Computers (Int, Manipultation; Trained Only)
You|re trained in the operation of computers and modifying or creating software.
Check: Most normal computer operations--using software, getting your e-mail--don|t require a Computers check and can be done untrained. However, searching an unfamiliar network for a particular file, writing programs, altering existing programs to perform differently, and breaking computer security all require skill checks (and training).
- Find File: The DC and the time required to locate a particular file on an unfamiliar computer system are determined by the size of the site. Finding public information on the Internet does not fall under this category; this only pertains to finding files on unfamiliar computer systems.
| Size of Site | DC | Time |
| Personal computer | 10 | 1 round |
| Small office network | 15 | 2 rounds |
| Large office network | 20 | 1 minute |
| Massive network | 25 | 10 minutes |
- Defeat Computer Security: The DC is determined by the quality of the security installed to defend the system. If the check fails by 5 or more, the system immediately alerts its administrator there has been an unauthorized entry. An alerted administrator may attempt to identify you or cut off access to the system.
Sometimes, you have to defeat security at more than one stage of the operation. If you beat the DC by 10 or more when attempting to defeat computer security, you automatically succeed at all subsequent security checks at that site until the end of your session.
| Level of Security | DC |
| Minimum | 20 |
| Average | 25 |
| Exceptional | 35 |
| Maximum | 40 |
- Defend Security: If you are the system administrator for a site (which may be as simple as being the owner of a personal computer), you can defend it against intruders. If the site alerts you to an intruder, you can attempt to cut off the intruder|s access or even to identify the intruder.
To cut off access, make an opposed Computers check against the intruder. If the check succeeds, the intruder|s session is ended. The intruder might be able to defeat your security and access your site again, but has to start over again. Attempting to cut off access takes a full round.
One surefire way to prevent further access is to simply shut the site down. With a single computer, that|s no big deal, but on a large site with many computers (or computers controlling functions that can|t be interrupted) it may be time-consuming or even impossible to do so.
To identify the intruder, make an opposed Computers check. If the check succeeds, you learn the site from which the intruder is operating (if it|s a single computer, you learn the name of the computer|s owner). Identifying the intruder requires 1 minute and is a separate check from cutting off access. This check can only be made if the intruder is accessing your site for the entire length of the check--if the intruder|s session ends before you make the Computers check, your attempt fails.
- Degrade Programming: You can destroy or alter programs on a computer to make it harder or impossible to use. Crashing a computer simply shuts it down. Its user can restart it without a skill check (however, restarting takes at least 1 minute). Destroying programming makes the computer unusable until the programming is repaired. Damaging programming imposes a -4 penalty on all checks made with the computer (sometimes this is preferable to destroying the programming, since the user might not know anything is wrong, and won|t simply decide to use a different computer).
You can damage the programming of multiple computers at a single site; doing so adds +2 to the DC for each additional computer.
Fixing damaged programming requires an hour and a Computers check against a DC equal to the DC for damaging it + 5. Destroyed programming must be re-installed.
| Scope of Alteration | DC | Time |
| Crash computer | 10 | 1 minute |
| Destroy programming | 15 | 10 minutes |
| Damage programming | 20 | 10 minutes |
- Write Program: You can create a program to help with a specific task. Doing so grants a +2 bonus to the task. A specific task, in this case, is one type of operation with one target. The DC to write a program is 20; the time required is one hour.
- Operate Remote Device: Many devices are computer-operated. If you have access to the computer controlling them, you can shut them off or change their operating parameters. The DC depends on the nature of the operation. If you fail the check by 5 or more, the system alerts its administrator there has been an unauthorized use of the equipment. An alerted administrator may attempt to identify you or cut off your access to the system.
| Type of Operation | DC | Time |
| Shut down passive remote (including cameras and door locks) | 20 | 1 round per remote |
| Shut down active remote (including motion detectors and alarms) | 25 | 1 round per remote |
| Reset parameters | 30 | 1 minute per remote |
| Change passcodes | 25 | 1 minute |
| Hide evidence of alteration | +10 | 1 minute |
| Minimum security | -5 | -- |
| Exceptional security | +10 | -- |
| Maximum security | +15 | -- |
Action: Computers requires at least a full-round action. The GM may determine some tasks require several rounds, a few minutes, or longer, as described above.
Special: You can take 10 when using the Computers skill. You can take 20 in some cases, but not those involving a penalty for failure. (You cannot take 20 to defeat computer security or defend security, for example.)
MMSkills
