Skillwires - maximum rating Options

[Epicedion]

Couple of Problems here...

1. Skilwires max out at Rating 5...
2. You can run 2x rating in Slot costs, so for your RATING 5 Skillwires system and Rated 4, Personalized/Pluscoded (3) Skillsofts (Costs 1 Slot in teh Skillwire System), you can have 10 of them running (5x2 = 10 Slots)...

With the Skillwire Expert System, you can even reroll failures (IIRC)...

Anyways... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

Skillsofts are limited by rating, not by slots. The Rating 5 Skillwires can have 10 rating points worth of Skillsofts loaded.

So you could have a 4, 4, and 2, or 3 3s and a 1, or whatever.

[Xahn Borealis]

So it's no accident? I suppose it would come in handy if you had an expert system, because that would work for any 'soft you slot.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Skillsofts are limited by rating, not by slots. The Rating 5 Skillwires can have 10 rating points worth of Skillsofts loaded.

So you could have a 4, 4, and 2, or 3 3s and a 1, or whatever.

Or, with the options that were listed (and which were part of the conversation), you would have 10 programs, at rating 4 all running simultaneously. I know what the rules for Skillwires are, I was pointing out where the theory presented was wrong. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

So it's no accident? I suppose it would come in handy if you had an expert system, because that would work for any 'soft you slot.

Indeed... That is the big benefit of the Skillwire Expert System. You no longer have to spend the Nuyen on a Program option that can now be used for something else entirely, like PlusCoded (3)... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Epicedion]

Or, with the options that were listed (and which were part of the conversation), you would have 10 programs, at rating 4 all running simultaneously. I know what the rules for Skillwires are, I was pointing out where the theory presented was wrong. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Do the personalized/whatever benefits lower the "bulk" of the skillsoft, or do they bump up the bonuses for a lower-rating one?

For me, when they start tossing all of these bonus options at the tech, the tech starts to break. In my day you plugged a wire into your brain and that was it, and we liked it.

Also, we wore onions on our belts. Style at the time.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Do the personalized/whatever benefits lower the "bulk" of the skillsoft, or do they bump up the bonuses for a lower-rating one?

For me, when they start tossing all of these bonus options at the tech, the tech starts to break. In my day you plugged a wire into your brain and that was it, and we liked it.

Also, we wore onions on our belts. Style at the time.

Pesonalized Provides a +1 DP modifier to the Skillsoft. The Skillsoft is still the same rating as it was before, butr because the skillsoft has been personalized for YOUR use, it gains a slightly better boost in performance, hence the +1 DP modifier...

PlusCode reduces the Load factor of the Skillsoft. So, at Pluscoded (3), your Load (you used the term Bulk) is 1 "Slot."

The options are there to be used. That is why they are in the book. It makes absolutely no sense to "break" the Tech system because you are using available options. At most, you can get 2 options on a Program. There are more than a few in the books, if I remember correctly, so you have to pick and choose. Your stance makes absolutely no sense in this regard.

[Epicedion]

Pesonalized Provides a +1 DP modifier to the Skillsoft. The Skillsoft is still the same rating as it was before, butr because the skillsoft has been personalized for YOUR use, it gains a slightly better boost in performance, hence the +1 DP modifier...

PlusCode reduces the Load factor of the Skillsoft. So, at Pluscoded (3), your Load (you used the term Bulk) is 1 "Slot."

The options are there to be used. That is why they are in the book. It makes absolutely no sense to "break" the Tech system because you are using available options. At most, you can get 2 options on a Program. There are more than a few in the books, if I remember correctly, so you have to pick and choose. Your stance makes absolutely no sense in this regard.

Oi.

Skillwires sans options -- that is, before extra books were written to change them -- had a hard limit of 10 for the best rated gear, with softs limited to providing 4 skill. This could provide a nice modular array of benefits, as rating 4 skills are quite useful, but you were limited to how many you could have running at a time. If you can now slot 10 rating 5 skills because of bonuses they added in new books, you can not only keep an array of secondary skills as backups, you can pretty well replace your primary skillset with above-normal-max-rated skillsofts.

Someone was just saying they're broken as hell. That would be why.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Oi.

Skillwires sans options -- that is, before extra books were written to change them -- had a hard limit of 10 for the best rated gear, with softs limited to providing 4 skill. This could provide a nice modular array of benefits, as rating 4 skills are quite useful, but you were limited to how many you could have running at a time. If you can now slot 10 rating 5 skills because of bonuses they added in new books, you can not only keep an array of secondary skills as backups, you can pretty well replace your primary skillset with above-normal-max-rated skillsofts.

Someone was just saying they're broken as hell. That would be why.

See, I disagree with Muspelsheimr in that regard.

And Again, you are misisng the point. It is 10, Rating 4 Skillsofts. IF YOU HAVE THE CORRECT OPTIONS, and all the right 'Ware.

As for replacing Primary Skills with Skillsofts, you could indeed do that. So what? I have yet to see a character that does so (Muspelheimr's build notwithstanding). They use Skillsofts to cover their weak areas, so they do not have to spend that precious karma to do so.

