Am I missing anything or does anyone see any problems with this?
Nexus Computers
Computers are a common type of gear with a gear rating as listed below. Their rating is added to all software rolls as well as other skills checks depending on the function of the system. The rating is also added to all DC made by hackers attempting things in another computer. Computers use the Computer Skill to use, and Operations to do most ship board activities.
+0) - Basic processing of a single set of tasks - computer that monitors your engine. TL 6
+1) - PDA or Cell phone TL 6
+2) - Basic desktop or laptop. TL 6
+3) - Specialized laptop, Linux system, fighter jet computer. TL 6
+4) - Powerful mainframe for a large system. TL 6
+5) - Companion System TL 7
+6) - AI system for a droid. TL 7
+7) - Independent AI system with artificial self awareness. TL 7
+8) - City AI Systems TL 8
+9) - Integrated Interplanetary system TL 9
+10) - TL 10 systems
+11) - TL 11 systems
+12) - TL 12 systems
Capitol Ship computers will often be up to date on the latest computers, or this may be reserved for R&D labs, depending on the culture. Smaller ships will have considerably less powerful systems. TL 10 fighters would usually only have a +6 level system. They don't need any more. Other computers may only be a +2 or a +3 if that is all that is needed to do it's job. The earlier systems become integrated into everyday things to the point that they are hardly noticed.
Class 1 Package: Civilian Systems
Class 2 Package: Military small craft systems
Class 3 Package: Medium Craft Systems
Class 4 Package: Capitol Ship Systems
Computer Packages by Tech Level
TL 6 (+3/+3/+3/+4)
TL 7 (+5/+5/+6/+6)
TL 8 (+6/+6/+6/+7)
TL 9 (+6/+6/+7/+8)
TL 10 (+6/+6/+7/+8)
TL 11 (+7/+8/+8/+10)
TL 12 (+7/+8/+9/+11)
Programs
Different programs could provide a lot of different bonuses but there are so many different programs possible that it would cause you to spend all of your time keeping up with the programs. So the simple way is that your system bonus applies across the board on any system you have. So a +5 computer gives a +5 for any program that you are using it for. It should make sense for what you are doing however. It will give you a bonus for academics because you are looking up information.
It would help you find out lots of things but you have to be careful when applying it elsewhere. You may have a large medical database but you still need a person to do the work. Don't combine systems on top of each other. Your sensor bonus is already using computers to process the information so don't stack it.
Artificial Intellegence
AI systems are better able to deal with and understand speech. They can organize information better and faster then a regular computer can. Some AI systems may have Sentience and Sapience but it is not an automatic thing no matter the tech level. They are built in features. Characters with an AI mind can be created at Tech Level 7 and above. Otherwise you don't have to worry about an everyday AI system suddenly gaining sentience and sapience. Not unless the GM is feeling cruel.
Nodes
Some systems are only a single node similar to your laptop. Other systems are a complex series of nodes each with their own access and firewalls. Starships tend to have a node for each kind of system such as Navigation, Communications, Helm, etc. This means that just because you have linked up with a ship you don't necessarily have access to everything at once.
In order to take control over a system in a ship you would need to access one system, usually communications, and start from there. In each node you would need to access that node, give yourself permission, prevent yourself from being locked out, and hide your activities. Then you could safely do anything in that system. If you don't do these things at least in the first node then it would be very easy to stop you from effecting the other systems just by shutting down your access to that first node. If you prevent yourself from being locked out, even if they discover you then they will not be able to lock you out quickly.
Once you access a Node in another system your computer's bonus does not apply to actions that are a part of that system's normal operations. So if you were hacking into the Navigation system of a capitol ship then you would use your computer's bonus and the DC is that Node's firewall rating. Once you are in and you decide to look up the charts on a system in that Navigation computer then use that Node's bonus versus a different DC.
If you decide not to bother trying to gain an access level in that node then use the Node's firewall DC or the DC of the task you are trying, whichever is higher, for all actions. In that case use your computer's bonus and not the Node's bonus. Under no circumstances should you combine both of those bonuses.
Actions at your skill level are at least complex actions. Some of the actions at the levels below your own are simple actions unless they would logically take more time (writing programs, editing code, etc). If you get a critical success with a complex action you can spend that critical to make it a simple action and then do another normally simple action.
Access Level
You must be focused in Computer in order to hack in the first place. You must first make an access test with a DC listed under Focused skill challenge. Use your computer's bonus in this test. The Access test is a simple action. So if you are trying to access someone's computer remotely and they have a +3 system then you roll against a DC of 28.
Assuming you succeed in that test you need to change your access level from Guest to Authorized. If you are going to change something or access someone else's files you need to make another test to change your access level to Administrator.
Access Level:
Banned – You have been banned from accessing the computer from your location for at least 24 hours.
Guest – You are a guest user and you have access to any public information on the computer. Personal and secure computers don't have this level.
