Skip to main content

Land vehicle tech (Cyberpunk RED)

Skills

Definition

Land Vehicle Tech is mechanical work on ground vehicles: engines, drivetrains, bodywork, and the modifications that turn an ordinary car into something that survives Night City. It covers both the shop version, with a lift and proper tools, and the roadside version with what is in the trunk. At the table it is a Nomad's other job and every crew's insurance policy. Getaway vehicles get shot, chases end with damage, and a car that will not start is a plan that has already failed. It is also the modification skill, which is how a crew ends up with an armored, faster, quieter vehicle than the one they paid for, without needing anyone to buy it new.

Ask AI about this term

How it works

**Linked Stat**: TECH **Category**: Technique **Resolution**: 1d10 plus TECH plus skill level against a DV based on the severity of the damage or the ambition of the modification, adjusted by tools, parts, and time. A natural 10 lets you roll again and add, a natural 1 makes you roll again and subtract. **Field versus shop**: A workshop with parts lowers the DV considerably. Roadside repair with improvised materials raises it and usually produces a temporary fix that needs doing properly later.

Tips

**Best for**: Nomads first, and any crew that relies on a specific vehicle to get in and out. **Character concepts**: A Nomad family mechanic, a chop-shop Tech, a courier who maintains their own bike, a Lawman who keeps a pursuit vehicle running past its service life. **Synergies**: Drive Land Vehicle uses what this maintains, and the same character often carries both. Basic Tech covers general mechanics, Weapons Tech handles anything mounted on the vehicle, and Trading sources parts affordably.

Frequently asked questions

Can I repair a vehicle mid-chase?

Serious repairs, no. Small fixes at a stop are possible at a raised DV, and GMs usually ask for Concentration as well if anyone is shooting. Plan on repairing between scenes, not during them.

Does this cover modifications?

Yes: armor, performance work, and mounts are all within scope. Bigger projects take time, parts, and money, so treat vehicle upgrades as a downtime activity rather than a session action.

Do I need Drive Land Vehicle too?

Not strictly, but they pair naturally and many characters take both. Being able to fix the car you cannot drive well is a strange place for a Nomad to end up.

Further Reading

Drive Land Vehicle SkillBasic Tech SkillAll Cyberpunk RED Skills
Previous
Interrogation
Next
Language
Explore Cyberpunk RED
Full system guide and terminology.
Back to glossary
Browse all terms and categories.