I'm a wizard and I like my tech.

[Shecky]

+1 Awesome Point to you for that song!

I was thinking more Sir Mixalot: "I like my tech and I cannot lie!"

[Haru]

As mygamingid said, it all depends on the why.

If you want to play a wizard that is doing everything to get the new technology working for him, then that is at least going to be his high concept, and every bit of magic he uses should be dedicated to that, enchanted items, potion slots, rote spells, everything. He would be a research wizard more than anything else. If it would be easier, Harry would probably know about it, especially given Luccios interests on the subject.

A different approach (that I have been working on) would be: "Any sufficiently advanced technology magic is indistinguishable from magic technology.". I also think this would be the way for a wizard to go, because it seems much simpler to research this than the magic described above. I would still require him to devote most of his concept to the research of this magical construct.
The problem is not the internet itself. Those machines are far away and have nothing to fear from the murphionic field. The only problem would be accessing the internet.

First there is the need to build a magical computer. You should probably start with a basic operating system. It should be able to interpret your input and display it at the same time. And it should be adaptable, so you wouldn't have to start from scratch if you want to change something. I would take a mirror as a starting point. A mirror in a frame, the frame has lots of wholes that can later be filled with magiced (programmed) gemstones to add functions. You can use the mirror as a touchscreen, and you can use a magic marker (which would actually be magic) to write on the mirror, and it absorbs the text so you can send it or safe it or whatever you want to do.

With the basics set like this, you can add more functions. To access the internet, you need magic that understands the internet. So you need to create a magical program for your mirror, that takes over the job a browser would do. Once that is set up, you need an internet connection, a magical device that can connect to the internet, a magical modem if you will. I would set this up to be an optic fibre connection, because I assume the murphionic field won't interfere with light, and magic would probably have an easier time to create a distinct pattern of light than electronic patterns.

This should be the basics to get started with an internet ready mirror. Input and display methods could certainly vary, depending on your style, but that would be the basics, I think. The biggest problem would be, that you have to be a master thaumaturgy crafter as well as a master in computer science, because you would have to create every program yourself (including such things as flash, java, everything).

You could add other things as well. Levitating quills as a printer for example. Or a large map that can be made interactive with a google maps gem. Any kind of different programs.

Although I have to admit, it just wouldn't seem Dresdeny. On the other hand, there was the starwars-informationball-thing Morgan used in SK. I think if there was a reason to do this, there is a way.

But I have to say, that would be a concept that is cancelling itself out. You are creating problems with one aspect that you are trying to solve with the rest of the characters concept. So the whole strength of the character would be in cancelling out the inconveniences his other strength carries with it, and in the end he wouldn't be good at anything. Unless you can think of an adventure that would require this particular set of skills. I could see a character like that as an npc, though.

[Drachasor]

If you go the magic computer route, then I think that's a little Archive Magic plus some AI.  Obviously it would have to be much, much, much weaker than the actual Archive.  However, something that can remember any book you show it or even potentially search the internet should be possible.  It seems like creations with a bit of intelligence are possible in the Dresdenverse -- there are constructs of various sorts that show rudimentary intelligence and that's a lot more than what computers can do.

So I think you could certainly talk to a GM and come up with a good idea for a Magi-"tech" library that can search through any book you have or potentially remember any book you show it.  That's maybe even just a few power to do, since 10 shifts would be enough to store a lot of information (if you consider it a type of knowledge or lore check).  If you wanted to go with overkill, then 20-30 shifts would easily hold all the information on anything -- though you might still have to go out and find that information to feed into the system.  After that you just need duration.  I think interface is largely flavor, but you could always add a few more shifts to speed up searches and the like.  A really Great Library might be 50 shifts (maybe 60 or 70 for a really, really long duration unless your GM makes extending the duration at a later date easier), which IS a lot, but also something that could be fun roleplaying out over many sessions as you slowly put all the pieces together.  Or you could start smaller with a more limited library and just do like 15 shifts for a narrow focus.  This would still have limited access to information, of course, since you'd be lacking all the symbolic links, but I think that would be more than enough to justify letting it automatically add in any book you come across.

