Research - You'd be amazed at the help that a simple google search can be. But that isn't to dismiss the skill involved. A skilled operator can word their queries just right or find the perfect newsgroup for their area of interest. While research rolls normally use Knowledge, Science, or Occultism, a character skilled with computers can assist, rolling Intelligence + Computers and adding the successes as a bonus to the primary researcher.
Programming - Programs are sets of instructions that a computer obeys. A skilled programmer can set up a program to aid others using his computer. To write a program, the programmer must specify what the program does. The Director will assign a Program Level based on how powerful it is.
- Basic Utility - The program provides some basic functionality, such as keeping track of inventory or entering records. +1.
- Basic Data Search - The program has the data and search capabilities in a specific area. This provides a +1 bonus per success level on a subset of a skill - vampires for Occultism for instance. +2
- Advanced Data Search - This program is a more powerful and comprehensive database. It provides a +1 bonus per success level on an entire skill - Occultism, Knowledge, or Science generally. +4
- Task Script - A task script is a customized program for a specific roll that the character is prepared for. This provides a +1 bonus per success roll on that task. This cannot be combined with Data Searches or Software Tools. The character might for example write their own compiler, giving them a bonus on rolls to write other programs. +2
- Software Tools - This software creates or aid in creation. It provides a +1 bonus per success level to an area of a non knowledge skill. For example, a photo editing program might provide bonuses to the Art skill used to create images.
- Interface - The program connects to something else to either receive or send information. This could be as simple as a printer or scanner, or as advanced as connecting to a robot or other superscience gadget. +1 to +4 depending on the complexity.
- User-Friendly - The program is made with unskilled users in mind. When making an Intelligence + Computer rolls, the user may make Intelligence +2 if they wish instead. +1
- Complex - The program is meant for power users. While it can provide a greater benefit, making the Computer Roll to use the program is more difficult. For each -1 in complexity, the user has a -2 penalty on his Computer Roll to use the program. For example, A program with -3 Complexity has a -6 on the Use Computer roll.
Writing the program takes one day per Program Level of work. The programmer rolls Intelligence + Computers at the end of the work. If they don't get a basic success, the program won't compile at all, its useless. If they get at least as many successes as the program level, then they'll create the program as desired. If they roll better than 9 but not enough successes then the program is complete but buggy. The program will have one Bug per level that the roll was missed by.
Each Bug can have one of two effects. During a game session, the Director can apply Bugs as penalties to any roll using the program as if it were Bad Luck. Alternately, the Director can spend one to provide erroneous or misleading information or results. A buggy program might work, but it can be unreliable.
To use a program, the user needs to roll Intelligence + Computer. If this is successful, then they can gain access to whatever benefit the program provides. Note that a character can only use one program at a time so far as gaining bonuses on a roll goes. These rules only apply to custom made applications. Using regular applications is just using Computers with no modifiers.