Put Away that Damn Device (PADD)

We have a player developing a new character. He is driving us crazy by continually wanting to add: Personal Equipment (PADD) to the characters' skills.

In the past we have avoided this as a waste of development points, as the PADD is just a mobile computer terminal and therefore governed by the Computer (Any Spec.) OR Shipboard Sys. (Any Spec.) skills.

The PADD is described (pp. 234 of the Core Book) under Personal Equipment, and listed as a skill for the character Hoddek on page 203.

Has anyone allowed this as a skill? Has it proven useful? Are there any reasons you can think of why it should be allowed as its own specialization and not covered by something else (i.e., Computer (Any))?

Never used it. It never occurred to us... ;)

I just have them use computer use -- it's a computer terminal, for all intents and purposes.

The way I see it, if the player REALLY wants to by the skill to show that he can do anything with a PADD, then let him...

However having faced a similar situation before with a character with the same skill represented at several levels and spread across several skills, offer the player an opportunity to change their mind after they have heard you out.

Explain that IYO the developments are wasted, and that yopu cannot see how the skill can ever prove useful.

If the player just wants it for colour, a Narrator should NEVER stand in the way. If the player sees the situation differently, find out how they see it?

For all you know, the player can envision a time that Personal Equipment (PADD) could prove useful to enable a remote computer interlink and allow a character to remote pilot a shuttle to an away teams rescue???

See theres always at least ONE use for a skill, true, the same effect could well be done with a computer use (hacking) or a Ships Systems (comms) skill, but its a matter of the right tools for the right time. Some tolls never get used, but that doesn't mean that such an occasion will never occur...

I agree with Dan. A narrator shouldn't stand in the way of how a PC wants to develope his/her character. As long as it is with in reason. I would say allowing Personal Equip. (PADD) is well within the realm of reason, after all it is his character and his DPs.

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Originally posted by Phantom
I agree with Dan. A narrator shouldn't stand in the way of how a PC wants to develope his/her character. As long as it is with in reason. I would say allowing Personal Equip. (PADD) is well within the realm of reason, after all it is his character and his DPs.

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Although dont get me wrong, as a narrator, if you feel that the player is wasting the points, dont hesitate to mention it, and state your concerns... After all, he has to play in your games too, and may not have given the matter total thought...

In my example I stated a similar situation where a plsyer purchased several levels of computer uasge across several skills, from Computer Use (various specialties), through to Physical Science (Computers), via Ships Systems and Systems Engineering (Computers). When I raised this, I mentioned how in my opinion the spread of DP gave skill redundancy as several skills now covered the operation, the building and repairing and the technical know how of a computer.

Now while the player concerned was totally within their rights to stick to their guns and rate their skills anyway they liked, I felt it unfair not to at least mention and offer the chance to re-allocate the redundant DP's before things were set in stone... Once they are spent however... Thats it... :D

Hey, if the player wants to spend a Specialisation on it, why not? It doesn't sound like anything which can do anything to disrupt the game. All it means is that the character is specifically trained in the uses of mobile computer peripherals. It can't be any less useful (or is that "more useless?") than a specialisation in commbadge.

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Originally posted by Owen E Oulton
It can't be any less useful (or is that "more useless?") than a specialisation in commbadge.

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Good point. I guess we will let the character proceed with this idea, but will let him review these development points in a few months.