[Clarification] Specialized Computers and Expert Programs

[Kilgs]

Just looking to see if there can be some clarification to a specific rule change...

MgT Main Rules (p. 92):

Specialised Computer</b>: A computer can be designed for a specific purpose, which gives it a rating of 1 or 2 higher for that program only. The navigation computer on a starship might be only a Computer/1, but could run the Expert Navigation/3 program because it is specifically designed for that task. A specialised computer costs 25% more per added rating - so, a Computer/1 (Expert Navigation/3) machine costs 150% of the the cost of a basic Computer/1. In addition, running the program a computer is specialised for does not use up rating when working out how many programs the computer can run simultaneously.

CSC (p. 177) doesn't add any additional clarification or verbiage. It merely deletes the last sentence from the Main Rules listing. TO wit:

Specialised Computer: A computer can be designed for a specific purpose, which gives it a rating of 1 or 2 higher for that program only. The navigation computer on a starship might be only a Computer/1, but could run the Expert Navigation/3 program because it is specifically designed for that task. A specialised computer costs 25% more per added rating - so, a Computer/1 (Expert Navigation/3) machine costs 150% of the the cost of a basic Computer/1.

So... is the omission of that line important?

In context, a player in my game is building a suit of armor. They want to add a Specialized Expert-Tactics computer to its Computer/1. And the Intelligent Interface or Intellect itself would take up the /1 slot in the computer if the CSC rules are read as written.

The in-book examples such as the gun and such indicate that the MRB rules remain in place. But I was hoping someone could give me some clarification...

 

[D. Foxx]

IMO, I would default to the Main Rules. I could justify the fact that the software doesn’t count against the number of programs the computer can run because the CPU is specifically designed for that purpose. A modern PC isn’t hampered by the BIOS on the motherboard. A specialized computer wouldn’t be hampered by its specialty. Why else would I pay that much more for the computer?

 

[Fox's Master]

Computers!?!?!?

blah, blah, blah BIOS, blah, blah, blah, blah CPU, blah, blah, blah..you're going to bore the poor guy to tears with this kind of talk . . .:rofl:

 

[D. Foxx]

Smack

Don't mind Fox's Master. He and I have known each other for over 20 years. The next time I see him I'll just give him a smack.:devil:

 

[Fox's Master]

Here comes the Foxx

Please don't smack me with your big, bad BIOS!