Upgrading a comm unit built in to Armor. How much does it cost?

[Halek]

Every armor has a comm unit built in to it. Comm units are treated as tier 0 computers. By default they have no upgrades or modules. Say you want to install an artificial personality into your comm unit. How much should that cost?

The comm unit itself came free so is the cost 0 credits?

Does the armor used matter at all?

I was leaning towards free for things that rely on a percentage of the cost of the computer, but I wanted to hear different perspectives. Any input?

[Wingblaze]

First off, to be clear, I think you're in territory not covered by the rules as written. So we're making things up and there are no definitive citations or right answers.

There's a comm unit built into armor. I don't think that means you can upgrade it at all. If someone wants a better computer, then that's a separate unit and can't be integrated into the armor. It's a comm unit - you can't swap the graphics card and cpu :) But if you want to allow it (I'm assuming you're the GM) then that's up to you.

It costs what it costs based on the upgrade costs from a tier 0 computer. If some thing is based on the value of the computer, use the cost of a tier 1 computer or the comm unit. Just because it was bundled in the cost of the armor doesn't mean it has no value.

[Uchuujin]

Could you point me to were it mentions a comm unit is built into armor? I've tried to find that rule myself (on Archives of Nethys), but have not had luck with it.

[Milo v3]

Uchuujin wrote:

Could you point me to were it mentions a comm unit is built into armor? I've tried to find that rule myself (on Archives of Nethys), but have not had luck with it.

It's in the setting chapter of core.

"Personal comm units are common, inexpensive devices that are
capable of communicating with each other on a single planet
or between ships orbiting a given world. Small enough to be
carried in a pocket, they also come automatically integrated into
all armor of 1st level or higher. "

[Xenocrat]

Uchuujin wrote:

Could you point me to were it mentions a comm unit is built into armor? I've tried to find that rule myself (on Archives of Nethys), but have not had luck with it.

It’s hidden in the CRB setting chapter about communications in the Pact Worlds.

[Metaphysician]

Personally, I lean to just having it cost the same as upgrading a freestanding comm unit, with the obvious proviso that it still has to end up the same *size* as a Tier 0 comm unit. Having a Tier 5 computer built into your armor is certainly an advantage in some ways, but it also comes with potential downsides ( for one, you can't easily *swap* armors and take your enhanced computer with you ).

Alternatively, treat it as an armor upgrade.

[BigNorseWolf]

Just buy a miniaturized tier whatever computer and have it skype with the the computer in the armor.

[Nefreet]

Xenocrat wrote:

Uchuujin wrote:

Could you point me to were it mentions a comm unit is built into armor? I've tried to find that rule myself (on Archives of Nethys), but have not had luck with it.

It’s hidden in the CRB setting chapter about communications in the Pact Worlds.

And also in one of the Dead Suns books, where it clarifies that Archaic armor does not come with a built-in comm unit.

[Laythe]

Armor and space suits roll of assembly lines in large quantities. Like cars, a basic radio is standard and you get no discount to take it out. But aftermarket swap out sure can do. If you pay for the miniaturization to bring it down to tier 0 size then it would just replace the basic comm of the suit. In homebrew, you and the GM chat it out. In society though, just buy the computer, drop it on your hip or arm or backpack and link it to the suits comm's. Like pairing your the bluetooth of your phone to your car stereo.