Computers and Databases

[mancerbear]

So, I'm helping a player purchase equipment for his character when he asks me a question about databases. In the core book a database is priced between 10 - 10000 Cr, and says that it is a large store do information on a topic. Fair enough, so Decides he likes the idea of a planetary database with general library data on systems in the Spinward Marches. Now, how do I price that? There's no guidelines at all in the core book.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Does the player have access to a ship? Library software is included in all shipboard computers.

If it is something like an encyclopaedia, that does not change often, I would say it is rather cheap.

If it contains information that changes often and has to be constantly curated, like e.g. the balance sheets of all corporations in the sector, I would say it is more expensive.

As far as I can see your player wants general, mostly well known, and unchanging information. I would call that a very cheap database, even if he wants something better than what the travel agents/ship rentals/starship fuel supplier provides for free.

 

[Condottiere]

Information gets updated; he could retain a sector wide information broker and pay a monthly access fee.

 

[mancerbear]

The player wants some reduncy. He wants to have access to data when he is away from the ship and not able to contact it. Either way, the pricing system for databases is very loose. Hopefully the equipment catalogue will help address it.