So, you want a new axe, do you? Something better than that cheap Sony or Fuchi knock-off of a cyberterminal, minimally masked? Well, then, by all means scan on. If you don't, don't. Easy, neh?

--> Designing the MPCP

The MPCP is the heart and soul of your deck, and as such it is the first to be designed by the would-be superhacker. The reality filter is a way of making your own reality in the Matrix, thus increasing your speed in there as information is presented in a metaphor you are intimately familiar with (works as an extra level of Response Increase, i.e. +2+1d6).

Computer Theory test: None
Computer Programming test: MPCP rating (+2 for reality filters), x8,
        equipment: computer with sufficient memory
Computer B/R test (cooking): MPCP rating, MPCP x3 days, parts: OCC,
        equipment: shop, OC-encoder
Computer B/R test (install): 5, MPCP x2 days, parts: PLC & DTC
        @ MPCP*MPCP, equipment: shop

Although the MPCP may be the heart and soul of your deck, the persona programs makes the bare body of what you are in the Matrix. Bod is how tough you are, Evasion how slippery you are, Sensor how perceptive you are, and Masking how silent you are. The difference between a legal cyberterminal and a big, bad cyberdeck is Masking, which obscures the data trail you leave behind in the Matrix. Yes, I said obscures, not removes. Someone good enough just might follow you, no matter how good your Masking rating and Sleaze utility is. The Matrix just became a colder place, eh?

Computer Theory test: None
Computer Programming test: Program rating, x3 (Bod/Evasion)
        x2 (Masking/Sensor), equipment: PC with enough memory
Computer B/R test (cooking): Program rating, Program rating x3 days, parts:
        OCC, equipment: OC Encoder, shop
Computer B/R test (install): 5, Program rating x2 days, parts: PLC & DTC @
        rating*rating, equipment: kit

Continuing with the body metaphor, the amount of active memory you have measures how deep your pockets are. If they're shallow, you can't carry much in them. On the other hand, if they're real deep, there's no telling what you might carry in them - other than the mandatory lint-covered candy, of course. Always seems to get in there, doesn't it?

Computer Theory test: None
Computer Programming test: None
Computer B/R test (cooking): None
Computer B/R test (install): 5, Memory Size/100 Mp x2 days, parts: OMC @
        Memory size, PLC @ Memory size / 10, equipment: kit

To really stretch that body metaphor, the ASIST interface is your web of nerves connecting each part of your body to your brain, thereby allowing you to control that body. If you are one of them turtles, then you don't have an ASIST interface. Jazzing up the system feed from the ASIST is a "hot" deck, making the Matrix realer than real, and perhaps even Better Than Life. Or something. Not that you'd be addicted, of course, an intelligent, strong- willed individual such as yourself. Oh noooo. Running the ASIST without any system feed amplifiers is a "cool" deck, making the Matrix less likely to fry your brain. Unless you really stick your persona where it doesn't belong.

Computer Theory test: None
Computer Programming test: MPCP rating, x2 (hot) x1 (cool), equipment: PC
        with enough memory
Computer B/R test (cooking): MPCP rating, MPCP rating x1 days, parts: OCC,
        equipment: OC encoder, kit
Computer B/R test (install): 5, MPCP rating x2 days, parts: PLC @ MPCP
        (cool), PLC @ 2xMPCP (hot), ASIST ProcUnit @ 1250, equipment: kit

Computer Theory test: None
Computer Programming test: Hardening rating, x8, equipment: PC with enough
        memory
Computer B/R test (cooking): MPCP rating, MPCP*Hardening*1 days, parts: OCC,
        equipment: shop, OC encoder
Computer B/R test (install): 5, MPCP*Hardening*3 days, parts: PLC & DTC @
        Hardening x2, equipment: shop

Limiting the amount of neural damage you suffer if something decide to run household current through your pointy little head is always a good idea, especially if you want to keep your bowel control. Therefore, an ICCM biofeedback filter might be a good idea. Of course, it's only wasted nuyen if you don't ever need it, and you're too good to need it, neh? Oh, and if you intend to design this yourself, you'd better know something about how the (meta)human body works, too.

Computer Theory test: None
Computer Programming/Biotech test [avg.]: MPCP rating, x4, equipment: PC with
        enough memory
Computer B/R test/Biotech test [avg.] (cooking): MPCP rating, MPCP rating x2
        days, parts: OCC @ program size, equipment: shop, OC Encoder
Computer B/R test/Biotech test [avg.] (install): 6, MPCP rating x3 days,
        parts: PLC & DTC @ MPCP*MPCP, bioscanner @ 5000, equipment: shop

Filling my pockets with digital loot always gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling. But how fast can you fill your pockets? Fast enough to avoid that ice gunning for your tender persona ass? I/O Speed measures how fast you can send and get stash to and from the Matrix. Oh, and the max rating you can have is Sensor*MPCP*10 MePA (MegaPulses Per Action).

