the other games, salvagers only have one function - collecting resources. They also happen to be ''extremely'' slow, even slower than your [[BaseOnWheels land carrier]].
* ''VideoGame/{{FarGate}}'' has "Utility Pods" for resource collection ([[AsteroidMiners asteroid mining]]) and ship repair. There is also a Tug unit, necessary for moving immobile space stations, pre-fab kits, or disabled ships.

* ''VideoGame/AshesOfTheSingularity'': The PHC Engineer and Substrate Constructor, which construct buildings. In addition, the Substrate has the Harvester, which can harvest resources from unclaimed regions.

[[caption-width-right:239:Under-appreciated and really useful.]]

*** All except the Acolyte can harvest lumber, while the Undead use their basic combat unit, the Ghoul, to harvest it. The Wisp harvests slower than the others, but it doesn't consume the tree it's orbiting.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' series: As of ''Warcraft 3'', each faction has a distinctly different worker unit. All four primary workers(the Peon, Peasant, [[WillOTheWisp Wisp]] and Acolyte) can repair structures and mechanical units, harvest gold (by cycling in case of Peons & Peasants, or via magic in case of Wisps & Acolytes). All four can construct structures - directly in case of Peons & Peasants, through summoning in case of Acolytes, and through the 'growing' method in case of Wisps. All except the Acolyte can harvest lumber, while the Undead use their basic combat unit, the Ghoul, to harvest it. Multiple Peasants can be assigned to build a building faster at the cost of more resources, and can also be turned into emergency Militia to defend the base, while Wisps can explode to drain mana. Acolytes can also un-summon buildings to regain a fraction of the materials used to build it and can be sacrificed into Shades, explorers that can't attack but are invisible to most enemies. Peons are hidden while building structures, and can also enter Burrows and throw spears from them.

*** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'': The Prospector (Allies) and Ore Collector (Soviets and Empire, with different capabilities) move ore from ore mines to ore refineries. The Prospector also doubles as a constructor, since it can transform into a Command Hub and allow new buildings to be built nearby. The Soviets have a separate constructor type (the Sputnik) with the same transforming capabilities as the Prospector (the transformed form is called an Outpost). All of the Empire's buildings are unpacked from Nanocores.

** The Space Marine Servitor has no special abilities whatsoever, but is one of the faster moving and more durable (read: least paper-mache armored) worker units, and can later make use of the Space Marine's Drop Pod ability to quickly redeploy.

** The Dark Eldar Tortured Slave is the frailest of all worker units, but does not have to work on a built structure past starting it (but cannot speed up the construction by using multiple ones). They are also one of only two Dark Eldar units that can harvest souls, needed to fuel global abilities.

->''Ready to work!''
-->--Many Worker Units

* Certain [[DesignItYourselfEquipment subsystems]] in ''Videogame/StarRuler'' can make a ship a dedicated worker unit, or a MilitaryMashupMachine. Ramscoops allow ships to generate their own fuel (which can be transferred automatically to nearby ships), ammo generators [[CaptainObvious generate ammo]], cargo bays allow ships to trade good between planets, repair lasers allow ships to repair each other, mining lasers allow ships to [[AsteroidMiners mine asteroids for ore]] which can then be further processed on-board via a variety of machining subsystems. Inductors and Inducers allow ships to speed up or slow down other ships, to catapult ships out of orbit very quickly or to slow down a ship low on fuel.

* ''VideoGame/SinsOfASolarEmpire'': A space-based RTS, it has constructors, refinery ships and trade ships as workers, which construct orbital structures, help generate resources(via refineries) and help generate money(via trade ports) respectively. There are also colony ships, which [[CaptainObvious establish colonies]] on unclaimed or newly-conquered planets. As of ''[[ExpansionPack Entrenchment]]'', there are also special worker ships specifically designed to construct Starbases.

* Mostly averted in ''VideoGame/{{Achron}}'', all units of all three factions are able to fight, some of them are just capable of building as well, usually the infantry. Played straight for resources though, each race collects resources via [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin resource processors]] that are completely useless for everything else.

* This doesn't really effect gameplay at all, but the Iron Legion's Rifle Grunts in ''VideoGame/BattalionWars'' spend their every waking off-duty hour happily digging in the Nerocite mines.

* ''VideoGame/StarWarsGlacticBattleGrounds'' has worker units for all factions who can (in different configurations) do both the jobs harvesting resources cyclically and building and repairing structures. They are droids for all factions barring the Gungans (who use a non-sentient but related species called the Glurrgs), The Wookiees (Who do the work themselves), and the Separatist from the ''Clone Campaigns'' expansion (who use Geonosians).

* In ''VideoGame/HaloWars'' the closest thing to worker units are the UNSC [[MiniMecka Cyclops]] (a modified variant of the Mjolnir Mark III Exoskeleton Prototype that is a unique unit to Sergeant Forge in multi-player and skirmish modes.), and the Covenant Engineer (a race of Biological Supercomputers created by the {{Precursors Forerunners}} that were later enslaved by the Covenant). They are the only units that can repair buildings. Resource gathering can be handled by any infantry unit and certain levels and maps some GarrisonableStructures such as Forerunner Supply Elevators can even produce an infinite amount of resources or supply other benefits.