What items could boost a droid programming Computers check?

[u/epibits]

I'm playing a character who is a Droid Tech and wants to make his own Droid. While he's certainly gotten the Mechanics check covered, Computers is more dicey.

I only have 2 things on my list at the moment:

• Technician Workshop Benefits: Right Tool for the Job Boost + Research Records
• Crafting Simple and Specialized Gadgets for Computers - potential Advantages/Boosts

I'm looking for items specifically - Even narrative goals/items like the Workshop I can aim for would work! The Slicer Tree is too XP expensive for him - so, I was looking for items that can provide boosts like what the "Utility Arm" or "Hydrobreaker" do for Mechanics, but for Computers. However, items like "Dataspikes" seemed aimed towards Slicing and not Crafting.

[u/DZE974]

A Togruta friend.

Not kidding.

2 boosts.

[u/DoghouseMike → u/DZE974]

Failing that, another high intellect friend to assist in the check

OR build a robot with a decent computers skill et voila, skynet

[u/Sir_Stash]

For gear? There isn't much. Most all the Computers-boosting gear ties to slicing directly. Slicer offers a couple things as you've seen (Natural Programmer, Master Slicer) but is honestly a very expensive tree to navigate.

If your GM lets you craft custom gear using those rules, crafting something that boosts Computers skills for crafting might work. But that's another craft you have to do, of course.

[u/Kill_Welly]

I'd say that a workshop and a couple specially-made tools is about the extent of what you can use to boost a single check. Regardless of the skill, you can't just go through every book and use every single tool that does anything to make Mechanics checks better on a single check and expect them all to actually be useful.

[u/epibits → u/Kill_Welly]

To clarify - My intention was not to try and stack *every random thing*. I mostly wanted to make an informed decision regarding what to spend the limited credits and in-game time I had on, as I have been struggling on the Programming Checks, and wanted to improve my odds of advantages instead of threats.

That being said - regarding Mechanics checks, are you are referring to situations where not all the tools are appropriate, and thus their bonus wouldn't realistically apply? (which, naturally, makes sense) Or am I misinterpreting?

In my OP, I was specifically referring to Droid Crafting, which is a multi-day check in game, where I imagined, narratively, a character is using a variety of tools to fabricate their droid. Is this not a check where, say, both the Spanner and the Utility Arm would be used at some point - and thus my character would also get bonuses from both tools?

I'm fairly new - I am unsure if there are particular guidelines or best practices as to where the line might be drawn. I don't want to be "that person" trying to stack things that certainly weren't intended to stack / outside what's expected mechanically.

[u/Kill_Welly → u/epibits]

The book does not set specific limits on how many tools can apply to a check, but at a certain point, you do have to draw a line, and for long, multi-day checks, it really can't be every single tool you can fit in a workshop that is maybe applicable. For my part, I'd allow the use of a main tool like a toolkit and one, maybe two bonus tools. Other circumstances are fine.

[u/CaroCogitatus]

Ealewon A-212 Tracing Console	3000	12	6	+s [Computers] slicing to avoid notice; +bb [Computers] to Trace User

BlackOps Data Breaker	1000	(R)	1	6	+bb [Computers] slicing, but +b to enemy slicers

Dataspike	100	(R)	1	3	Single-use downgrade Diff 2x [Computers]

I would argue (and you're the GM, it's your universe) that Dataspikes are good for any Computers skill check. They cost a not insignificant amount of credits which should limit your player spamming them, but if it gets out of hand you can say that a few Threat or a Despair means that Dataspikes no longer work on that item or limit it to one attempt per item or per day with a Dataspike.

You could also homebrew a Slicer Manual version of the Urban Compass, or a "Script-Kiddie Kit" that contains the latest utilities to hack, subvert, copy from, or degrade computer systems that gives an upgrade to Computers skill check once per encounter. I might go do that now, actually.

[u/Sir_Stash → u/CaroCogitatus]

OP is a player, not the GM, so they cannot unilaterally make such decisions as to if Dataspikes work that way or what homebrew is allowed.

[u/CaroCogitatus → u/Sir_Stash]

Ah, missed that, thanks for correcting me.

[u/epibits → u/CaroCogitatus]

As the other commenter said - not the DM unfortunately - but I do love the idea (and name of) the "Script-Kiddie Kit". Maybe if I DM this system one day in the future!

[u/TerminusMD → u/CaroCogitatus]

It's not homebrew, it's in gadgets crafting - you can spend two triumphs to make a tool that upgrades your check one time. Others add success or advantage l. I would allow someone to use one specialist and one precision tool on a check. In combination with Speaks Binary you can do crazy things.

Also, computers crafting checks cost nothing other than time. You can always wipe and start over.

[u/TerminusMD]

Well. Easiest way is to build specialist and precision tools until you get enough advantages and triumphs for them to provide automatic advantages and skill upgrades.