(I'd appreciate it if someone would give a quick writeup of the Shards charms that are under discussion, though.)
Sure, I'll take a whack at it.
God-Mind Algorithms cascade
God-Mind Algorithms (Lore 2, Ess 2) is a Permanent Charm (always-on, no activation cost) which transforms bonus dice from stunts or equipment into bonus successes, for all computer-based actions. Also, computers she uses have unlimited battery life and a perfect wireless connection to the Internet no matter where she is. With an approved stunt, this can even allow hacking and other computer actions from electronics that aren't actually adequate to the task.
Three Charms grow directly from this one; Data Fortress Technology (Lore 3, Ess 2) empowers a computer with 1m,1wp to affect all hacking attempts against that machine with a -2 external penalty (-Essence if the attempt isn't magic-enhanced). It also immediately informs the Solar about any failed hacking attempts.
Firewall-Defying Method (Lore 3, Ess 2) aids an attempt to hack a computer. It costs 3m,1wp and adds automatic successes equal to (Essence). If the computer isn't owned by an Essence-user and the Solar has physical access, the roll autowins. At Essence 4 they can also add a backdoor whenever they succeed at hacking with it, which makes them autowin to hack it in the future.
Flawless Backtrace Technique (Lore 4, Ess 3) lets the Solar find out who and where you are (down to the city) from your SV username. Or, y'know, whatever distinctive identifying information. It's a 5-hour dramatic action, uses an Intelligence + Lore + Essence dicepool, costs 10 motes and one willpower, and has a difficulty of the target's Essence + Lore. It's blocked by scrying defenses outright.
Software Firm Fingertips and Solar Parser Efficiency
Software Firm Fingertips (Lore 4, Ess 3) is the computer-programming version of the infamous Craftsman Needs No Tools. Its text actually outright refers to CNNT for its effects; on any effort to write a new computer program (though not to write modifications or hack existing programs) every hour of the Solar's time counts as Essence*3 hours of work. That means that Amu would get half a day of equivalent development time for every hour she actually spends.
Additionally, since this is Merged-keyworded with CNNT, it is immediately applicable to any 4-dot Craft subskill Amu gets. Yes, that means she can completely ignore the increased training time and experience cost she would otherwise pay for taking this Charm in the Craft ability.
Its prerequisite is Solar Parser Efficiency (Lore 3, Ess 3), which is a Permanent Charm that eliminates all external penalties, increased difficulties, etc. from obscure architectures, programming languages, operating systems, etc. As long as the Solar is familiar with the basic language it uses (meaning, Japanese) she can use the system without compatibility issues. Custom programming language that only Fumi knows? Perfectly intuitive.
Code-Clarifying Technique and Program Stabilizing Patch
Code-Clarifying Technique (Lore 5, Ess 3) is, like Software Firm Fingertips, a programming-port of a Craft Charm - in this case, Crack-Mending Technique. It speeds up any data-recovery or code repair operation by (Essence*3) times, exactly as per the Craft Charm. As a Merged Charm, it is also a cheap-ass way to get CMT if that is important.
Its prerequisite, Program Stabilizing Patch (Lore 4, Ess 2) protects a program from malware that is affecting it for 5m,1wp. If it's 'iterative' malware this protects it for (Essence) days, simpler viruses and such are protected against indefinitely. If somehow this becomes a Digimon crossover it also is usable to protect a digital spirit from any Crippling, Poison, or Sickness effects; this commits the motes.
So we probably want to save at least one quick-learn slot for an improved version of Shadow Etched in Air Shintai.
Much agreed on this.
