Cannot wrap my head around wafer jacks.

I think the key takeaways are:
Storage:
They can hold a total bandwidth of Expert Packages equal to their bandwidth capacity (4 in the case of the TL12 model).
Unlike a conventional specialised computer, you can swap Expert Packages by just reloading the Wafer Jack, this requires a little time (unspecified) and can be done by the user easily enough.

Runtime:
You can run a total Bandwidth of Expert packages equal to the processor capacity (Computer/n) simultaneously.
The included interface to run them does not take up any bandwidth or processor capacity.
The included interface only allows the Expert packages to give you a +1 on a skill you already have at least level 0.
The level of the Expert package determines the maximum difficulty of a task it can assist with, not the level of bonus it gives you.

Other:
Since it is also a Computer/n you can apply other computer options such as:

You could upload the Intellect interface via the data port. This would use up both capacity and bandwidth but would allow you to use Expert packages for skills you did not have.

You could have zero mass comms built-in. Upgrading this would require surgery so it would be best to decide this before installation. This single option would open up a whole raft of other options and in many cases give the equivalent of a Neural Comm. It would also allow uploading of software wirelessly (removing the need to use the physical port but still requiring the time) and allow accessing software held on other computers effectively expanding the processor capacity and reducing the impact of the limited onboard storage as you can now access external storage. This would open another vector of attack however so you will probably want to upgrade your security package if you took this route.

Ditto you could have a camera as part of the computer side of things if specified at time of purchase. But unless you have a Neural Link I don't think you would be able to use your natural eyes as cameras and it might not be much practical use.

As databases take up no bandwidth you could have as many of those as you wish sitting in your head permanently. These can be uploaded from the data port at need without requiring surgery.

You can run a Translator Package. This would provide something like subtitles or dubbing but wouldn't enable you to speak the language necessarily (as that involves moving muscles) but it could provide you with a internal audio feed that you could try to mimic.

Unless you keep very careful control of any media you intend plugging into your Wafer Jack you probably want to scan it with a good Security package before it goes anywhere near that data port. You might want Security of some level running on the Wafer Jack itself as a back-up, but the limited computer capacity probably means it will be fairly basic.

Some clever spook-ware might enable someone to override your Wafer Jack, but its very limitations prevents them controlling you, just messing up the interface which you consciously access and either crashing it or providing a false feed. If you combine it with a Neural Link however you can use physical skills, and that might allow more intrusive hacking.

The Robot Handbook also has rules for Agent Wafers that allow another personality to be assumed. These are not available to the private citizen and require the high end augmentations, but provide another data point on how Wafer Jacks work.
 
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Most people already have their muscles "wired" to be controlled by their brains...

the wafer skill is written to the brain, the brain controls the muscles. How it works I have no idea, but tubules may be a suitable handwave...

Bring MgT wafers into line with T5 and MWM wafers...

Note T5 also has wafer jack as the control mechanism for robots, vehicles even ships - you can plug your wafer jack into a suitable control interface and control the machine with your mind directly.
 
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Most people already have their muscles "wired" to be controlled by their brains...

the wafer skill is written you the brain, the brain controls the muscles. How it works I have no idea, but tubules may be a suitable handwave...

Bring MgT wafers into line with T5 and MWM wafers...

Note T5 also has wafer jack as the control mechanism for robots, vehicles even ships - you can plug your wafer jack into a suitable control interface and control the machine with your mind directly.
Wafer Jack in MGT2 is a computer controlled by the body. The Neural Jack which allows physical skills is a computer that controls the body.

I think the distinction is useful.
 
Wafer Jack in MGT2 is a computer controlled by the body. The Neural Jack which allows physical skills is a computer that controls the body.

I think the distinction is useful.
It is a useful distinction, but the wafer tech of T5 is much better described and explained.

Wafer is a catch all term for the data transfer cartridge, there are small wafers such as those used in personality, entertainment and skill wafers. There are much larger wafers used to transfer vast amounts of data.

The wafer jack is a cybernetic imlpant that allows interface between the man and the machine, where it gets "interesting" is the memory/personality downloading and uploading, skill wafer editing, and entertainment wafers. This is the bit that MgT has yet to get to grips with.
 
It is a useful distinction, but the wafer tech of T5 is much better described and explained.

Wafer is a catch all term for the data transfer cartridge, there are small wafers such as those used in personality, entertainment and skill wafers. There are much larger wafers used to transfer vast amounts of data.

The wafer jack is a cybernetic imlpant that allows interface between the man and the machine, where it gets "interesting" is the memory/personality downloading and uploading, skill wafer editing, and entertainment wafers. This is the bit that MgT has yet to get to grips with.
My interest in T5 fell away some time ago as it was all a bit much to assimilate (to be fair at the time I acquired it, I think it was still a work in progress). At that point there were plenty of words about Wafer Jacks, but not a lot of extra rules. I am not sure what the current version is or whether it added more content. I see the reviews of the 5.10 edition on Drivethru are still as contentious.

I would prefer not to be buying an RPG kit as I have little enough time as it is without making a game from raw ingredients, but if it has matured into an RPG then I might consider another look.
 
It is still at least two more editing passes away from a finished game, and the actual game system remains broken.

If someone were to edit out the duplication, correct some of the remaining errors, and then slap the MgT system to it it would be quite a good game version :)

It offers quite a toolkit of options that are, at the moment, missing in MgT.
 
Almost all of the benefits of a wafer jack are provided by a hand computer on your belt or wrist, or computer weave, running the same software and hooked up to smart glasses.

Disadvantage is those gadgets can be taken off you or the wifi blocked.

Advantage is you don't suffer a penalty on lower tech medical treatment. Although if you already have other augments at the same or higher TL, that's a moot point.

And the budget version (hand computer with Expert/1 software for skills you already have) is pretty budget, and works just as well for the majority of situations. And is arguably the most Traveller for the purists.
 
Almost all of the benefits of a wafer jack are provided by a hand computer on your belt or wrist, or computer weave, running the same software and hooked up to smart glasses.

Disadvantage is those gadgets can be taken off you or the wifi blocked.

Advantage is you don't suffer a penalty on lower tech medical treatment. Although if you already have other augments at the same or higher TL, that's a moot point.

And the budget version (hand computer with Expert/1 software for skills you already have) is pretty budget, and works just as well for the majority of situations. And is arguably the most Traveller for the purists.
You also don't walk around looking like Lobot.
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star-trek-discovery-detmer-owo.jpg
 
Almost all of the benefits of a wafer jack are provided by a hand computer on your belt or wrist, or computer weave, running the same software and hooked up to smart glasses.

Disadvantage is those gadgets can be taken off you or the wifi blocked.

Advantage is you don't suffer a penalty on lower tech medical treatment. Although if you already have other augments at the same or higher TL, that's a moot point.

And the budget version (hand computer with Expert/1 software for skills you already have) is pretty budget, and works just as well for the majority of situations. And is arguably the most Traveller for the purists.
If someone is determined to take my computer off me, I'd much rather they steal my hand computer than rip it out of my skull :)
 
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