Authorized – You are considered an authorized user and have normal levels of access.
Administrator – You are considered an administrator by the system and it will give you access to anyone's files. This is required for secret or private information.
Basic: You can use basic word processing, get on the local Internets, and read E-Mail.
Easy (10) - Simple GUI you are familiar with.
Moderate (15) - More complex GUI. You can disable or delete programs on a computer that you are an administrator on.
Difficult (20) - Complicated and unfamilar GUI.
Trained: You know programming. You can mess with your OS, take it apart and put it back together, and alter how it works. You can automate any action related to it.
Easy (15) - Alter setting, disable programs, set up something to occur at a certain time if you are administrator. Crash a computer.
Moderate (20) - You can write a basic program. Remote control another computer or peripherals if you have access. Use a computer that is of an older tech level.
Difficult (25) - You can write a complex program. Fixing damaged databases. Use a computer of a higher tech level.
Focused: You know how to get into other people's computer with out their permission over a network or Internet connection.
Easy (20) - Gain access to someone else's computer on site. Change access level in an unsecure computer. Force a virus through in to a computer you have access to.
Moderate (25) - Gain access to someone else's computer remotely. Change access level in a secure computer. Reroute your trail through other computers to make it more difficult to trace.
Difficult (30) - Gain access to a secure computer remotely. Change access level in a military level secure computer.
Mastery: Hacking on a larger scale. This is for hacking secure systems.
Easy (25) - Erase the existence of a person from all computers or add a new identity.
Moderate (30) - Alter a lower level security clearance.
Difficult (35) - Alter a high level security clearance.
VR and Hacking
VR allows you to see a virtual environment as realistic or unrealistic as you wish. However hacking is not about manipulating a bunch of images like in cyberpunk novels. You don't “sneak by” a monitoring program represented by a guard that can look the other way while you hide behind a virtual plant. The VR system for a corporation would be on some PR server and have nothing really to do with the actual running of things. Hacking will still involve writing and rewriting code, even if that code and keyboard are floating in VR space. The concept of creating a virtual gun as a program to crash other programs and make it a virtual game along with the regular game is too silly for words. All you would need is someone to step outside of the metaphor and start watching these virtual walkways from above and notice whenever anyone tried to hide behind the fake plant from the fake guard.
You can't have your avatar in VR “damaged.” Being punched in VR means nothing, except if your in some game that allows for it. You can't kill people through their interface. None of that occurs. Hacking works basically the same in the future as it does now – with writing lots of code.
Nexus Computers
Computers are a common type of gear with a gear rating as listed below. Their rating is added to all software rolls as well as other skills checks depending on the function of the system. The rating is also added to all DC made by hackers attempting things in another computer. Computers use the Computer Skill to use, and Operations to do most ship board activities.
+0) - Basic processing of a single set of tasks - computer that monitors your engine. TL 6
+1) - PDA or Cell phone TL 6
+2) - Basic desktop or laptop. TL 6
+3) - Specialized laptop, Linux system, fighter jet computer. TL 6
+4) - Powerful mainframe for a large system. TL 6
+5) - Companion System TL 7
+6) - AI system for a droid. TL 7
+7) - Independent AI system with artificial self awareness. TL 7
+8) - City AI Systems TL 8
+9) - Integrated Interplanetary system TL 9
+10) - TL 10 systems
+11) - TL 11 systems
+12) - TL 12 systems
Capitol Ship computers will often be up to date on the latest computers, or this may be reserved for R&D labs, depending on the culture. Smaller ships will have considerably less powerful systems. TL 10 fighters would usually only have a +6 level system. They don't need any more. Other computers may only be a +2 or a +3 if that is all that is needed to do it's job. The earlier systems become integrated into everyday things to the point that they are hardly noticed.
Class 1 Package: Civilian Systems
Class 2 Package: Military small craft systems
Class 3 Package: Medium Craft Systems
Class 4 Package: Capitol Ship Systems
Computer Packages by Tech Level
TL 6 (+3/+3/+3/+4)
TL 7 (+5/+5/+6/+6)
TL 8 (+6/+6/+6/+7)
TL 9 (+6/+6/+7/+8)
TL 10 (+6/+6/+7/+8)
TL 11 (+7/+8/+8/+10)
TL 12 (+7/+8/+9/+11)
Programs
Different programs could provide a lot of different bonuses but there are so many different programs possible that it would cause you to spend all of your time keeping up with the programs. So the simple way is that your system bonus applies across the board on any system you have. So a +5 computer gives a +5 for any program that you are using it for. It should make sense for what you are doing however. It will give you a bonus for academics because you are looking up information.
It would help you find out lots of things but you have to be careful when applying it elsewhere. You may have a large medical database but you still need a person to do the work. Don't combine systems on top of each other. Your sensor bonus is already using computers to process the information so don't stack it.
