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COMPUTER USAGE |
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The broad majority of the MetaCyber populace
are not particularly technical, having little
knowledge of the inner workings or underlying
logic of Computers. However, this does not
mean they cannot use Computers for their
intended purposes. Rather than employing
the Computer Programming Skill to model
characters that don't really know much about
Computers but know how to use them, in the
MetaCyber setting a Professional Skill called
Computer Usage is used instead. |
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This Skill can be either INT based or General
and uses the normal pricing structure of
Professional Skills.
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There are several subgroups of Computer
Usage as indicated in the adjoining table.
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- PERSONAL COMPUTERS & NET TERMINALS *
- MAINFRAMES & SUPER COMPUTERS
- MILITARY COMPUTERS
- PROPRIETARY CORPORATE COMPUTERS (per Corporation)
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* Default |
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* Some Corporations use
proprietary interfaces and / or operating
systems developed in house, which take some
familiarization and / or training to use
properly. |
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Anyone with this Skill can conduct searches
for publicly available data, use most software,
and perform routine computing tasks. |
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It is also assumed that all characters that
have the Skill can use Personal Computers
& NET Terminals by default. Additional
subgroups can be purchased for 2 points
each assuming a character has a background
to support it. Thus a person that worked
for the military might be able to take the
Military Computers subgroup, while a person
that works at corporation that has its own
interfaces and software would take the Proprietary
Corporate Computer subgroup for that corporation. |
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However, user interfaces are designed to
be so simple and intuitive any village idiot
should be able to use one for basic functions.
Due to a combination of this ease of use
and ubiquity, practically all characters
are assumed to have PS: Computer Usage as
an Everyman Skill, which allows them to
use the Computers they interact with on
a daily basis under normal conditions. Characters
that are more capable at it should buy the
full Skill. |
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Everyman Skill: PS: Computer Usage;
8- |
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GENERAL USAGE |
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CIRCUMSTANCE * |
MODIFIER |
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Routine / Daily Tasks
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+2 to +4 |
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Have Good Instructions
or Documentation |
+1 |
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Out Of The Ordinary |
-1 |
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Unfamiliar Workstation
/ Peripherals |
-1 to -2 |
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In A Hurry |
-2 |
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Unfamiliar Software |
-2 |
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* All Circumstances are
cumulative |
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SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION |
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TYPE OF INFORMATION |
MODIFIER |
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Widely Known |
+2 to +4 |
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Publicly Available |
+1 |
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Available but Esoteric |
-0 |
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Generally Unknown But
Not Privileged |
-1 |
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Extreme Details |
-2 |
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Privileged Information |
-3 |
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Classified Information |
-4 or more |
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