Also, there is a vast array of skills out there. Having to stop and load a program to cover something that is your Primary ability is just silly. You do not use Skillsofts to cover primary abilities unless you are a Cyborg, who has absolutely no choice in the matter. And even so, a Trained Metahuman will be better in his primary abilities than the Cyborg will be due to hard caps of Skillsofts. No Specialization of Skillsofts means a gap of up to 4 points of ability, 7 if you are an Adept, based upon skill alone.

[Epicedion]

Again, you are misisng it. It is 10, Rating 4 Skillsofts. IF YOU HAVE THE CORRECT OPTIONS.
As for replacing Primary Skills with Skillsofts, you could indeed do that. So what? I have yet to see a character that does so. They use Skillsofts to cover their weak areas, so they do not have to spend that precious karma to do so.

Also, there is a vast array of skills out there. Having to stop and load a program to cover something that is your Primary ability is just silly. You do not use Skillsofts to cover primary abilities unless you are a Cyborg, who has absolutely no choice in the matter.

Am I being Punk'd?

[Makki]

Again, you are misisng it. It is 10, Rating 4 Skillsofts.

that's 10*4*10000+10*6000=460k for someone with that kind of money, I don't care, what he can do

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Am I being Punk'd?

Nopt sure what you mean about that. I am pointing out that it is not as good as it sounds. You seem to disagree. I was under the impression we were having a discussion.

And Makki brings up a great point, it is 460k to do that legally, or 46k to set it up , and then a maintenance plan monthly so as not to degrade at all.

[Seerow]

that's 10*4*10000+10*6000=460k for someone with that kind of money, I don't care, what he can do

Or he can pirate it for 46k.

[Makki]

Or he can pirate it for 46k.

no he can't, because he wants them personalized to himself, not to Mr. Superwageslave

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

no he can't, because he wants them personalized to himself, not to Mr. Superwageslave

You could probably have Pirated stuff Personalized, it will just cost money and time to have the personalization programmed into the Skillsoft.

[Seerow]

You could probably have Pirated stuff Personalized, it will just cost money and time to have the personalization programmed into the Skillsoft.

Eh I forgot we were talking about personalized skillsofts. Still 40k for 10 rating 4 programs isn't bad.

[Makki]

You could probably have Pirated stuff Personalized, it will just cost money and time to have the personalization programmed into the Skillsoft.

it will still degrade, but you changed the code and can't get a patch any more. you will either have to patch yourself start again

[Epicedion]

Skillwires: 5 x 2000 = 10k
Activesofts: (12000 + 4000 + 4000) x 10 = 200k

All for the low, low price of 210k. Availability on the Skillwires system itself will be a kick in the teeth, requiring Restricted Gear quality, but there's no reason you couldn't start a character with 10 rating 4 (+1) skillsofts. You'd even have enough cash left over for some wired reflexes.

Edit: If that wasn't clear, it's 12000 for the rating 4 skillsoft (4 x 3000), then 4000 for each program option (4 x 1000) tacked onto each rating 4 skillsoft -- pluscode and personalized.

[Xahn Borealis]

Do Skillsofts degrade? I can understand how Matrix programs go down in rating due to updates and patches/whatnot, but that's meant to represent that your old tricks don't work anymore. I'm pretty sure a Pistols Skillsoft from the 60's would work fine for shooting people right in the face.

[Makki]

Skillwires: 5 x 2000 = 10k
Activesofts: (12000 + 4000 + 4000) x 10 = 200k

All for the low, low price of 210k. Availability on the Skillwires system itself will be a kick in the teeth, requiring Restricted Gear quality, but there's no reason you couldn't start a character with 10 rating 4 (+1) skillsofts. You'd even have enough cash left over for some wired reflexes.

Edit: If that wasn't clear, it's 12000 for the rating 4 skillsoft (4 x 3000), then 4000 for each program option (4 x 1000) tacked onto each rating 4 skillsoft -- pluscode and personalized.

skillsofts cost Rating*10000 since SR4A

@Xahn Borealis: I think it's a balancing thing. But by RAW all programs degrade. UW p.109

[Xahn Borealis]

Sure, but fluff-wise I just can't see it.

[Machiavelli]

I hope so too, otherwise my new character-option is a case for the trashcan.

[Seerow]

Honestly, even with degradation, it's a manageable cost.


Assuming you can't get personalized skillsofts pirated (or can't download patches for ones that are)


Rating 4 (40,000) + Optimization (or whatever the reduced slot one is called) (4000) = 44,000 each.

x10 = 440,0000.


Pirate them, 44,000.


Rating 3 would be 34,000 each instead. For all 10, 340,000. Difference of 100,000 per month, upkeep cost of 10 grand.


It's pretty pricey, but affordable, costing about as much as a high lifestyle. How affordable that is really depends on your playstyle, but I know I could deal with that cost easily enough, it would just eat into my upgrade money.

[Epicedion]

skillsofts cost Rating*10000 since SR4A

@Xahn Borealis: I think it's a balancing thing. But by RAW all programs degrade. UW p.109

Oh, I didn't catch that in skimming the SR4A entry.

Carry on, then.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

it will still degrade, but you changed the code and can't get a patch any more. you will either have to patch yourself start again

Well, yeah, of course... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Sure, but fluff-wise I just can't see it.

Planned Obsolescence... It forces you to keep replacing/upgrading the software.