AI is a bit more difficult to figure out how much it should cost.  I suppose one method they've recommended is acting like it is a creature you were killing and look at the total refresh, double that number, and maybe add a bit extra.  So 20-30 more shifts should be pretty good for that before duration considerations.

All said, to make a Bob we're probably talking about spell that requires 100-150 shifts.

Edit:  Regarding the tech-based solution.  I think it is safe to be pretty lenient if a player wants to do something like this.  There's really not that much powergaming that could potentially be done in the Dresdenverse with a computer.  It isn't like you can hack into a Denarian and control them.  Really you are just getting games, the internet, email, etc.  Heck, even if a Wizard never hexed anything, it isn't really a significant power shift.  Guns?  They can use plenty already since there are tons of very effective old guns from WW2 (and others of similar complexity that are more modern).  A better car isn't going to change anything.  About the biggest difference is a cell-phone, and that won't change all that much.  In the end, accidental hexing is a lot more like flavor than anything else (and occasionally a source for fate points).

[Haru]

If you go the magic computer route, then I think that's a little Archive Magic plus some AI.

You won't need AI at all. You just need to implement the way a computer works with the information it is given. That has nothing to do with intelligence, artificial or otherwise. And I would put an archive up only in the sense of a regular computer, so you can safe whatever you are doing, but it won't automatically collect information.

All said, to make a Bob we're probably talking about spell that requires 100-150 shifts.

Nope, I have to disagree again. You have to bind a similar entity to an object (let's highball at 10 refresh resisted by discipline), and then add some shifts for duration, about 20 would do. And he might even be persuaded to forfeit the discipline roll if (as in Bobs case) they really do not want to return to the nevernever. In that case you would only need to create an aspect on the skull (3 shifts) plus duration.

There's really not that much powergaming that could potentially be done in the Dresdenverse with a computer.

On the contrary. Remember FM. What would have been a quick google search cost Harry one of his true names, and who knows when that is going to bite him in the ass again.

[Drachasor]

Nope, I have to disagree again. You have to bind a similar entity to an object (let's highball at 10 refresh resisted by discipline), and then add some shifts for duration, about 20 would do. And he might even be persuaded to forfeit the discipline roll if (as in Bobs case) they really do not want to return to the nevernever. In that case you would only need to create an aspect on the skull (3 shifts) plus duration.

Bob serves whomever owns the skull.  So basically this is a spell that totally remakes the spirit within.  Hence you're talking about enough shifts to completely destroy such an entity -- which is about 2 shifts per refresh, give or take...hmm, I'll have to look up what Iato/Fred Hicks (sp?) said again.  He might have said that it is enough to destroy plus 2 shifts per refresh (though that initially seems high, though admittedly you don't need a duration on a permanent transformation...I don't think).  In any case, we're talking about a something in the 30s or higher MINIMUM.

On the contrary. Remember FM. What would have been a quick google search cost Harry one of his true names, and who knows when that is going to bite him in the ass again.

I don't remember what the question was that would just be a google search.  If such a thing was true then he's an idiot.  Even in Fool Moon he could easily manage getting someone to make a google search for him (most people that go to the bar doesn't short out tech for instance).  In a game with other players it would be even easier.

[Sanctaphrax]

Nice song.

You know, the thread title would make a good aspect.

Anyway, this RCV vampire thing should probably go to a new thread. But since I like getting the last word, I'll say that I honestly don't mind the idea that RCVs are unplayable. But dropping a statement that implies that strongly without actually saying it and then never explaining the subject fully is a mistake that causes trouble of the sort that you see here.

[Michael Sandy]

I have a wizard who wants to use tech.  He has a high discipline score, an enchanted item that will absorb one hex per session, an aspect relating to his self control and an aspect relating to his love of gadgets.

