CE Computer software limit question

[faherman]

Something I've also asked over on rpg.net, because it's bugging me:

If I understand the rules as written correctly, a computer's Model number determines both the complexity of the programs it can run and the number of programs it can run simultaneously. So a Model 3 computer can run programs of Rating/3 or below; and it can run three programs at once, regardless of the programs' individual Ratings, whether that's three Rating/3s or three Rating/1s or three Rating/0s.

Would it not make more sense for the Model number to be the number of programs of its own complexity it can run? Under which schema, the Model number multiplied by itself would be the total number of program Ratings that could be run simultaneously. A Model 3 could run a total of nine Ratings: three Rating/3s; or nine Rating/1s; or a Rating/3 + two Rating/2s + two Rating/1s; or any of these plus any number of Rating/0s (for which, read any software that your current 2021 computer or device can run).

(And any of those lower Ratings being run might very well be a Rating/3 program intentionally being run at a lower rating?)

Or am I just misunderstanding the whole thing, which is entirely possible?

[Fayoumi]

Hello! I'm not sure if you already got a response over at RPG.net.

In the old MgT1 core rulebook, there was some example text that provided some clarification. This was unfortunately left out of the SRD. I'll try, God-willing, to reword it a bit.

It would be better explained by saying that the sum of the ratings of all programs running at once cannot exceed the rating of the computer. So, a Model 3 computer can run one program requiring Program/3, or it could run three programs rated Program/1 at any one time. Or, a Program/2 and a Program/1, and so on. A Computer/1, and above, can run any number of programs rated at Program/0, while a Computer/0 can only run a single Program/0 at a time.

I hope this helps.