In module SFAD6 there is a new equipment item: the Hand computer 2kg 7000cr<br />"A hand computer is a portable lightweight (2kg) level 1 computer fitted with a short wave radio and powered from a power beltpack. The hand computer has the following level 1 programs: analysis, communication, and information storage. The communication program allows it to be interfaced with a larger computer via its short wave radio. Information can be passed freely between two computers over the radio link, allowing hand computer to access far larger amounts of data than it would be able to do with its restricted function point size."<br /><br />Few comments on this: its a lap top. and swap out the belt pack for a 20 SEU clip or just say that it has an internal 30 SEU power supply that can be recharged via a power cord adaptor. as for power endurance I would say in light of the Q&A in one of the Polygon magazines that states a robot can travel 1 km/ SEU on its parabattery then an computer ought to operate for 1 day/ SEU in its power supply with power being conserved by shutting it off. I'd also state that it has a interface jack to allow it to interface with computer not equipped with the radio. Also might specify a data jack that lets it plug into any hand held scanner to download its stored info or to upload a new chemical or genetic profile the scanner needs to watch for. As for the short wave radio I would want to swap it out for a chronocom which would give it an effective 3 km range for accessing open and unsecured networks. <br /><br />Now applying this to the game<br />despite its official cost of 7000 cr (which is a bit high IMO) I would say that its a far better tool kit for a computer expert character than the Robcom kit. and more likely of greater use especially if the adventure is taking place in and around a city or on a star liner or space station. on a classic "Volturnus" adventure it might be of little utility till the 2nd module but it could present a second front for storming of the 2 pirate outpost in that adventure: the computer expert could attempt to access the outpost computer and defeat its security. If he succeeds then he could manipulate the robot management program to shut down the robotic guards. Failure at defeating the computer security would lead to alerting the pirates and they could certainly reactivate the robots themselves and cut out computer control.<br />The PC wouldn't be able to make the robots attack the pirates without a total reprogramming of the functions of the robots and that would require direct physical access but just shutting them down even temporarily would could be a big plus.<br /><br />The down side is that a GM will have to have either prepared computer files to hand out to the PC or make stuff up on the fly. Personally I'd print a bunch of jpeg files of artwork to keep in a 3x5 index card box for when players ask for something I didn't prepare specifically; I can whip out a photo and hand it over as this is what your computer search turned up. Could even make a bunch of photos of miniatures like the one used in my avatar so when the players inevitably ask for info on a certain NPC i can just throw out a pic and not have to have too much in the way of other info on him.
- Log in to post comments