I wanted to make sure that I was using the ability correctly.

I have Technical Aptitude (rank 1).

My understanding is that on computer checks I lower the difficulty by 1 rank so Average becomes Easy, etc. Is that a continual use or 1 time per scene / encounter ?

Technical Apitude reduces the time it takes by 25% per rank.

It works every time on computer related tasks.

Technical aptitude only reduces the time needed to perform computer related tasks. So I assume you're referring to Codebreaker perhaps, which both removes 1 Setback die per rank, and additionally decreases difficulty when breaking codes and decrypting communications by 1.

First off, yes, this decrease makes Average into Easy. Remember that it does not change with more ranks in Codebreaker, only the Setback die removal increases.

Second, its listed as a passive ability, so its always in effect.

D'oh. yes it is codebreaker I am speaking about. that is what I get for posting during work hours between phone calls. LOL

Thanks for the fast reply

Its interesting that for a lot of these talents to be useful the GM has to keep imposing setback dice, this is especially true of ranked talents.

It means I have to keep coming up with interesting things to introduce setback dice for so players can then say 'ah, but i can ignore setback dice!'

In the next session one of my players will try to hack into a banks computer system from outside the building to steal money from a recently deceased Hutt. As it will be during the day and with a short amount of time and he will need to install a computer spike without direct access I would say this incurs at least 4 set back dice. Obviously the bank hacking will be a difficult task but upgraded once because of what he wants to do.

So his roll will probably include PPRBBBB, and I don't think he has any slicing talents....this will be fun......

Dude, I'm an assassin, my "slicing talents" are for people, not computers!

As an aside, I'm liking how you don't have a certain career or specific talents to do most things, but they help out. And in situations like this, it would really help to have the relevant talents.

While we're on the subject of the Slicing talent tree: There's one talent there (I can't recall the name at the moment) that lets the player reduce involuntary strain by (rank x strain). Should this also apply to stun damage (from weapons with the stun setting, not the Stun active special quality)?