Thaumanerdy

By BigJobbs (fred@manawatu.gen.nz)

Description

This discipline is the Tremere's answer to the Malkavian Madness Network and the Nosferatu's unparaleled ability to hack computers of any kind to leech out their information. The discipline is a recent one, having been created less than ten years ago by a Tremere who was completely sick of having to pay the Nossies for their information. The conversation reportedly went something like this:
Tremere: Show me your computer.

Nosferatu: No.

Tremere: How'd you like these apples?!?!

Nosferatu: I'd be honoured to show you my computer. Please refrain from boiling me alive.

Tremere: Thank you.

The vampires that use this discipline are usually referred to as Thaumanerdists, often shortened to 'nerd. They often take a nature of 'Player', and thus recover Willpower by beating their high score on games like Civilization.

The names of the powers are a nod of the head to the old research wizards of the Tremere, who used names such as these in ages past. Oh, and also to stop them all being named after things from Star Trek and Monty Python.

Effects of all disciplines are as long as the computers are turned on, or until the ST decides otherwise.

* Vision of the Haunting Spirit

At this level, the user may establish a spirit-based connection between two computers that will not be interrupted physically, save by turning one of the machines off. However, the link may be severed in the same way as the cord of a vampire using Animal Walk, as it is spiritual in nature.

System: Connection to another computer will be instant and automatic, even if the other machine is a server that happens to be full. Dataflow will be at the full speed of the Spirit, which is based on the following chart, rolled on the thaumanerdist's roll of Wits + Computers, difficulty 7. Cost is one Willpower.

Successes	Name	Speed
1	Imp of the Gammy Leg	2400bps
2	Minion of Strolling	14.4kpbs
3	Byte Hound	33.6kbps
4	Servant of Digitalis	128.8kpbs
5	Demon of Integratia	10 Mpbs

** Aegis of the Hearth

At this level, the 'nerd erects his system's defences. The capability of these defenses are equivalent to the ability of the 'nerd.

System: Roll Intelligence + Security, difficulty 7. Cost is 1 Willpower.

Successes	Name	Effects
1	Chickenwire of Haradus	An AOLer might not get in.
2	The Maginot Line	Safe from all novice users.
3	Rampart of Cretius	90% of all users will fall before you.
4	Keep of Tarl	A Nosferatu might get past, but that's about it.
5	USS Bunker Hill	You can barely get in yourself.

*** Aura of Rightful Authority

At this level, the thaumanerdist will automatically gain the highest status possible in any software. This is at all levels, from being auto-opped in any IRC channel (in many cases becoming a channel founder), to having complete access to any and all user-restricted information in a secure network.

System: Automatic effect. Cost is 1 Willpower.

**** Recollection of Memories Never Lived

At this level, the thaumanerdist can cause fully-functional programs to spontaneously be created to serve his purposes. The program must be created on a computer to which the 'nerd is linked via a Haunting Spirit.

System: The complexity of the program is as follows, rolled against the 'nerds Intelligence + Computers skill, difficulty 6. Cost is 1 Willpower.

Successes	Name	Effect
1	EarthHail	"10 PRINT 'Hello World.' 20 GOTO 10"
2	Data of Dire Expansion	A utility, such as PKUNZIP.
3	smIRC	An average prog, such as an IRC program.
4	NerdWord	A powerful application such as MS Word.
5	Hellscape	A fully integrated system such as Windows 95, but which works properly.

***** Obliteration of the Metallic Barrier

At this level, the 'nerd will not be stopped, for he can remove hardware encryption and security, with the power of his mind.

System: Cost is one Willpower. Any hardware device which will impede the 'nerd in any way will cease functioning. The roll of Wits + Security, difficulty 7.

Successes	Effect
1	It stops working for a minute.
2	An essential transistor blows.
3	A vital chip dissolves.
4	The circuit board transforms into a cracker with a dash of avocado on it.
5	The entire component explodes in an incandescent shower of sparks.