(For Director Review) Power: Connectivity

[Login]

[size:+1]Connectivity

<blockquote>Level: 2

Quantum Minimum: 2

Dice Pool: Wits + Connectivity

Range: (Quantum + Power Rating) x5 meters.

Area: N/A

Duration: Concentration

Effect: Control input into computers with thought.

Multipile Action: Yes

Description: This power, basically a weaker form of full-fledged cyberkinesis, allows a nova to connect at will to any computer, or other machine that accepts external input, by only being near it. However, this power only gives access to input, and only in the measure that a physical device would. The nova cannot alter data at will, or, in fact, receive any output from the machine, making him, normally, have to work with a monitor or other output device, it allows him only to replicate keyboard or mouse. However, if he connects to more than one machine at once, and no more than one per point in the power, he may connect the two machines as if they were in a network, but only if the machines have programmed that capability, and the nova still has to pass files from one to the other looking in the monitor. Apart from that, the only real advantage this power gives is that, because of the ease of controlling the machine with his mind, he may add a number of dice equal to his power rating in any Computers roll involving a machine to which he is connected.

Example: Jack watched the secretary get up and go out the door to look for the appointment that the man in the elegant suit was sure he had arranged. Of course, he hadn't, but by the time she reached that conclusion he'd be long gone. The computer screen glowed temptingly on her desk, but he couldn't do this manually. Oh no, not with the security cameras watching. However, that wasn't really a problem, especially not when someone had decided to do the walls in extremely shiny marble. Normal eyes would have had difficulties, but he could interpret the blurry reflection up to the smallest font, so he only had to... concentrate. He was in, and the cursor moved seemingly of its own accord to explore various files on the computer's disk, and others on the network. Once he had all the files he want (and it was oh so much faster to get them, when he clicked at the speed of thought) he linked the desk machine with the tiny one in his pocket. As they established connection, he started the transfer, which completed soon enough. After all, they were just text files. When the secretary comes back empty-handed, she finds no trace of the man calling himself Edward Monte, and on her computer's screen there is simply an untitled text file open, with these words on it: "The truth wants to be free".

</blockquote>

List of supporters:

Timeslip

Fuusen

Wakinyan

Bahamut810

Alchemist

[RPG Post]

My apologies for the delay; after a lot of discussion (which unfortunately took a long time but that's a different story) the conclusion has been that this power can't be approved because it's already possible to do this with TK. The effect can (and should) be created via TK with a weakness.

[Wakinyan]

Not Telekinesis Green.. You are thinking Cyberkinesis.

[RPG Post]

Director Green is correct as Cyberkinesis would not require any discussion. The discussions he/she mentions revolved around the fact this ability can be built using a power unrelated to computers (TK) or an enhancement from the mega-perception suite. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this write up format and its a very well designed template for others to reference in their efforts. But Connectivity as a power doesn't require approval since it's already derivative of two different powers (CK, TK) or an enhancement.

Any new power, ability or enhancements that derive directly from those already approved simply don't require a separate approval. It is the players choice whether to use the traits already in the game as those traits are described without personalization. It is also the players choice whether to personalize the traits with limitations and "color".

[Login]

Maybe I have not explained myself correctly. TK specifically allows you to produce a physical influence on the world. This would require that input devices were already present, and to move them, instead of the rather stealthier electronic manipulation alternative I'm suggesting. Second, the number of weaknesses that TK would have to have would spill over the maximum number of weaknesses for sure (after all, it's removing all of the aspects of TK except one -fine manipulation- and then, that, only with computers). Also, the mediocre dice pool of TK, especially being based of Dexterity, which is not really a computer-specialists first choice, and not taking dots in the Computers ability into account, would limit the uses of the power to the most basic of cases, apart from hardly representing accurately the spirit of the power.

Looking at it now, it could, and maybe should, be a technique of CK, but that would need approval, as well.

[kestrel404]

Unless electrokinesis is a viable aspect of TK, I agree with Login. The power she requested specifically allows her to interface with machines that lack input devices. The only way to do that would be to generate electricity (and barring a magnet and a looped wire, TK can't do that).

However, if you want to extend current powers to do the same thing, then I would suggest a ranged, and finely controlled, version of Quantum Conversion. Assuming you can pipe that electricity straight into a wire/interface port in coded pulses, it does everything you're asking for, and a bit more. Ranged would be a strength (APG), not even an extra, so it would end up a level 1 power, probably with a reduced dice pool. It may require an int/wits based computer roll to properly encode your signals, but I see this as a logical extension of the QC power.

(Not that this is a bad power in and of itself, but apparently the Directors don't want to replicate previously available abilities with new mechanics.)

[Login]

This power actually started out as a version of Quantum Conversion, but I thought that this use of it would be rather too far from the scope of that power, which lacks mechanics for controlling the energy produced anyway.

[Hugin]

Okay, are you guys talking about Cyberkinesis or Telekinesis?

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

…the number of weaknesses that TK would have to have would spill over the maximum number of weaknesses for sure…

The upper number is what the ST allows, and even if you go over that number you could still take more without getting credit for them. For CK (not TK) that would one technique (-5), only for input of data (-2), and you’re there. It’s been a while since I’ve read CK but I think there are existing techniques that would work. Alter Data or Control Functioning or something.

Also, the mediocre dice pool of TK, especially being based of Dexterity…

My book isn’t in front of me, but I do recall TK allows for the ranged use of skills. Isn’t the mechanism something like making a normal skill roll and then taking half the succ?

It’s a very grey line between using TK to manipulate a mouse and using it to manipulate a mouse that isn’t there, i.e. if I were ST I wouldn’t prevent you, although granted, this does go into electro-K rather than TK. There is also the issue of how often this is actually going to come up, i.e. how do you know that it would take mouse input if you can’t see a mouse?