Fuchi ScriptAssistantTM Programming SPU
[ description | comments | game data ]

This fully functional sub-processing unit is specifically designed with the software programmer in mind.  The ScriptAssistantTM is the perfect tool for any programmer:

o Up to 8 on-board protocol assistants*
o Auto-debugging
o FITBTM compiling lets you evaluate your actual program before it's finished
o MNML 6.2 compliant
o Infinite expandability with ScriptSlotsTM!

* Protocols available for on-board assistant pre-programming include:

o 3DIALL o MATCom (w/ HdbQL4)
o Aleph-Alpha o NetComm
o HoloLISP o Oblong
o InterMOD o OrbWeb+ (w/ Carat-2)

>>>>>[Gotta get one...gotta get one...gotta get one...]<<<<<
---Gridonator <11:14:50 / 06-10-57>

>>>>>[I know, seriously. These are really revolutionizing the way you program for your deck! Apparently the corps are keeping a close guard on them though... I wouldn't count on seeing them street-side for another two years. BUT: A very lucky friend of mine has managed to acquire one and says he's never been able to crank out programs of this calibre before. And in record time.  Not to mention how much he raves about the on-the-fly stuff...]<<<<<
---(=) <17:40:08 / 06-10-57>

>>>>>[I've heard similar reports via Fs-of-Fs... (Wonder if we've got the same friends?) Still, I don't get the deal w/ this "infinite expandability" & "ScriptSlot" stuff. What's that all about?]<<<<<
---Chrome Eddie <03:13:24 / 06-11-57>

>>>>>[Well, rumor has it that these bits are only useful for the protocols & languages that happen to be hardwired into the SPU. In other words, if you got a 2nd-tier model outfitted w/ only Oblong & 3DIALL, then your SPU is only helpful when programming in Oblong & 3DIALL.]<<<<<
---Digger <04:01:42 / 06-11-57>

>>>>>[Personally, I've experienced no such or similar limitations whatsoever...]<<<<<
---Painted Pixel <04:31:01 / 06-11-57>

>>>>>[I can confirm the rumors Digger heard. A decker I occassionally run w/ just managed to negotiate himself a level-2 programming SPU complete w/ ScriptSlot & a full library of ScriptSofts. Anyway... His programming SPU only has Aleph-Alpha & Oblong on-board. According to him, if he wants to reap the benefits of the SPU for languages other than Aleph... or Oblong, he's got to slot one of his ScriptSofts. Even then (he says), the benefits from the ScriptSofts don't seem to match up w/ what he's come to expect from the on-board protocol assistants.]<<<<<
---Fiddler <23:24:25 / 06-12-57>


Level
Essence
Price
Bonuses
Availability
Street Index
1
0.1
10,000¥
-1 to programming tasks
5/28 days
2
2
0.15
15,000¥
-1 to programming tasks 
+1D6 to Task Pool
5/28 days
2
3
0.2
20,000¥
-2 to programming tasks 
+2D6 to Task Pool
6/28 days
2
4
0.3
30,000¥
-3 to programming tasks 
+1D6 to Hacking Pool 
+2D6 to Task Pool
8/42 days
4

 

ADVANCED RULES
For players and GMs intrepid enough to play out the defined nuances of this piece of 'ware, you'll also want to keep track of the following other pieces of information.

1. On-Board Protocols. When the character has the Programming SPU implanted, they need to choose which protocols have been programmed into their SPU. A level 1 Programming SPU gets 1 protocol; level 2 gets 2 protocols; level 3 gets 4 protocols; and level 4 gets all 8. Then, the character only gets the modifier to programming tasks when programming in one of their on-board protocols/languages.

2. ScriptSlot. Consider it a proprietary Chipjack for programming languages. The ScriptSlot directly interfaces with the Programming SPU, effectively adding whatever programming language is on the chip to the list of on-board protocols. However, the slotted protocol only grants a -1 to programming tasks in that specific programming language. (And on that note, there are any number of programming languages; just consider the list above to be a sort of starting reference.)

The ScriptSlot is considered an additional piece of cyberware with the following game data:

Essence Cost: .05 Price: 5,000¥
Availability: 6/28 days Street Index: 1.5

The ScriptSofts themselves (the modules that go into a ScriptSlot) are essentially a specialized SkillSoft for Computer (Software Programming: [insert name of protocol here]). Their on-chip data include an exhaustive, cross-referenced compendium of that language and have the following game data:

Price: 2,500¥
Availability: 5/21 days
Street Index: 2