Compute! at a distance via Super Powers

[otghand]

I was trying to create a character for a Supers game and the GM and I came up empty using RAW from Basic, Powers, and Supers. The concept was a seriously skilled white hat hacker (represented by a goodly skill in Compute! plus some supplemental / complementary skills) who because of <Origin> gains the ability to use skills at a distance / remove. Think classic cyberpunk in the sense of net running, etc., but NOT psionic with its new skill set nor requiring physically jacking in. The intent was to use extant, perhaps now enhanced Compute! and Electronic Operation skills to hack / operate the myriad devices that surround us in our present day world.

What powers / advantages would do this, or how would you construct a new set?

The goal is not to end up with new skills and techniques a la Cyberpsi, or abilities that just roll against IQ ignoring the mundane Compute! and Operation skills.

[Phantasm]

What you can do is start with Mind Reading/Mind Probe with the Cybernetic (+50%) enhancement (p. B69). Using extant skills instead of the IQ is a +0% modifier (Powers, don't have the page number offhand, but look for a heading akin to "Skills for Everybody"). These abilities automatically work at range; you may want to look at the Short-Ranged or Long-Ranged modifiers in Powers for adjusting the range and/or range penalties for use.

Hope this helps.

[dataweaver]

Don’t let the name throw you; Machine Telepathy is exactly what you’re looking for.

[otghand]

Looked at that initially, but it had the problem of just being an IQ roll, not an extant skill roll, and it seems to suggest possession as how you run the net, which does not feel right. Looking at using skill substitution as suggested above.

I looked at building a cybernetic projection power, but projection appears to be all or nothing and I wanted a compartmentalized mind to be able to hack with one compartment while remaining active with the other.

[dataweaver]

“Skills for Everything!” changes it from an IQ roll to a skill roll, and replacing a custom skill with something like Computer Hacking wouldn’t be inappropriate — especially if you treat each Ability’s associated skill as an optional specialization of Computer Hacking.

I see no problem with one compartment of a Compartmentalized Mind projecting while the other(s) don’t.

[Refplace]

Originally Posted by dataweaver

“Skills for Everything!” changes it from an IQ roll to a skill roll, and replacing a custom skill with something like Computer Hacking wouldn’t be inappropriate — especially if you treat each Ability’s associated skill as an optional specialization of Computer Hacking.

I see no problem with one compartment of a Compartmentalized Mind projecting while the other(s) don’t.

Agree on the Skills for Everything posts by you and TBrock. use that with the desired powers and your good ot go.

Disagree with you on Projection though. A big part of that limitation is leaving your body vulnerable. Thaat is why its specifically called out that all minds in a CM situation go.

[dataweaver]

Technically true. I could see a case for reducing the Projection limitation if you have Compartmentalized Mind and don’t have to go all-or-nothing. (Basically, I’m not fond of “Thou Shalt Not” rulings like the all-or-nothing Projection, especially when the option being rejected fits the power’s concept and is only being rejected for metagaming reasons.)

[Refplace]

Originally Posted by dataweaver

Technically true. I could see a case for reducing the Projection limitation if you have Compartmentalized Mind and don’t have to go all-or-nothing. (Basically, I’m not fond of “Thou Shalt Not” rulings like the all-or-nothing Projection, especially when the option being rejected fits the power’s concept and is only being rejected for metagaming reasons.)

I like the concept too but its not limitation without that vulnerability.
I would look at Aware for Clairvoyance for ideas on pricing.

[dataweaver]

Originally Posted by Refplace

I like the concept too but its not limitation without that vulnerability.

It’s not much of a limitation; but you’re still losing local access to one of your mental compartments, so it’s not sufficient to reduce it to a -0% limitation.

But even if it does get reduced all the way down to -0%, that’s still better than flat-out forbidding it.

Originally Posted by Refplace

I would look at Aware for Clairvoyance for ideas on pricing.

…and the slide into the HEROization of GURPS continues.

To clarify: my complaint here is that the game mechanics are being divorced from the in-game concepts that they were originally designed to model, and are now being promoted to center-stage.

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by dataweaver

To clarify: my complaint here is that the game mechanics are being divorced from the in-game concepts that they were originally designed to model, and are now being promoted to center-stage.

You're about 11 years too late to change this direction for 4e, and a similar amount early for 5e.