Created Sunday 04 August 2013

HARDWARE GADGETS As with other types of equipment, computers and other hardware may be modified by gadgets. Some gadgets are restricted to specif-ic PLs or higher, while others are available uni-versally. ACTIVE MEMORY UPGRADE The number of memory slots the computer has to hold programs in active memory in-creases by +1. This gadget may be applied more than once, its effects stack. Restrictions: None. Purchase DC Modifier: +2 ADDED STORAGE The number of memory slots the computer has to store inactive programs and data in-creases by +3. This gadget may be applied more then once, its effects stack. Restrictions: None. Purchase DC Modifier: +1. COMPUTER VOICE (PL 6) The computer voice is a voice interface that allows a computer to receive commands and converse verbally with users. The system in-cludes the ability to identify and authenticate specific voices. It is all but impossible to fool the au-thentication system of the ship’s voice, requir-ing a Bluff check (DC 40). On any failed at-tempt, the computer notifies the administrator or sounds an alarm. Restrictions: None. Purchase DC Modifier: +2. CO-PROCESSOR Adding an additional processor to a computer increases its speed and power, granting a spe-cial +1 equipment bonus to any Computer Use checks made while using that computer. This bonus stacks with any equipment bonus that the computer’s base processor may al-ready provide. Restrictions: None Purchase DC Modifier: +1 DURABLE The hit point total of the equipment is in-creased by 50% of the original total. This gadget may be selected multiple times, each time increasing the hit point total by 50% of the original total. Restrictions: None. Purchase DC Modifier: +2 FLIMSY The hardness of the gear is decreased by –2, to a minimum of 0. This flaw can be selected multiple times. Restrictions: None. Purchase DC Modifier: -1 FRAGILE The hit point total of the hardware is de-creased by 25% of the original total. This flaw can be selected up to four times, each time decreasing the hit point total of the hardware by 25% of the original total, to a minimum of 1 hp. Restrictions: None. Purchase DC Modifier: -2 GID UPGRADE (PL 6) A Grid Interface Device (GID) allows a com-puter to connect to the Grid and interact with its virtual environment. Most computers come with a GID, but some GIDs are better than others (see Casting a Shadow, below). A com-puter’s GID can be upgraded, but can never be of better quality than the computer’s pro-cessor. Aside from that limitation, this gadget may be selected multiple times, improving the GID by one step each time. Selecting this gadget for a computer does not come with a GID adds a Marginal GID, which can then be improved within the normal limitations. Restrictions: Only computers from PL 6 or above may have GIDs. Purchase DC Modifier: +3 HOLOGRAPHIC DISPLAY (PL 6) Three-dimensional holography displays vastly increase a computer’s graphic capability and projecting a miniature 3D display around the operator. Restrictions: Computer must have good or better processor, and increases computer size by one category. Purchase DC Modifier: +3 IMPROVED DATABASE The computer’s files contain an up-to-date, cross-referenced information database on a wide range of common and uncommon sub-jects, granting a +2 equipment bonus on any Research checks made using the computer. Restrictions: None. Purchase DC Modifier: +2 INCREASED SIZE The size of the hardware is increased by one size category. Restrictions: None. Purchase DC Modifier: -2 INCREASED WEIGHT The weight of the hardware is increased by 50%. Restrictions: None. Purchase DC Modifier: -2 MULTIPLE USE ITEM Similar in function to the alternate weapon gadget. the multiple use item gadget allows the character to integrate the function of two separate items into a single device. When selecting the multiple use item gadget. choose a second object. That object is integrated into the base object and can be used at any time. Additionally. you must choose whether or not the alternate object may be physically separated from the base item or not at the time of purchase. This gadget may be selected multiple times. each time adding a single additional piece of equipment to the base object. Restrictions: The character must also purchase the piece of equipment to be inte-grated separately from the base item, before the gadget modification is made. Purchase DC Modifier: +1 PAINT-ON LCD One of the most revolutionary advances in computer technology during the Information Age and beyond is the paint-on LCD gadget. This allows almost any surface to be used as a computer display, as it grafts the color-changing pixels