With the Computer Empathy skill, a character can sense the flow of data within a computer or computer network. This allows the character to react more quickly and smoothly to changes in the data flow, making Computer tasks easier. The character must be physically touching a computer (whether keyboard, screen, or processor) in order to initiate the task. When the character makes a test of this skill, empathic power level determines how much the Computer skill is enhanced.

Basic Success means the character can sense the interior workings of the single computer that is being touched, revealing any interior damage or any problem areas in its electronic flow. Stage Two success allows the character to empathically “read” any data the computer is accessing, which lowers by one level the difficulty rating of all Computer tests the character is doing (one can even “read” the computer without looking at the screen). Stage Three allows the character to sense the interior workings of any one computer to which his or her own is connected (by data link), or to “read” all data stored within the computer being touched, even data that is not presently being accessed.  A Stage Four success means the character can “read” any data being accessed by a computer that is in communication with the one being touched. Stage Five allows the character to empathically “read” data stored within that distant computer. Stage Six means the character can perform Computer tasks at two levels of difficulty lower than normal (Difficult becomes Easy, for instance).

When dealing with self-aware computers (especially those infected by Virus), this talent is used the same as Telempathy is with an organic sentient being, but the referee will need to assign an effective INT attribute and Willpower skill level to the AI system. When dealing with Virus, Basic Success is enough to determine whether the computer is infected (although the referee may rule that certain infections are so good at hiding themselves that higher stages of success are required to detect them). Stage Six success or better is required to empathically “read” data from a computer inhabited by a non-cooperative strain of Virus.