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If people like to lay out character builds, why not do the same with computers?
I was working on a scholarly Starfinder character and after looking at the library chips from Pact Worlds, I envisioned her with a computer worn on her arm with a nice little keyboard and enough slots to hold all 5 library chips at once (I don't picture a comm unit as having slots for more than one or two, or having much of a keyboard).
Then I thought that perhaps people have built computers within the rules already, such that I could grab a layout someone else has already worked out.
I'm mainly looking for a summary of the computer's tier, what modules you added, plus any other additions you wanted to fit into it, and a description of the computer. I'm hoping we'll end up with a quite a few shared in here for everyone's benefit.
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My Envoy in an AP is going for a computer to place into the Datajack he has installed in his head.
<<Steward>>
Tier 3 Computer (Total Cost = 2135 credits)
-Modules-
Complex Control (Shirren-Eye Rifle)
Average Secure Data (Stewards)
-Upgrades-
Artificial Personality
Miniaturization x4 (Negligible Bulk)
Range II (1 Mile)
Self-Charging
He was eventually going to load it all up with some Library Chips as well to sort of act like a walking infosphere. He can control a Shirren-Eye rifle from up to a mile away with it as well. I thought it was all pretty cool.
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Tier 1
Mini x2 (Negligible Bulk)
Range Module (Planetary)
Alarm
Control Module (Grenade)
These are great for when you can't wirelessly hack into a system. Plug it in, walk away, and you now have a wireless access point to start hacking from. The alarm can alert you if it's been discovered and the control module, connected to a grenade, can get rid of any evidence. They only cost about 200 credits each and 100 of that is the range module which can be decreased as needed.
Also, keep a few USB sticks on hand. Tier 1 comps with mini x2 are only like 60 credits and have a million uses.
Control Module (Grenade)[...]and the control module, connected to a grenade, can get rid of any evidence.
What grenade is this?
I'd assume just about any grenade would do. Data recovery is quite difficult when you are just dealing with scrap. Would that change in a sci-fi setting? Who knows.
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I'd assume just about any grenade would do. Data recovery is quite difficult when you are just dealing with scrap. Would that change in a sci-fi setting? Who knows.
Well, you have to consider hardness and hit points:
CRB page 409
"Any other piece of equipment has a
hardness equal to 5 + its item level."
"Any other piece of equipment has a
number of Hit Points equal to 5 + its
item level."
The computer section doesn't mention item level, but on a blog post it was explained that a computer has an item level equal to double its tier.
So that exploding computer actually has hardness 7 and 7 hit points. The first grenades that can cause more than 14 points of damage in a single hit are available at level 8.
If you want to replace it with something cheap, within RAW and similar purpose, I'd change that control + grenade combo for a wipe countermeasure for 10 credits. DC 27 computers skill check to recover the lost data (though you can take 20), so it buys you a little time.
It certainly wouldn't be an unreasonable ruling that, for the price of a control module and a grenade, you can get a self-destruct that does little damage to the surroundings, but guarantees destruction of the computer itself.
That would be a great countermeasure to add to the current list, but as of now, only Starships can self-destruct.
If people like to lay out character builds, why not do the same with computers?
<snip>
I'm mainly looking for a summary of the computer's tier, what modules you added, plus any other additions you wanted to fit into it, and a description of the computer. I'm hoping we'll end up with a quite a few shared in here for everyone's benefit.
Fantastic thread idea!
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Well, you have to consider hardness and hit points...
That's an excellent point Ragi. I had been using it as a wokaround for no self-destruct module but I hadn't thought about item HP. My GM has been loose with it as it's built to be destroyed, but a lot of folks aren't playing that loose. You could predamage it down to 1 HP I suppose, but then you still have to do at least 8 damage. Wipe is a good alternative, or maybe better as an addition as the grenade makes for a great distraction too.
I will point to the top right of page 409 though:
"Vulnerability to Certain Attacks: Certain attacks are especially strong against some objects. In such cases, attacks deal double their normal damage and might ignore hardness."
There might be room for it to work as written, if the GM approves it. I'd say build the computer with the grenade inside. It would destroy the circuitry without having to bypass the case's hardness. You'd still have to predamage it down to 1 HP though to ensure that a level 1 frag grenade can destroy it on a roll of 1.
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We had a vesk envoy call the artificial personality on his tier 2 computer Iguana.
It runs on veskOS.
Sample computer core from my Strange Aeons conversion:
BRIARSTAR ASYLUM COMPUTER CORE
Tier 3 Secured Computer
Bulk: 9
Base Hack DC: 25; Firewall DC 27
Authorization: keycard + password
Countermeasures: Alarm, Firewall (2), Lockout
MODULES
Control: Alarm System, Locks, Lights, Environmental, Power Plant, Security Cameras
Secure Data: Firewall 1 - Asylum Financials, Asylum Operations (building schematics, employee services), Communications (voice/video/text); Firewall 2 - Patient Records
Upgrades: Artificial Personality
Cost Cr2,705
Description: Briarstar Asylum’s computer core is a modest computer chosen primarily for cost and few frills beyond upgrading security to protect confidential patient information.
Sample library terminal in Briarstar Asylum:
BRIARSTAR ASYLUM LIBRARY WORKSTATION
Tier 2 Unsecured Computer
Bulk: 4
Base Hack DC: 21; Firewall DC 23
Authorization: keycard + password
Countermeasures: Firewall (1), Lockout
MODULES
Control: Authorized computer core functions
Secure Data: Firewall 1 – secure sign-in for authorized computer core access
Upgrades: Artificial Personality
Cost Cr695
Description: Briarstar Asylum’s library workstations are standard terminals with access to the colony’s infosphere. Basic access is unsecured so that visitors or patients can utilize infosphere functions or library books. Workstation access to staff functions is granted by staff keycard and password.
I can't speak to Society play but what happens when you're off exploring and there's no infosphere? You don't have access to any data for your computer to reference. And that 7 credit personal comm unit? That's a Tier-0 device with a hack DC of 13. You're running around with the Starfinder equivalent of a very, very basic smartphone.
So I guess Candy Crush still works...