Computer Theory test: None
Computer Programming test: None
Computer B/R test (cooking): None
Computer B/R test (install): I/O Speed / 100, I/O Speed/20 days, parts:
        PLC @ I/O Speed/20, DTC @ I/O Speed/10, equipment: kit

Being the equivalent of wired reflexes in the real world without all the attendant problems (you know, hyper-paranoid, goes off at a sudden move, and all that), Response Increase is a nice option to put into your axe. Of course, it ain't all nice and friendly. A deck can only support 3 points of Response Increase, and to top it off it can only support MPCP / 4 (round down) points of Response Increase in any case. So, like in the real world, if you see a guy running around WAY too fast, chances are he's got a wired 3 and you stay away... and if you see a guy running around WAY too fast, chances are he's got a deck with MPCP 12 or worse, and you stay away... Oh, and if you run a hot deck on DNI, you're even faster (+2+1d6).

Computer Theory test: None
Computer Programming test: MPCP rating, Response Increase x2, equipment: PC
        with enough memory
Computer B/R test (cooking): Response Increase x2, MPCP*Response*1 days,
        parts: OCC @ program size, equipment: shop, OC encoder
Computer B/R test (install): Response Increase x2, MPCP+Response*1 days,
        parts: PLC & DTC @ 3x Response Rating, equipment: shop

Being storage memory, storage memory's a nice place to store things, such as utilities you don't need right now, nice holopics to look at if you're bored in the Matrix (is that possible? oh yes), and so on. Of course, you can transfer any content from storage memory to active memory if you spend a little time doing it (Swap Memory operation). Off-line storage, on the other hand, is not very useful except for... well, you know - off-line storage. Simple, isn't it?

Computer Theory test: None
Computer Programming test: None
Computer B/R test (cooking): None
Computer B/R test (install): 4, Mem/100 x2 days, parts: OMC @ mem, DTC @
        mem/10, equipment: kit

Casings:
        Basic (0/1)                             Negligible (10 per case)
        Level 1 (1/2)                            500
        Level 2 (2/3)                           2000
        Level 3 (3/4)                           5000
Hitcher Jack (TN #jacks +1, 48 hours)            250
Off-Line Storage (TN 3, 24 hours)                 50 + .5 per Mp
Vidscreen (TN 3, 12 hours)                       100

Well, naturally you can make new things that's not "standard", and install it on your deck, or wherever you want. However, you'd best be boning up on your lore on how them things really work, since you'll have to use that lore to make a sketch on how the new thingy fits into the grand scheme of things. That's the MPCP to you. So here's a couple of examples.

--> Satlink Interface

This is an example of an additional feature on your fearsome flaming axe. Of course, if nobody's shown you how to do it, you'll have to think about it for a while before you can build the hardware, but it just might be worth it. You know, in the trids when they bounce a signal off a truckload of satellites to make it harder to trace? It actually works. Thus, a Satlink interface might save your hoop one day... but of course it comes at a cost. All that packing, repacking, signal processing and transmit time makes you slower. Not much, but it can still mean the difference between victory and brain-fry. So, as usual, it's a tradeoff.

Permanent dishes: Standard Portable 800, Large Portable 1200, Fixed Base 900, Cable 10/meter
Temporary dish components: Electronics 1000 (reusable), plastic webbing 5, spray polymer 1 nuyen.

Computer Theory (Hardware:Interface Tech) test: 4, 16 days base time
Computer Programming test: MPCP rating, x2, equipment: PC with enough memory
Computer B/R test (cooking): MPCP, MPCP*1 day, parts: OCC, equipment: shop,
        OC encoder
Computer B/R test (install): 5, MPCP*2 days, parts: PLC & DTC @ MPCP,
        equipment: shop

Well, this little thingy is nice if you want to transmit data between two points and don't want it to be detected. Plenty of uses for this little gizmo - for instance, if you've got a LOS from somewhere and to the little transmitter box, you don't have to join the grunts - that's Street Samurai to you - in a physical intrusion, but can stay safe and sound somewhere else and sleaze their mainframe. Provided you can convince the grunts (oh, sorry, Street Samurai) that they should not jack the little box into things like electrical outlets. You can even add some fiberoptic cable to the box, so that you're not dependent on windows being in LOS of the jackpoint - since they generally aren't, you know. But even this wiz little gadget comes at a cost - just like any other linkage between your axe and the Matrix, it'll make you a tad bit slower (-1d6 initiative).

Laser receiver/transmitter (needs two - one on each side, natch): 400 nuyen
Fiberoptic cable: 10 nuyen/meter

Computer Theory (Hardware:Interface Tech) test: 5, 25 days base time
Computer Programming test: MPCP rating, x2, equipment: PC with enough memory
Computer B/R test (cooking): MPCP, MPCP*1 day, parts: OCC, equipment: shop,
        OC encoder
Computer B/R test (install): 5, MPCP*2 days, parts: PLC & DTC @ MPCP,
        equipment: shop

Further updates to come real soon... Promise!