common to all display devic-es onto another surface. While mundane ap-plications of this technology might be used in fields like advertising (to display company logos and advertisements on cars, the sides of buildings, and even clothing, for example), other applications are found almost every-where. The surface of a desk can be trans-formed into a display for face-to-face commu-nications, or a riot shield can be made do dis-play warnings in multiple languages to po-tential dissidents. Any piece of equipment with the paint-on LCD gadget can be used as a display for any piece of computer or communications equipment. Additionally, weapons and ar-mor may make use of the paint-on LCD gadget at the normal cost, but gain no spe-cial benefit from the modification other than being able to display data. Restrictions: None. Purchase DC Modifier: +4. PROCESSOR UPGRADE All computers come with a base processor, determined by the type of computer pur-chased. For an additional charge, that proces-sor can be replaced with a better one. Be-cause of limitations imposed by design, some computers can only house processors up to a certain quality, as noted in their descriptions. Otherwise, this gadget can be selected multi-ple times, each time improving the processor’s quality by one step. Restrictions: None. Purchase DC Modifier: +4 REDUCED SIZE The size of the hardware is reduced by one size category Restrictions: None. Purchase DC Modifier: +2. REDUCED WEIGHT The weight of the gear is reduced by 25%. Restrictions: None. Purchase Dc Modifier: +2 SATELLITE DATALINK At the dawn of the Information Age, the val-ue of knowledge and accurate intelligence became a crucial aspect of warfare. The ability to connect to a global communications net-work was critical to the success of any army, as intelligence traveled at the speed of light across the globe to command centers safe be-hind defended battle lines. The satellite data-link gadget enables any piece of equipment, from computer to communication device to heads-up display, to connect to a global (or, if in place, galactic) satellite network and com-municate with computer systems in far re-mote areas. Restrictions: This gadget may only be used with gear containing computerized com-munications equipment. Purchase DC Modifier: +1. SATELLITE IMAGERY RECEIVER (PL 6) A computer equipped with a satellite imagery receiver can access real-time images from sat-ellites—providing a bird’s-eye view of any exte-rior location where satellite coverage is availa-ble. This device not only provides an up-to-the-minute map of an area, but it indicates which areas are lit and the location of personnel on the ground. Obviously, normal satellite imagery doesn’t penetrate buildings or dense cover from foliage or weather conditions. Even when conditions are ideal, the total window of surveillance of a specific location is rarely more than 20 minutes or so. The receiver does not give the user any ability to control the satellite’s trajectory, field of view, or speed, though she can zoom in or out. Likewise, the satellite imagery receiver is coded only to access public satellites. Access-ing private or restricted satellites, or attempt-ing to command a satellite in any way, re-quires hacking into its systems. Restrictions: None. Purchase DC Modifier: +5 SOFTSCREEN MONITOR (PL 6) A softscreen monitor is a collapsible, flat-screen monitor made of flexible optic microfi-bers. It can be rolled up for easy transport. Restrictions: None. Purchase DC Modifier: +2 SURVEILLANCE ROUND RECEIVER (PL 6) The surveillance round (see Chapter 8) is use-less without a monitor equipped to receive its transmission. This receiver unit attaches to any video display (computer or otherwise) and dis-plays the transmission from the surveillance round. Restrictions: None. Purchase DC Modifier: +1 TOUGH The hardness of the equipment is increased by 2. This gadget can be taken multiple times, its effects stack. Restrictions: None. Purchase DC Modifier: +1 TRAJECTORY DETECTOR (PL 6) Consisting of a network of sensors in a light-weight vest (which can be worn over clothing or armor) and networked to a portable com-puter, the trajectory detector extrapolates the course of a projectile backward from the point of impact—pinpointing the attacker’s location. It is mainly used by military and law enforce-ment personnel to locate sniper—though, of course, it is useless until the sniper fires. A trajectory detector grants the user an equipment bonus on Spot checks made to lo-cate an attacker: +2 for each shot fired. It does not provide any information about the attack-er other than the direction from which the at-tack was made.