Cyberpunk RED skill
Bureaucracy
Key facts
- Stat
- INT
- Category
- education
- Linked Stat
- INT
- Resolution
- 1d10 plus INT plus skill level against a DV set by the situation. A natural 10 lets you roll again and add, a natural 1 makes you roll again and subtract.
- Typical use
- filing the right paperwork, finding the person who can approve a request, or pushing a stalled case through a department.
Overview
Bureaucracy is the knowledge of how institutions move: which form unlocks which door, which clerk holds the real power, and which department will quietly lose your file. In a world of corporate enclaves and thinly staffed city offices, it lets a character get permits, records, and appointments that brute force cannot reach. It is the skill of the person who can walk into a records office and walk out with exactly what the crew needed, without a shot fired.
How it works
Category: Education
Tips and playstyle
Best for: Lawmen, Execs, Fixers, and Medias who need records, licenses, or access. Character concepts: Permit fixer, city clerk with a side business, corporate compliance officer, patient advocate who knows every loophole. Synergies: Accounting follows the money, Bureaucracy follows the paperwork, and Forgery supplies the paperwork when the real thing will not arrive in time.
Frequently asked questions
What does Bureaucracy do that Streetwise does not?
Streetwise gets you what the street knows. Bureaucracy gets you what official systems hold, from licenses to public records and corporate permissions.
Can it replace a bribe?
Often, and at lower risk. A correctly filed request leaves a clean trail, while a bribe leaves a witness.
How high should I take it at creation?
Skills cap at 6 during character creation and 10 afterwards. Take it high if it defines your role, and around 2 to 3 if it is a supporting talent.