[Ultra-Tech] Software Tools

[Stormcrow]

The section "Software Tools" on page 25 of GURPS Ultra-Tech lists the Complexity of programs needed as "equipment" for IQ-based technological skills at TL9+. Good- and Fine-quality programs list their bonus and Complexity per skill difficulty. Basic-quality programs, however, do not give a Complexity. They talk about being built into dedicated devices, but not programs on a general computer.

So are all programs on general computers for IQ-based technological skills at least good quality? Or can you get a basic program for a skill on a general-purpose computer?

Suppose I've got Architecture/TL10 skill and I want to design a TL10 building. I need a computer with a program that works with Architecture skill. Can I get a basic program for that? How much does it cost? What is its Complexity? I know I can get a good-quality program, Complexity 5, for $100. But what about a basic program?

[RogerBW]

Given that +1 to +2 bonus is two complexity steps up, it seems reasonable to assume that +1 to +0 bonus would be two complexity steps down: C2 for Easy skills, C3 for everything else.

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by RogerBW

Given that +1 to +2 bonus is two complexity steps up, it seems reasonable to assume that +1 to +0 bonus would be two complexity steps down: C2 for Easy skills, C3 for everything else.

That's not unreasonable at all. Extrapolating the cost table, at TL8 you can get a program letting you perform a hard skill on the computer for $300 (gurps bucks), and that doesn't feel that far off. The price can be modified for tasks that are very common (writing).

Of course, in the modern world at least, most specialized computer software has an open-source version that is essentially free. Its not going to be high quality, and it obviously doesn't have complexity 0, but its worth bringing up if price is important.

[RogerBW]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Of course, in the modern world at least, most specialized computer software has an open-source version that is essentially free. Its not going to be high quality, and it obviously doesn't have complexity 0, but its worth bringing up if price is important.

Yes, well, I find the standardised software costs (and the assumption that commercial software is always the first resort) very much stuck in the 1980s, and I don't think I've ever run or played in a game in which people had to care about the cost of software. But if one's going to use them at all, I think this is a decent extrapolation.

[Stormcrow]

I'm not terribly worried about cost. I'm more interested in whether software tools are supposed to cover basic equipment requirements in the first place, and whether this information was inadvertently left out of the book, or whether I'm misinterpreting something.

I mean, sure, I can extrapolate basic-quality programs' Complexity and price, but was that the authors' intention? Are basic programs only intended for dedicated devices?

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by Stormcrow

Are basic programs only intended for dedicated devices?

I think the way it's supposed to be interpreted is that the programs were described for skills that use tools besides computers (for example, Machinist, Pharmacy, Chemistry), and you can optionally buy better software and run it on a separate computer to have better equipment. For skills that are done on computers, they (accidentally?) left the program price undefined.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by TGLS

For skills that are done on computers, they (accidentally?) left the program price undefined.

I think you could read it as "comes with the computer." Certainly, most consumer computers come with basic word-processing, spreadsheet, etc. today, if you aren't someone who takes an interest in what software you use.

[Stormcrow]

Originally Posted by johndallman

I think you could read it as "comes with the computer." Certainly, most consumer computers come with basic word-processing, spreadsheet, etc. today, if you aren't someone who takes an interest in what software you use.

I remain unconvinced. You're not going to have, say, a basic-quality program for Architecture/TL10 come with the average TL10 consumer computer. You have to go out and buy that program to use your skill, so... how much does the program cost? And will it fit on your computer? Or is there just no such thing as a basic-quality program for a skill that doesn't use a dedicated device to perform it?

[Stormcrow]

Originally Posted by TGLS

I think the way it's supposed to be interpreted is that the programs were described for skills that use tools besides computers (for example, Machinist, Pharmacy, Chemistry),

I was thinking this, but it would have to be mostly for tools not already described in Ultra-Tech. Suppose I'm wearing a biomonitor bracelet (p. 197). It gives a +1 (quality) bonus to the doctor's Diagnosis. So... does that mean there's no basic-quality version of this?

Or supposed I've got a suitcase chemistry lab (p. 67). That's basic-quality equipment. Can I add a good-quality Chemistry/TL10 program to make the lab good-quality with a +1 (quality) bonus? Then what's the point of having a semi-portable chemistry lab, which is already +1 (quality) bonus, but four times as heavy, five times as expensive, and takes bigger power cells?

[Gigermann]

HT22 has the same section about "Software Tools" but it lists Basic as Complexity 2 or 3