Plus, he has resources 3, and spent some time researching the most durable computers.  Plus, he READS the manual on any electronic device before installing it.  He has a small library of manuals of items he would really love to have, but even with all those precautions would still blow them to bits.

So if he Really needs the tech to work, it will usually work, but we still have the occasional check. "Oops, looks like you need to replace and reinstall from backups."  "That is fine, that is why I have off-site backups."

[Sanctaphrax]

I'd be interested to know how that enchanted item works.

[Drachasor]

I'd be interested to know how that enchanted item works.

It probably works under the theory that a invoke for effect will the right compel.  So a maneuver that is called "I cannot Hex" can then be spent to cancel a hex compel.

That's my guess, anyhow.

[Tedronai]

That's how I'd run it, using the contradictory-aspects sidebar

[Sanctaphrax]

I guess that'd work.

But it seems to cheapen the compel.

[Tedronai]

then escalate

[Michael Sandy]

The wizard learned how to make the item from a Mysterious Book (tm) about Nicola Tesla, who, in the game universe, was actually a wizard.  "Principles of Transmatic bioelectrical grounding".  That is, principles regarding the grounding of magic.  So he has something like a Tesla coil on his wrist that absorbs stray magical discharges.

He can also discharge the absorbed energy to get a +2 to hexing.  One of his aspects is "my very own Tesla Coil".  It is possible he may upgrade it into an Item of Power someday.

One of the players is the assistant librarian in a Mysterious Library (tm) where strange books about magic and the history of the Seelie/Unseelie conflict and other topics appear and vanish.  One of these days the player is going to have to track down an overdue library book, when it is my turn to GM.  Muahaha!

[Smith]

How I would go about this...

1. Rent a small apartment away from my home/base of operations.
2. Fill it with all the tech I desired (Computer/HDTV/so on).
3. Have Magic Circles erected around all tech components.
4. Place permanent scrying spells around the apartment to relay sight/sound back to my actual place of residence.
5. Bribe dedicated army of pixies, with pizza, to live in the apartment and act as my "Remote Controls." Using the two-way TV scrying spell, I'd hold up "Channel 39," a pixie would change the channel and I'd be enjoying Cartoon Network. In the case of the computer, I'd have two ages old type-writers, linked through hours of thaumaturgical work so that when one types up an (email/URL/flame/etc.) the paper is ejected from the other machine, which is then transcribed by pixie onto the computer. Mouse duty (meaning the human interface device and not a rodent or large dog [as you have to be very straightforward with the Wee-Folk]) would earn the assigned pixie a double ration of pizza for that week.

Pros & Cons of this approach:
Pros:
You get to watch all the TV you want and no-one could ever change the channel on you because the pixie's would fear the loss of their pizza supply.
Internet Porn (provided you have no compunctions about the little people seeing what turns your crank. Although, in their defense, they're pretty damned open-minded about such things, you naughty wizard).
Geek/Wizard Cred - Your mortal friends (and those close enough to count to use tech without all this work) will be extremely impressed at the lengths you go to to acclimatize to the modern technological society. The wizards will be impressed because in all your dealings with the Fae Courts you are addressed by your new title...

Cons:
Your new title - "The 'Za Nerd"
Expense - Hell's Bells! Not only are you paying for a second apartment, cable television and a broadband connection... but you have to pay to feed all these pixies!
Security Deposit (you're never gonna see that money again) - Pixies are not the cleanliest of the fae on the best days, you involve pizza and your new apartment looks like the aftermath at the Battle of Helms Deep... in miniature.

[Set Abominae]

Nice song.

You know, the thread title would make a good aspect.

Anyway, this RCV vampire thing should probably go to a new thread. But since I like getting the last word, I'll say that I honestly don't mind the idea that RCVs are unplayable. But dropping a statement that implies that strongly without actually saying it and then never explaining the subject fully is a mistake that causes trouble of the sort that you see here.

That's pretty much how I read it before I even stuck my head in here.