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Kromm · 02-21-2018, 01:29 PM

Arguably . . .

A computer connected to the Internet amounts to a way to let you use Computer Operation as a complimentary skill to gain +1 or +2 to just about any non-physical skill use for which you're taking enough extra time to get at least +1 in the first place: You can use search engines to find facts and "how to" advice on just about anything, things like Google Maps to help with Area Knowledge and Navigation, various on- and off-line checkers to help with Writing, ditto calculators with Mathematics, and so on. Some tools almost do the task for you, and could justify +1d/2 or even +1d on a success, automatically maxed out to +3 or +6 on a critical success. Good computers and/or software give such a high bonus to Computer Operation (at least +4) that even those without it can use IQ for the complimentary skill roll. It wouldn't be utter bunk to summarize all this as IQ +1d (No Per or Will bonus, -50%; Only with tasks a computer could help with, -40%) [14].

A computer not connected to the Internet is a lot more limited. It probably gives bonuses, too, but only if you have the right apps. You could treat each app as a perk.

Computers might have Lightning Calculator, Photographic Memory, and so on, but that doesn't translate well into giving their users those traits. They also have a lot of disadvantages that their users don't inherit.

Oh, and having a decent computer is probably a reasonable excuse to put Mitigator on a lot of mental disadvantages. You'd be surprised how many people can get around Shyness if they can interact virtually, Short Attention Span if they're glued to a screen, and so on.

02-21-2018, 01:29 PM	#10
Kromm *GURPS* Line Editor Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Montréal, Québec	Re: What does a computer really do for you? Arguably . . . A computer connected to the Internet amounts to a way to let you use Computer Operation as a complimentary skill to gain +1 or +2 to just about any non-physical skill use for which you're taking enough extra time to get at least +1 in the first place: You can use search engines to find facts and "how to" advice on just about anything, things like Google Maps to help with Area Knowledge and Navigation, various on- and off-line checkers to help with Writing, ditto calculators with Mathematics, and so on. Some tools almost do the task for you, and could justify +1d/2 or even +1d on a success, automatically maxed out to +3 or +6 on a critical success. Good computers and/or software give such a high bonus to Computer Operation (at least +4) that even those without it can use IQ for the complimentary skill roll. It wouldn't be utter bunk to summarize all this as IQ +1d (No Per or Will bonus, -50%; Only with tasks a computer could help with, -40%) [14]. A computer not connected to the Internet is a lot more limited. It probably gives bonuses, too, but only if you have the right apps. You could treat each app as a perk. Computers might have Lightning Calculator, Photographic Memory, and so on, but that doesn't translate well into giving their users those traits. They also have a lot of disadvantages that their users don't inherit. Oh, and having a decent computer is probably a reasonable excuse to put Mitigator on a lot of mental disadvantages. You'd be surprised how many people can get around Shyness if they can interact virtually, Short Attention Span if they're glued to a screen, and so on. __________________ Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch <kromm@sjgames.com> *GURPS* Line Editor, Steve Jackson Games My DreamWidth [Just *GURPS* News]