Cracken's Rebel Field Guide (Page 5)
Temptation of Evil
The use of prosthetics is especially dangerous to those who believe in and use the Force. The unnatural combination of man and machine makes tapping the Force harder, but also opens the person to the temptations of the Dark Side once the Force has been called upon. Each prosthetic has a set number of cyber points.
When a character calls upon the Force, he must roll a die. If the number is higher than the character's total cyber points, the Force may be used as described in the game. If the roll is equal to or lower than the point total, the character cannot use the Force.
Characters with any cyber points receive double the normal amount of Dark Side points.
Trauma
Characters with prosthetics also risk severe mental trauma as a result of becoming part machine. The effects of trauma should be determined on an individual basis by the gamemaster.
Computer Languages
In our world, a piece of information is either in a computer file or it isn't. The computer technology of the Star Wars universe is very different, thanks to the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) brains for Droids. By working with Droids, programmers and computer linguists created what they called Holistic Data Transfers, or HDTs.
HDTs are a means of writing data files in a kind of "information shorthand." HDT languages are so sophisticated they take up very little memory, but they allow a dataflie to give a computer user more data about a topic than it actually has.
HDTs build an element of artificial intelligence directly into datafiles. In effect, it makes a "guess" about the information requested based on the data it possesses. The more data it possesses, the more accurate the deductions and the broader the scope of the deductions.
The larger the file, the less chance the computer will have to guess. Large files can be broken down into smaller files if necessary.
The Death Star technical readout of lOD (such as the one carried by R2-D2 in A New Hope) will have just about any information the user is looking for. The file could be broken down into two 4D files and a 2D file. Each one of these smaller files would have less chance of providing the necessary information.
Data in the Game
All files are rated in terms of die codes. For simplicity there are no pip values - just straight die codes: 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D, and so on up to 13D. Most files will have a die code of 4D or less, although a few files have more complete information.
Computer files are very specific. Examples of files include the Death Star, X-wing fighters, R2 Astromech Droids and Hoth system. The cost for such files varies depending upon the importance of the information and the power of the program. Files with larger die codes are much more expensive than smaller files. It will be nearly impossible for Rebels to buy a file greater than 4D without resorting to underground contacts and other illicit means.
Typical file costs:
| 1D | 100 Credits |
|---|---|
| 2D | 400 Credits |
| 3D | 600 Credits |
| 4D | 1,000 Credits |
| 5D | 4,000 Credits |
| 6D | 6,000 Credits |
| 7D | 10,000 Credits |
| 8D | 40,000 Credits |
| 9D | 60,000 Credits |
| 1OD | 100,000 Credits |
| 11D | 400,000 Credits |
| 12D | 600,000 Credits |
| 13D | 1,000,000 Credits |
Currents limits of technology do not allow files greater than 13D.
In addition to cost, the Rebels must go to someplace where they can get the file. A quest could be built around retrieving several different datafiles.
Data Storage
Computers have a limitation on the amount of information they can store. Common pocket computers can store 5D at most (although many store less), while portables can store up to 20D.
Info Boxes
Example of Enhancement Cost
A character is improving his Perception and related skills two pips with a Sensory Package. The package's base cost is 300 credits. On the first line, see that the cost is 3 (starting die code) times 2 (pip increase) times 300 (base cost)
| Skill/Attribute | Starting Die Code | Formula | Cost | New Die Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perception | 3D | 3 x 2 x 300 | 1,800 | 3D+2 |
| Bargain | 3D | 3 x 2 x 300 | 1,800 | 3D+2 |
| Command | 3D+1 | 3 x 2 x 300 | 1,800 | 4D |
| Con | 4D+2 | 4 x 2 x 300 | 2,400 | 5D+1 |
| Gambling | 3D+2 | 3 x 2 x 300 | 1,800 | 4D+1 |
| Hide/Sneak | 3D | 3 x 2 x 300 | 1,800 | 4D+1 |
| Search | 3D | 3 x 2 x 300 | 1,800 | 3D+2 |
| Total = | 13,200 credits | |||