Neural Jack

[shammond42]

Another augment question...

One of my players wants a TL 14 Neural Jack, which is described as "matching the capabilities of a neural link and wafer jack of its Tech Level." A TL 14 neural link has a computer/1, and the wafer jack has a computer/2. How do these fit together? I can see three possibilities...

1. The neural jack has two separate computers a /1 and a /2, meaning any software has to fit in one or the other.
2. The /1 and /2 combine to be a single /3 computer
3. The jack only has the more powerful of the two computers, a single /2

My reading of RAW would be option 1, the player wants option 2, and I suspect the intention was option 3.

 

[Limpin Legin]

Yes (1), because RAW states the neural jack "matches the capabilities of a neural link and a wafer of its tech level."
That means the capabilities is limited to a computer/1 and a computer/2 , NOT a combined computer/3, for that will be a different capability which could be available at higher tech level, but not at TL14.

 

[Vormaerin]

The correct reading is 3. It has the better of the two computers. It is a Waferjack that ALSO performs as a neural link. The Neural link on its own just connects an existing computer to your nervous system so you can use physical skill expert systems and is otherwise just a neural commlink.

The reason is it not #1 is because it's one piece of equipment. It's not buying a wafer jack, a neural comm, and a linkage between them, such that each piece needs its own computer. But there's no real harm in putting a 2+1 in there is consensus that this works better at your table. Just keep in mind that the Computer/1 on the commslink is not part of the Waferjack if you do that.

It is definitely NOT 3, because that would let you run Bandwidth 3 programs and neither system lets you do that. That is a TL15 capability.

 

[Limpin Legin]

The correct reading is 3. It has the better of the two computers. It is a Waferjack that ALSO performs as a neural link. The Neural link on its own just connects an existing computer to your nervous system so you can use physical skill expert systems and is otherwise just a neural commlink.

The reason is it not #1 is because it's one piece of equipment. It's not buying a wafer jack, a neural comm, and a linkage between them, such that each piece needs its own computer. But there's no real harm in putting a 2+1 in there is consensus that this works better at your table. Just keep in mind that the Computer/1 on the commslink is not part of the Waferjack if you do that.

It is definitely NOT 3, because that would let you run Bandwidth 3 programs and neither system lets you do that. That is a TL15 capability.

Regardless if it is one piece of equipment, the result intended is that it "matches the capabilities" of the two separate pieces of equipment. RAW, that means a Neural Jack has to have a 2+1 computers to make that statement correct. If only had computer/2, then the specification would be short-changed. If had computer/3, then it would have more than is specified.

It is possible to get computer desks or computer cases made for two computers, or a motherboard for two processors or mobile phones that accept two SIM cards. Therefore there is nothing especially weird or abnormal in having two computers integrated on the same board.

 

[Endie]

@Vormaerin is right, I'm sure: adding a computer/3 in would exceed the capabilities of both the waferjack and the neural link. And his argument against option 2 (currently typo-ed to say #3, but we know what he means) is very compelling, since it would need to explicitly contradict the description:

One of my players wants a TL 14 Neural Jack, which is described as "matching the capabilities of a neural link and wafer jack of its Tech Level." A TL 14 neural link has a computer/1, and the wafer jack has a computer/2.

As Vormaerin points out, sticking in a computer/3 would not match the capabilities of the pair of its tech level, since at TL14 combining the two to make a computer/3 would match the capabilities of the TL15 Wafer Jack (which has computer/3), not a TL 14 version.

 

[swordtart]

2+1 allows you to run 3 levels of software (1x2+1 or 3x1). Robot Handbook allows memory upgrades that increase overall bandwidth but do not increase the maximum bandwidth of any individual software item. Sort of like a maths co-processor.

Personally, unless RAW contradicts other RAW I am less bothered in whether it "makes sense" from a fluff standpoint. It is the far future. Our current IT paradigm is changing very quickly and I wouldn't hang too much on how things work now.