A formula is learned by activating a nano crystal by right-clicking on it. When it has been learnt, it can be found in the Nano View. If the character has insufficient skills to memorize the formula, information about this will appear in the chat window. A nano crystal is usually bought from a shop or a vendor.
Every time a character casts a formula, or executes a program, Nano Point Cost is deducted from the current Nano Pool. (Just like life for hits...)
Keep an eye on your NCU (Nano Controller Unit) in the Stat View. This is how high capacity your character has for upholding nano technology effects over time. The stat decides how many nano buffs or other effect you could have going at the same time. More powerful formulas will need higher NCU.
You could raise the NCU through upgrading your memory with implants. A friendly buff could be removed by right-clicking on it.
In Anarchy Online the Nano Pool is the psychic energy and concentration required to be able to hold, and modify the programs that control a swarm of nano bots. The program is, in a way, run by the computer held by the caster. But for it to be effective, there are a lot of parameters to be entered. Like target, starting point, effect, size, damage, effects etc. In addition, many programs are very POWERful. These programs are HARD-CODED to be quick, and deadly (More so than the counter-programs). They need to be quickly modified, using macros, then re-compiled for the specific situation etc.
All this takes energy, and has to be supervised manually. This takes concentration and intelligence. In addition, the nano-bots use atoms from the person casting the program and Notum in his or her possession. The programs are made this way, and they're virtually impossible to modify. That is not dangerous in itself, as the body replenishes itself easily by eating just one slice of bread, for instance.
Adventurer:
Quick Heal - Heals the target of a small amount of damage.
Agent:
Minor Nano Augmentation - Increases the damage inflicted by the target
by 1 point per attack.
Shadow Veil - Increases the Concealment skill of the target by 20 points.
Bureaucrat: Momentary Daze - Makes the target unable to move for
a few seconds. Doesn't affect the fighting capability of the target.
Winter's Bite - Inflicts a small amount of damage on the target.
Doctor:
Improved Healing - Heals the target of a small amount of damage.
Prototype Biotoxin - Continually inflicts a small amount of damage every
few seconds for the duration of the formula.
Enforcer:
Thug's Delight - Increases the 1-Handed Blunt Weapon skill of the target.
Engineer:
Feeble Automaton - Creates the shell of a basic robot that the engineer
can then activate.
Swift Weapon - Increases the distance weapon initiative of the target.
Fixer:
Surprised Target - Increases the Rifle and Sneak Attack skill of the target.
Martial Artist:
Lesser Controlled Rage - Increases the Martial Arts and Physical Prowess
Initiatives of the target.
Meta-Physicist:
Lesser Anger Manifestation - Manifests the caster's anger into a semi-physical
form that can then be controlled.
Mind Pain - Inflicts a small amount of damage on the target.
Nanotechnician:
Ice Flechette - Inflicts a small amount of damage on the target and also
lowers initiatives.
Malaise of Movement - Stops the target from moving for a short period
of time, but doesn't affect its ability to attack.
Soldier:
Body Boost - Increases the life of the target.
Trader:
Weak Health Funnel - Drains a small amount of health from the target and
transfers a portion of it back to the caster.
Weak Delayed Health Payment - Heals all members of the trader's team but
the trader pays for this by slowly losing health.
