Cyberpunk RED skill
Lip Reading
Lip Reading is a skill in Cyberpunk RED: Reading speech off people's mouths across a crowded bar or a security feed.
Last reviewed
Key facts
- Stat
- INT
- Category
- awareness
Overview
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
Linked Stat: INT Category: Awareness Resolution: 1d10 plus INT plus skill level against a DV based on distance, viewing angle, and how clearly you can see the speaker's mouth. A natural 10 rolls again and adds; a natural 1 rolls again and subtracts. Limits: You need line of sight to the mouth, so a turned head, a mask, or a hand across the face ends the attempt. Partial success generally gives fragments rather than a full conversation, and the skill only works in languages you already speak.
Tips and playstyle
Best for: Medias, Lawmen, and Fixers, who all trade in conversations they were not supposed to hear. Character concepts: A journalist working a corporate gala, a surveillance specialist reviewing footage, a bodyguard watching who is talking about the client. Synergies: Perception picks the right pair of people to watch. Language is a hard requirement for any conversation not in your own tongue, and Human Perception tells you how the speakers feel about what they are saying.
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.