Streetwise enables a character to find or hide information in his off-time. This skill represents the character’s knowledge of the workings of real-world information sectors and the ability of the character to gain access to those sectors. An information sector may be a street gang, a corporate lounge, a black market operation, or several other areas. In fact, just about any area could be an information sector, but a character with streetwise knows where to look. For game purposes, the character is able to go to information sectors and ask questions/find clues prior to debriefing. A character may also "wander off" to gain access to their forge at plot discretion. This skill is no substitute for real role-play, and cannot be used to adjust role-play situations. Streetwise can only find information that is known, even if it is only known to a small group, and the character must have some idea where to start looking. (Sometimes, this “idea” can be gained through the streetwise skill itself) At plot discretion, a role-play situation may result in one or more streetwise effects occurring, or a streetwise tag expenditure may result in a role-play situation occurring.

For each purchase of this skill, a character gains a number of Streetwise tags. These tags may be expended in any combination on the tasks listed below or on other tasks at Plot Discretion. The number listed in parenthesis () is the number of tags required to perform a designated task. If a character does not pay the cost listed, but pays a lesser cost, the source of the information is unreliable, and it is at plot discretion whether or not the source is legitimate. Characters may pay more to find information that is more reliable.

Simple Query (1)
This task allows the character to find out information through contacts, friends, and friends-of-friends. Simple Query covers information that is non-confrontational and non-strenuous. In the case of simple query, there is no chance that an organization will become suspicious, and there is no penalization for simply asking. “What gang controls 42nd street?” would be a simple query. This skill requires one tag per question asked.

Find Legitimate Source (1)
This task allows the character to find a legitimate source of goods or information, such as a weapons shop or an armor dealer. The character must specify what legality, item type, and/or specific item he is looking for while using this ability. Items or information of Confidential or higher rating cannot be found using this ability. Note that sources found through this ability need not give or sell anything to the players if the players cannot legitimately obtain what they have, but the source should be generally interested in giving information to those with the proper legal credentials. This requires one tag per attempt.

Misinformation (x)
This task allows the character to create misinformation about information regarding themselves. Note that misinformation is difficult for simple information, and grand scale misinformation is also very difficult. To begin misinformation, you must pay a tag cost equal to the level of information that the query is on. Beyond this cost, for every level of misinformation regarding a specific piece of information, increase the tag cost by 1. If the levels of information are equal to or higher than the number of tags needed to get the information, increase the multiplier of tags required by one. As an example, to increase the cost of getting reliable information from a detailed query to 4 would take 2 tags for detailed query, plus 2 tags for raising it to 4. If one wanted to raise it to 10 tags, it would take 31 tags. (2+2=4+2+3+4+5+6+7=27 tags) Misinformation can only be done at debriefing, never during a game.

Intimidation (x)
This task allows the character to intimidate one source, either of information or goods, into either not giving or not selling their information or goods. The intimidator can specify to whom goods are not to be sold, whether in general (“Don’t sell to Rinn,”) or specific, (“Don’t sell to that guy over there.”) and they can also specify what goods or information they do not want given out. The character must spend a tag cost equal to the level of the source times 10 to be successful. The character may decide to threaten anonymously, but they must spend a tag cost equal to the target’s level before spending tags on the intimidation itself. A character cannot back down from an intimidation once it has begun and the level is announced, but can choose to spend fewer or more tags on it. If the tags aren’t paid, the source is not intimidated, and may know who the character is. Non-intimidated characters can retaliate, call law enforcement, or do other things to the offending character. This ability can be used to deliver a message to a PC without being caught, but intimidating the PC must be accomplished IP. Misinformation can be added to anonymous intimidation to make oneself harder to find.

Find Thug (x)
This task allows the character to find someone who has attempted intimidation, either on himself or someone else. The character must spend tags equal to the level of the intimidator times 5 to find this information out. If an intimidated NPC finds out who the character is and their level is less than that of the NPC, the NPC need not be under the effects of the intimidation, at plot discretion.

Detailed Query (2)
This task allows the character to find out more information than simple query, but follows the same guidelines. In general, there is no difference between the question asked in a simple query and a detailed query, but the source(s) have more information. Detailed query is only capable of finding information that is available on the street. This skill requires two tags per question asked.

Insider (4)
This task allows the character to find a source of information on the inside of an organization, provided that this source is lower in the organization’s ranks. This person may then be role played with or asked simple query or detailed query. Insiders, once found, may be used repeatedly for as long as they are alive and connected to the organization, provided that the character remembers who they are. Insiders do not have to give information to characters, nor do they have to give accurate information, but typically are in such low ranking that they do not have misinformation, nor the ability to share it. Janitors, secretaries, and mail-room attendants are frequent insiders.

Secret Meeting (5)
This task allows the character to arrange for a meeting in a clandestine location, where they and the person they are setting up the meeting with will not be noticed. The character must have contact with the person they are setting up the meeting with for this to work, and they must both have some mobility. A detailed query about a secret meeting will turn it up, so many secret meetings revolve around misinformation. Setting up a secret meeting costs 50 credits, plus 100 for each level of misinformation used.

Valuable Insider (8)
This task will get you the name of someone connected to a specific piece of information not available on the street. The character can arrange a meeting with this person by paying an additional 8 tags, but the person does not need to come and, unless otherwise arranged, the meeting is not necessarily a secret. Intimidation can be used on an uncooperative valuable insider to get them to the meeting, but multiply all tag costs for questions by 5 to get reliable answers. Valuable insiders, once found, may be used repeatedly for as long as they are alive and connected to the organization, provided that the character remembers who they are. A scientist working on a special project that your character wants information on would be a valuable insider.

