Concentration (Cyberpunk RED)
Definition
Concentration is the skill for staying on task under pressure. It is what keeps a Tech soldering a connection while rounds come through the wall, keeps a Netrunner working while the building alarm screams, and keeps anyone doing careful work in a place where careful work is not welcome. At the table it is a support skill that turns other skills from theoretical into usable. Almost every heist has a moment where somebody has to finish something slow while everyone else buys them time, and Concentration decides whether that person finishes. It keys off WILL, so it is the rare non-combat skill that rewards mental toughness rather than intelligence or dexterity.
How it works
Tips
Frequently asked questions
When would I roll Concentration?
Whenever the GM decides the environment would break your focus: gunfire nearby, an alarm, an injury, a countdown. It is usually asked for on top of the roll for the task, not instead of it.
Is Concentration worth points for a combat character?
Less so, since shooting does not require it. It earns its place for characters whose contribution is a slow task that the rest of the crew is protecting.
Does high WILL make up for a low rank?
Partly. WILL caps at 8 and adds directly to the roll, so a WILL 7 character with no skill still clears easy DVs of 9 fairly often. For anything harder you need the ranks.