Artificial Intellegence
AI systems are better able to deal with and understand speech. They can organize information better and faster then a regular computer can. Some AI systems may have Sentience and Sapience but it is not an automatic thing no matter the tech level. They are built in features. Characters with an AI mind can be created at Tech Level 7 and above. Otherwise you don't have to worry about an everyday AI system suddenly gaining sentience and sapience. Not unless the GM is feeling cruel.
Nodes
Some systems are only a single node similar to your laptop. Other systems are a complex series of nodes each with their own access and firewalls. Starships tend to have a node for each kind of system such as Navigation, Communications, Helm, etc. This means that just because you have linked up with a ship you don't necessarily have access to everything at once.
In order to take control over a system in a ship you would need to access one system, usually communications, and start from there. In each node you would need to access that node, give yourself permission, prevent yourself from being locked out, and hide your activities. Then you could safely do anything in that system. If you don't do these things at least in the first node then it would be very easy to stop you from effecting the other systems just by shutting down your access to that first node. If you prevent yourself from being locked out, even if they discover you then they will not be able to lock you out quickly.
Once you access a Node in another system your computer's bonus does not apply to actions that are a part of that system's normal operations. So if you were hacking into the Navigation system of a capitol ship then you would use your computer's bonus and the DC is that Node's firewall rating. Once you are in and you decide to look up the charts on a system in that Navigation computer then use that Node's bonus versus a different DC.
If you decide not to bother trying to gain an access level in that node then use the Node's firewall DC or the DC of the task you are trying, whichever is higher, for all actions. In that case use your computer's bonus and not the Node's bonus. Under no circumstances should you combine both of those bonuses.
Actions at your skill level are at least complex actions. Some of the actions at the levels below your own are simple actions unless they would logically take more time (writing programs, editing code, etc). If you get a critical success with a complex action you can spend that critical to make it a simple action and then do another normally simple action.
Access Level
You must be focused in Computer in order to hack in the first place. You must first make an access test with a DC listed under Focused skill challenge. Use your computer's bonus in this test. The Access test is a simple action. So if you are trying to access someone's computer remotely and they have a +3 system then you roll against a DC of 28.
Assuming you succeed in that test you need to change your access level from Guest to Authorized. If you are going to change something or access someone else's files you need to make another test to change your access level to Administrator.
Access Level:
Banned – You have been banned from accessing the computer from your location for at least 24 hours.
Guest – You are a guest user and you have access to any public information on the computer. Personal and secure computers don't have this level.
Authorized – You are considered an authorized user and have normal levels of access.
Administrator – You are considered an administrator by the system and it will give you access to anyone's files. This is required for secret or private information.
Basic: You can use basic word processing, get on the local Internets, and read E-Mail.
Easy (10) - Simple GUI you are familiar with.
Moderate (15) - More complex GUI. You can disable or delete programs on a computer that you are an administrator on.
Difficult (20) - Complicated and unfamilar GUI.
Trained: You know programming. You can mess with your OS, take it apart and put it back together, and alter how it works. You can automate any action related to it.
Easy (15) - Alter setting, disable programs, set up something to occur at a certain time if you are administrator. Crash a computer.
Moderate (20) - You can write a basic program. Remote control another computer or peripherals if you have access. Use a computer that is of an older tech level.
Difficult (25) - You can write a complex program. Fixing damaged databases. Use a computer of a higher tech level.
Focused: You know how to get into other people's computer with out their permission over a network or Internet connection.
Easy (20) - Gain access to someone else's computer on site. Change access level in an unsecure computer. Force a virus through in to a computer you have access to.
Moderate (25) - Gain access to someone else's computer remotely. Change access level in a secure computer. Reroute your trail through other computers to make it more difficult to trace.
Difficult (30) - Gain access to a secure computer remotely. Change access level in a military level secure computer.
Mastery: Hacking on a larger scale. This is for hacking secure systems.
Easy (25) - Erase the existence of a person from all computers or add a new identity.
Moderate (30) - Alter a lower level security clearance.
Difficult (35) - Alter a high level security clearance.
VR and Hacking
VR allows you to see a virtual environment as realistic or unrealistic as you wish. However hacking is not about manipulating a bunch of images like in cyberpunk novels. You don't “sneak by” a monitoring program represented by a guard that can look the other way while you hide behind a virtual plant. The VR system for a corporation would be on some PR server and have nothing really to do with the actual running of things. Hacking will still involve writing and rewriting code, even if that code and keyboard are floating in VR space. The concept of creating a virtual gun as a program to crash other programs and make it a virtual game along with the regular game is too silly for words. All you would need is someone to step outside of the metaphor and start watching these virtual walkways from above and notice whenever anyone tried to hide behind the fake plant from the fake guard.
You can't have your avatar in VR “damaged.” Being punched in VR means nothing, except if your in some game that allows for it. You can't kill people through their interface. None of that occurs. Hacking works basically the same in the future as it does now – with writing lots of code.
