Cyberpunk RED skill
Streetwise
Streetwise is a skill in Cyberpunk RED: Knowing how the street works: who to ask, where to go, what not to say.
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Key facts
- Stat
- COOL
- Category
- social
Overview
Streetwise is practical knowledge of the criminal and informal economy. Who runs which block, which bar to ask in, what a service should cost, which gang's colors you are currently standing next to, and which questions get you thrown out or worse. At the table it is the skill that generates leads. When the crew has a name and nothing else, Streetwise is how that name becomes an address. It is also the safety skill: knowing that a meeting location is wrong, that a price being offered is far too good, that the person setting up the job is not who they claim. Every campaign in Night City runs on information the official channels do not carry, and this is the skill that reaches it.
How it works
Linked Stat: COOL Category: Social Resolution: 1d10 plus COOL plus skill level against a DV set by how obscure the information is and how far you are from your own territory. A natural 10 adds another roll; a natural 1 subtracts one. Scope: Streetwise is broad street knowledge across the criminal underside of the city, as opposed to Local Expert, which is deep knowledge of one specific area. Asking about a well-known gang is easy; tracing a specialist who works quietly climbs the ladder fast.
Tips and playstyle
Best for: Fixers first, then anyone who takes work from people they did not meet through a corporation. Character concepts: A Fixer who grew up in the Zone, a Lawman with real informants, a Media working the underside of a story, a Nomad learning a city that is not theirs. Synergies: Bribery turns a lead into an answer, Human Perception tells you whether the answer is honest, and Local Expert goes deeper on the one district you live in. Trading sets the price once you find the seller.
Frequently asked questions
Streetwise or Local Expert?
Streetwise is broad knowledge of how the street operates anywhere; Local Expert is one specific neighborhood in depth. Streetwise travels better, Local Expert answers harder questions about a smaller area.
Does Streetwise work outside my own city?
Partly. The instincts transfer but the specific names do not, so most GMs raise the DV when you are working somewhere unfamiliar. A good roll in a strange city gets you the general shape, not the address.
Can Streetwise find me a Fixer?
Yes, and that is one of its most common uses. Locating someone who can supply what you need is exactly the sort of question the skill answers, though what they charge is a Trading problem.