Decipher Writing and Downloaded Data Sets

[Jasque]

Question 1 How much does a "downloaded data set" cost for the purpose of Decipher Writing?

Decipher Writing wrote:

You can’t take 20 on a Culture check to decipher writing unless you are trained in the Computers skill and have access to an information network or downloaded data set. In this case, there is no chance of misconstruing the information presented in the writing.

The skill reads as if the required data set is freely available for download on the information network. Page 430 of the CRB states the following:

Information Networks wrote:

[A]ll major Pact Worlds ports host basic encyclopedia-like data sets that ships can download to aid passengers in research when not in direct contact with an infosphere.

Again, that sounds free.

Question 2 Is there anything stopping me from downloading data sets for every known language to my personal computer so that I can have access to them while I adventure, so long as I have 1 rank in Computers and 1 rank in Culture? This seems really powerful.

Question 3 Does my computer's artificial personality have access to these language data sets? Can it do anything with them, like learn to speak the languages?

[Nixitur]

I was wondering about that as well. I would expect that while accessing an infosphere is free and you could get all the information you would need to decipher writing from it, the downloadable encyclopedias are just basic data sets, largely not sufficient for deciphering.
You can download those encyclopedias and get some information from those, but you can't download the entire infosphere. And the entire infosphere is what you would need to be fully prepared.

Think of it like this: The encyclopedia you download is basically some version of Wikipedia, but possibly more limited. It's huge, it has a lot of knowledge, but it doesn't contain everything. I would expect it to have references to other stuff, like scientific papers. Those papers are contained in the infosphere, but not in the encyclopedia itself.
The infosphere on the other hand is the entire internet. Could you download the entire internet if you had enough time and storage space? Possibly, but I would definitely say that no, the PCs do not have the resources for that.

I expect that the "downloaded data sets" you would need to decipher writing are specialized sets. A dictionary is not enough. Do you have a specialized data set about pre-Gap Castrovelian religion and language? Now you can decipher pre-Gap Castrovelian religious writing, even if it's partially messed up.
The question then remains what those basic encyclopedic data sets are even good for, if they're not enough to decipher writing. This is definitely a GM call. If the writing is alien or in specific lingo, then I'd say the encyclopedia is not enough. But if it's just a standard text in an unknown, but related, language or which has gotten eroded or corrupted over time, then it may be sufficient.

How much those data sets for deciphering cost is again a GM call. Somewhere between 1 and 1000 credits, according to the Secure Data costs in the Computers section. But it needs to be specific, so just "all information in this language" is not allowed.

Since the Artifical Personality is a computer module, it stands to reason that it has access to whatever you downloaded. There is no indication in the rules that you can buy language data, although I suppose it would make sense. I probably wouldn't include it in the free encyclopedia, though.
Whether that makes the personality good enough to speak that language fluently or whether it can just interpret and get across basic meaning is probably a GM call. I would lean towards the latter because the former seems a bit too powerful.

[Ellias Aubec]

I would say the downloaded data sets are the secure data modules that you can buy in the computers section. The size/cost would be related to the level of information you are trying to include.

[Gilfalas]

Given that we actually now have real time translation devices in our own world that are no bigger than a set of large ear buds and a cell phone and they can do 40 languages, I would assume the tech level of the standard setting SHOULD make such tasks very easy with the right skills and equipment.

My group runs it like this: if a standard cell phone can do it today then most computers in the game can do it easier, faster and for less cost by several orders of magnitude.

"Downloaded data sets" are just the local planet or empires version of wikipedia and we play that they are free, just like wikipedia is in our world.

[Nixitur]

Gilfalas wrote:

"Downloaded data sets" are just the local planet or empires version of wikipedia and we play that they are free, just like wikipedia is in our world.

So, any one of those freely downloadable data sets, combined with 1 rank of Computers is enough to take 20 on any deciphering task? That's really the question we aim to answer here. Personally, that strikes me, and Jasque as well, as way too powerful.

[Lane_S]

This has come up before, the concept that "everything you want to know is free to download" is overly optimistic. If you have ever tried to do research on obscure subjects you will find that you often run into paywalls or registration/ membership issues.

Use the Secure Data module cost for storage.
Specific - all public data on an individual or item, general data on a corporation or government.
Average - detailed information on the history, economics, policy and culture of a nation or planet. Operations manuals, maintenance and repair of all common personal scale weapons.

I would limit the level of information gained from free data sets. While Wikipedia may allow you to identify writing as Old Norse, and the language database provide a literal translation, you will probably not understand some of the phrases or references. To fully decipher the text you may need access to scholarly research, professional journals etc.Free databases should be limited to the "average" level of questions.

The GM should require skill checks for downloaded databases. Just like the real world you may not even know enough to ask the right questions. The results could be secret or known and allow reroll at each rank gained. Option 1) the check determines the max amount of information it applies to, ie DC 5 10 20 etc. Option 2) max ranks the character can apply when taking 20. Results greater than number of current ranks add +1/ 5 over ranks. Did the character click on the link for the "astronomy' database or did they cross reference with astrophysics, star charts, survey reports, navigational logs etc.
Your Gnome Operator Explorer downloads cultural data on a minor star empire. He has 3 ranks in culture and total bonus of +8. He makes a skill check with a result of 10, probably should have spell checked the name. Using option 1 he would not get information better than basic when taking 20. Using option 2 he could apply 4 ranks (10-3= 8 so +1 rank) meaning the database would be inadequate in a couple levels. When he next takes a rank in the skill he has a bonus of +12 and a total of 29.The database will now give detailed information on obscure subjects or allow up to 9 ranks applied (no need to update for several levels)

Cost for more extensive data could be based on either the max level of information or the effective skill ranks. The higher your skill the more effective taking 20 becomes. A player should not get a huge bonus by simply saying "I download everything about planet XYZ". Likewise what you thought was enough data at 3 ranks in culture is probably inadequate at 15 ranks. Depending on the option chosen it should cost 10cr x max DC or 20-50cr per max rank.