Lip reading (Cyberpunk RED)
Definition
Lip Reading lets you understand what somebody is saying when you cannot hear them: two executives talking on the far side of a club, a conversation through glass, a silent security feed the crew pulled off a camera. It is a narrow skill with a very specific payoff. At the table it is an information skill that bypasses the usual problem with eavesdropping, which is that eavesdropping requires being close enough to get caught. Lip Reading works from across a room, through a window, or off a recording, so it produces intelligence with none of the exposure. It comes up rarely, but when a scene has a conversation the crew is not invited to, it is the only tool that reaches it.
How it works
Tips
Frequently asked questions
Is Lip Reading worth points?
In an investigation-heavy campaign, yes, since it is the only way to get a conversation you cannot approach. In a job-and-gunfight game it will sit idle, so ask your GM about the campaign first.
Does it work on recordings?
Yes, and that is one of its best uses. Silent camera footage the crew has acquired becomes readable, which turns a stolen security feed into actual intelligence.
Do I need to know the language?
Yes. Lip Reading tells you what shapes the mouth made, so you still need Language to understand a conversation that is not in a tongue you speak.