Challenges
The following is a practical description of difficulty challenge targets with the Computer proficiency used as an example, as described by Nuku
1+ : A basic action that could be failed, but usually isn't
[Public] Nuku jingle bells, "Ok, someone puts a computer down, 'It won't turn on!', 1 success, 'You didn't plug it in!', you send poor computer unsaavy person away with a blush. You also succeed at checking email and installing a vidja game to enjoy. You are a master of basic computer functions with 1 success, woot :D"
3+ : A basic challenge
[Public] Nuku jingle bells, "Rolling 3+ at a computer. You succeed at identifying the computer has a virus and attempt basic means to get rid of it. You can plug in and remove parts that are compatible with the computer, including things like popping in CPU and hard drives and things and generally monkey around with the computer, so long as it's withing the specs of the computer. Customize the OS to your taste? You can do that. You can identify hardware failures, but can't do much about it other than replace the broken part if you have a spare. You could access a network the computer is a part of and other computers, provided they are powered on already."
[Public] Nuku jingle bells, "Important note, many 3+ actions can be completed with 2, but takes longer. So if you want to shove in some RAM and roll 2? You probably did fine, but it takes you hours where someone more skilled would have done it in minutes."
6+ : A Difficult Task
[Public] Nuku jingle bells, "Difficult Task, 6+, for a computer: Repair broken computer hardware without replacing it(Oh I'll just pry this harddrive open and replace this part inside and bam, working harddrive without lost information!), Defeat encyption/lockout procedures(password? Lame, I got this!), get incompatible computer parts to have a conversation, though they may still need help understanding each other, at least you'll get them to shake hands, be clever. Make your own programs of significant complexity(I am going to make the next Fallout, it'll be so ironic!)."
9+ : Exemplary task
[Public] Nuku jingle bells, "9+ success: Now you've left the realm of the average technical expectations. Countering a virus directly, making up your own cure for the bug where antiviral programs have all failed. Remotely compromise networked computers, making them just as much your slave as if you were sitting in front of them(+security is a good idea and lowers target by 2), coaxing a destroyed computer/data to at least cough up good chunks of its data through extreme methods(This hard drive is in two pieces... I'll see what I can do...). Get a computer to emulate a nanite server, provided you have the hardware to put out the signal."
12+ : Divine Challenges
[Public] Nuku jingle bells, "12 with computer: Important note, even attempting things so hideously complex is dangerous. In all cases, failing by 4 or more is likely to cause harm to the computer or other tools you're using, so it's pretty easy to explode a computer at this level. Overclock a computer to double its rated speed without overheating issues. Make a new nanomagic (You still need the OOC item, yo, but could be handy mid-RP). Awaken a damaged CPU across a network and pull data from it for the brief time it lives. Hack into Zephyr's payroll (you monster). Reprogram an angry robot to be your friend instead."
[Public] Nuku jingle bells, "12 is pretty damn hard. You will explode a lot of computers. Good thing those are replac.... nevermind."
15+ : Impossible Challenges
[Public] Nuku jingle bells, "15 computer: Turn your computer into a full bubble server with all the privileges therein, make your own nanite strain(requires +medicine). Make your own mutant power (+medicine+xeno). Hack Zephyr, all of it(+security)! Turn smashed bits back into a working computer with minimal data loss."
Variations from Targets
[Public] Nuku jingle bells, "Fail by 1, do it slower, fail by 4+, you broke something."
[Public] Social Butterfly Rhennick lustily murrs, "what happens if you exceed the target by certain amounts?"
[Public] Nuku jingle bells, "Get it done faster! Up to the storyteller, depends on what you were doing."
Using Two Skills Where Appropriate
[Public] In The Night Miranai seductively yips, "If I might, perhaps put defeating encryption into computers+security? Only a thought."
[Public] Nuku jingle bells, "Sure, computer+security works fine by me. Though I'd actually drop the target by 2 if you used both together. So 4 for fast, 3 for slow if you use both. Synergy!"
[Public] Social Butterfly Rhennick lustily murrs, "how would one use two skills together?"
[Public] Nuku jingle bells, "By rolling them, just like that. roll skill1+skill2. The code will average them together."