Black Market Contact (10)
This task allows the character to be able to get in touch with someone who can arrange dealings on the black market. Note that the black market does regular information checks, and the character must use a misinformation level of ten or higher to get this contact, if he is in connection with a law enforcement agency. There is no guarantee that a black market contact can be used more than once. Black market contacts will not actually sell you goods, but will give you information about black market sources. By spending an additional 10 tags, one can know before attending the meeting whether it is a bust or not, although there is only a 5% chance that it is one.

Black Market Outlet (10)
This task allows the character to, once in touch with a black market contact, get details on a black market outlet. Black market outlets deal in goods of restricted or lower legality, and are information hot-spots, as well as misinformation hot-spots. In a black market outlet, detailed query can be asked for 50 credits or 1 tag of streetwise, although the result will almost always be unreliable. (Plot discretion for it not to be.) There is a 5% chance of being busted at a Black Market Outlet if one uses the services there. Black Market Outlets dissolve eventually, becoming useless to players two months after being found.

Secret Document (15)
This task allows the character, once having a contact of valuable insider level or higher, to obtain documents of importance to the organization. This ability can only be used to obtain documents of research-grade legality or lower within the organization, but for twice as much and the value of the document, it can be kept. By spending 4 times as much, a document of any level can be seen, although the insider must have access to the document to show it to you.

Black Market Operation (15)
This task allows the character to, once in touch with a black market contact, get details on a black market operation. Black market operations deal in goods of restricted or lower legality, and are information hot-spots, as well as misinformation hot-spots. In a black market operation, detailed query can be asked for 50 credits or 1 tag of streetwise, although the result will almost always be unreliable. (Plot discretion for it not to be.) There is a 1% chance of being busted at a Black Market Operation if one uses the services there. Black Market Operations do not dissolve as Black Market Outlets, being in areas that cannot be (for one reason or another) busted by law enforcement, although law enforcement can and does bust those who go to the operation.

Black Market Trader (15)
This task allows the character to, once in touch with a black market contact, find a specific trader within the black market. Traders deal in one type of good or service, such as weapons, armor, or Terran judges that can be paid off. They can obtain goods of enforcement or lower legality, but will not come to meetings with said items on hand unless a deal has already been made. Intimidation is ineffective on traders. Traders are more paranoid than contacts, and so it takes 3 times as many tags as it normally does to contact a trader if you are connected to a law enforcement agency. By spending an additional 15 tags, one can know before attending the meeting whether it is a bust or not, although there is only a 5% chance that it is one. If it is a bust, there is a 20% chance that the trader doesn’t know about it and shows up.

High-Ranking Insider (16)
This task will get you the name of an important person within an organization. The character can arrange a meeting with this person by paying an additional 16 tags, but the person does not need to come and, unless otherwise arranged, the meeting is not necessarily a secret. By including a “gift,” of 800 credits or more in value, the meeting will be guaranteed provided that it can be kept a secret. Intimidation is ineffective on High-Ranking Insiders. High-ranking insiders, once found, may be used repeatedly for as long as they are alive and connected to the organization, provided that the character remembers who they are. The manager of security for a military-grade cybernetics company’s branch office would be a high-ranking insider.

Independent Crime Zone (20)
This task allows the character to, once in touch with a black market contact, get details on an independent crime zone. Independent crime zones deal in goods of restricted or lower legality, and are information hot-spots, as well as misinformation hot-spots. In an independent crime zone, detailed query can be asked for 50 credits or 1 tag of streetwise, although the result will almost always be unreliable. (Plot discretion for it not to be.) There is no chance of being busted at an independent crime zone if one uses the services there. Independent crime zones do not dissolve as Black Market Outlets, being in areas that are (for one reason or another) completely outside the jurisdiction of any law-enforcement agency.

Black Market Dealer (30)
This task allows the character to, once in touch with a black market contact, find a specific dealer within the black market. Dealers have access in one type of good or service, such as weapons, armor, or Terran judges that can be paid off. They can obtain goods of military or lower legality, but will not come to meetings with said items on hand. When dealing in military grade goods, they require half of the payment upfront prior to delivery. Intimidation is ineffective on Black Market Dealers. Dealers are even more paranoid and well-connected than traders, and so it takes 5 times as many tags as it normally does to contact a trader if you are connected to a law enforcement agency. By spending an additional 45 tags, one can know before attending the meeting whether it is a bust or not, important as there is a 20% chance that this is the case. If it is a bust, there is only a 10% chance that the dealer doesn’t know about it and shows up.

Top-Level Insider (32)
This task will get you the name of an extremely important person within an organization. The character can arrange a meeting with this person by paying an additional 32 tags, but the person does not need to come and, unless otherwise arranged, the meeting is not necessarily a secret. A secret location with a misinformation level of 5 or higher is necessary to arrange this meeting, and the person may decide not to come unless offered a “gift,” of at least 3,200 credits for their time. Intimidation is ineffective on Top-Level Insiders. Top-level insiders, once found, may be used repeatedly for as long as they are alive and connected to the organization, provided that the character remembers who they are. The advisor to the consulate of a planet the players are on would be a top-level insider.

Black Market Broker (50)
This task allows the character to, once in touch with a black market contact, find a specific broker within the black market. Brokers deal in all of it, and are highly connected to just about any organization you can think of. They can obtain goods of any legality within their area, but will not come to meetings with said items on hand. When dealing in military-grade or higher goods, they require that half the money for said goods be delivered up-front. Intimidation is ineffective on Black Markget Brokers. Brokers are extraordinarily paranoid and highly connected, and it takes 10 times as many tags as it normally does to contact a trader if you are connected to a law enforcement agency. By spending an additional 100 tags, one can know before attending the meeting whether it is a bust or not, a wise idea since there is a 25% chance it is one. If it is a bust, there is only a 1% chance that the broker doesn’t know about it and shows up.