Upgrading your gun with a comuter/0, why?

[CosmicGamer]

I’ve been looking at the rules for up grading weapons and it states that you can add a Computer/0 at TL 11 to any gun.

As I read the computer programme rules, what would the benefit of this be as you can’t use any of the Expert software. Even if you then upgraded the computer to a specialised one so it could hold the Expert programme, you still couldn’t use it, as you can’t run the Intelligent Interface software.

Is my interpretation of the rules correct or am I way off.

You are right to question this.

Let me give my interpretation of the rules. First,

a Computer/0 can only run one Program/0 at a time.

Storage space is effectively unlimited at TL9 and above.

So, from this, it looks to me like an intelligent weapon Computer/0 upgrade can store an unlimited number of programs but run only a single Program/0 at a time.

Upgrading to a specialized computer/0 and expert software.

If you are using the computer to access an Expert program, then you need Intelligent interface to get the benefit.

I agree that a specialized computer/0 won't be running an Expert/1 program because they also require Intellect/1. A specialized computer/0 can run one 0 rated program and one program it is specialized in at up to a 1 rating.

Using a computer without an interface is a formidable (-6DM) task.

Well, since you can run one rating 0 program on it, that basically limits you to interface 0 (maybe it provides status and controls for the gun? Eh), Security 0 (no one can mess with your gun), Translator 0 (Don't share a language with the person you're about to shoot? Let your gun translate your threats!), and Agent 0 (Shoot computer viruses along with bullets!).

So you shut down the interface so that another program can be loaded instead, but wait, there is no interface. How do you bring up the other programs that are stored? That's going to be a formidable task. So if you are running the highly needed Interface/0 on a Computer/0 you can't run anything else unless the computer is specialized. Is this right? Are all Computer/0's specialized then? I guess it needs to be a Computer/0 with a ipod specialization so that you have an interface for selecting songs and updating your play lists. I hope I missed it and somewhere it states that interface runs for free.

Agents, they are what get things done and they seam to have slipped past everyone unnoticed until now.

They[Agent programs] are effectively specialized combinations of Computer Expert and Intellect programs.

If I'm reading things right, an Intelligent Weapon with Computer/0 could be specialized to run an Agent/1 program and be running Interface 0 too. What is this Agent/1 program doing? I leave that to you. If I divulge too much, the agents will hunt me down and kill me.

An interesting quirk is that if you specialize the computer for Interface, it runs for free and you can swap between all the Agent/0 and other 0 rated programs.

 

[Bobson]

So you shut down the interface so that another program can be loaded instead, but wait, there is no interface. How do you bring up the other programs that are stored? That's going to be a formidable task. So if you are running the highly needed Interface/0 on a Computer/0 you can't run anything else unless the computer is specialized. Is this right? Are all Computer/0's specialized then? I guess it needs to be a Computer/0 with a ipod specialization so that you have an interface for selecting songs and updating your play lists. I hope I missed it and somewhere it states that interface runs for free.

It could work like MacOS did before System 7. When you launch a program, it quits the Finder, and when you quit that program it relaunches the interface so you can launch something else. Each program has its own interface to itself, there's just no global interface.

 

[CosmicGamer]

It could work like MacOS did before System 7. When you launch a program, it quits the Finder, and when you quit that program it relaunches the interface so you can launch something else. Each program has its own interface to itself, there's just no global interface.

I guess it depends on what you consider an interface to be. Is it the OS? Is it the 'Finder' (sorry, don't know what that is)? Is it the keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, voice, video, hardware interface?

Using a computer without an interface is a formidable (-6DM) task.

This quote is listed under effect for Interface/0. Interface/0 is included with the computer. To me, running and utilizing software is 'using a computer'. How else is the computer used?

I certainly think it would be possible for characters to write or seek out software that does have an 'interface' included. I remember video, mouse, printer and other drivers used to be part of each individual DOS program. However, the drawback might be that you can only run one program at a time. For a Computer/0, that would be ok but I don't think that is acceptable on larger systems. I need to have my work software running and ready when I surf the net in case my boss walks by.

 

[AndrewW]

For a Computer/0, that would be ok but I don't think that is acceptable on larger systems. I need to have my work software running and ready when I surf the net in case my boss walks by.

Does it actually have to be running or just in memory so you can switch to it quickly¿

 

[Stainless]

The problem is, getting the ammo is quite difficult.

 

[Jacqual]

IMHO I believe that the computer integrated gun is designed for use with a cyber combat implant. The comp in the gun allows the feedback of the gun for the purpose of weapon accuracy, ammo left, self firing, and weapon security as well. So in my book no cyber inplant means comp gun is worthless. There may be other factors as im at work now and dont have the books with me.

 

[CosmicGamer]

For a Computer/0, that would be ok but I don't think that is acceptable on larger systems. I need to have my work software running and ready when I surf the net in case my boss walks by.

Does it actually have to be running or just in memory so you can switch to it quickly¿

The book does not differentiate between storing programs on internal memory, memory stick, hard drive, or storing them on some futuristic medium such as a biochemical lattice.

IMO, if a program is stored in memory it falls under the description of storage and it is not running. IMO, for game purposes, a program that is 'loaded' even if it is 'just in memory' and waiting for input to process, is still 'running'. There is no discussion in the book regarding having a program running and putting it into 'sleep mode' while you run another program. How many programs can be in 'sleep mode' at the same time. What are the advantages of doing this over just switching which program is running? You would have to make up all your own rules for this.

Now, for fooling the boss, I don't really have to have the program running. I have games where you just hit F12 and the game itself displays a fancy spreadsheet. Others will display a fake blue screen of death and you tell the boss you are waiting for the computer tech. Or, just tell the boss I thought I saw donuts in the conference room and off they go. :lol:

IMHO I believe that the computer integrated gun is designed for use with a cyber combat implant. The comp in the gun allows the feedback of the gun for the purpose of weapon accuracy, ammo left, self firing, and weapon security as well. So in my book no cyber inplant means comp gun is worthless. There may be other factors as im at work now and dont have the books with me.

Very interesting.