Low Soc and Use of Streetwise

[Vargas]

Might there be cases where having a low Social Standing would actually enhance the use of the Streetwise skill?

 

[CosmicGamer]

yes

 

[hdan]

That depends on your personal feel for what SS means.

In the classic "What strata of society were you raised in?" sense, I can see inverting the SS bonus for Streetwise checks involving personal interactions. (In MgT sense, that would be for any Streetwise:Social check. Streetwise:Int or Edu would not be impacted.)

But I like to think of SS as encompassing force of personality as well as social strata. A low SS character is going to seem shifty and untrustworthy, a high SS character is going to inspire confidence. The highest levels are only achieved with the addition of actual celebrity status, including nobility, artistic or other forms of fame. A famous leader might have a higher SS than his "station", indicating that while he has great sway over people, he's not actually a peer of the real, as it were.

In that sense, I'd say that you might be able to use SS as a positive in Streetwise, but it depends on your character concept. A famous musician might get a benefit, whereas a famous city official might not.

 

[samuelvss]

I would say it would depend on who has the assets involved; if one were looking for an insider trading opportunity, then having Soc of 2 would likely be a detraction. If one were looking for the cheap black market goods, or to hire some thugs for cheap, then this might be an asset, but having a noble title would likely not!

 

[BlackBat242]

That depends on your personal feel for what SS means.

But I like to think of SS as encompassing force of personality as well as social strata. A low SS character is going to seem shifty and untrustworthy, a high SS character is going to inspire confidence. The highest levels are only achieved with the addition of actual celebrity status, including nobility, artistic or other forms of fame. A famous leader might have a higher SS than his "station", indicating that while he has great sway over people, he's not actually a peer of the real, as it were.

I don't view SS as being comparable to Charisma at all.

It is mainly a denominator showing what caste of society you both function well in and which others assess you as belonging to, through such clues as speech patterns, accents, form of dress, manners, knowledge of customs/courtesies and personages, and so on.

This is similar to how a graduate of Harvard can tell one of his fellows from a Yale man just by speech patterns and casual comments about local landmarks and so on.


The other part is a gauge of what level of personal value is placed upon you by the Imperial Society (as opposed to the popular society).

 

[far-trader]

I would say it would depend on who has the assets involved; if one were looking for an insider trading opportunity...

Wouldn't that be Wall Streetwise?

If one were looking for the cheap black market goods, or to hire some thugs for cheap...

Yes, that is the Streetwise I know and love. The intention, at least originally, was that of the lower classes, the "common criminal" elements* and blue collar workers . Not the middle classes and white collar workers. Nor the upper classes and executives. The way I always read it anyway.

I don't see Soc applying, as a positive or negative in any case. The skill itself is the "introduction" if you will. The ability to make oneself welcome with the subcultures of any world, or at least those that are predominately human.

You might have been born into such a subculture (low Soc) and still not be able to easily work within it (no Streetwise). Or you might have been born to rule (high Soc) and for whatever reason be able to connect with the subculture (with Streetwise).

* personally, I'd leave criminality out of it entirely

 

[Enoki]

I'd think streetwise would have a context to the player using it. A policeman would have a different version of streetwise than a criminal than a businessman. I think you have to look at the character and what they would be involved in.

This is why I stress having a back story / life history for characters.

Examples:

An Imperial army several terms who has several levels of streetwise. The character is regularly involved in the illegal sale of military equipment to 'others.' He gets discharged without being caught and continues his nafarious activities.

A rogue / criminal who has a rap sheet as long as your arm is involved in 'stuff.' Self evident.

A police officer / law enforcement who is retired and now is in something like bounty hunting or private investigation using streetwise to make contact with certain individuals they know over the years to gain information.

It really depends on the character.

 

[Fritz_Brown]

A low SS character is going to seem shifty and untrustworthy, a high SS character is going to inspire confidence.

But, when using Streetwise, it's likely the people you're connecting to will be looking for someone who seems shifty and untrustworthy. The guy who doesn't look that way screams NARC!

if one were looking for an insider trading opportunity,

:rofl: I had this image of a guy in a trenchcoat standing in the starport in a shady corner, opening it up as the character walks by. "Psst. Hey buddy! Want to buy some corporate bonds?" And he has all these stock certificates hanging inside his coat........

I'd think streetwise would have a context to the player using it.

Exactly. Though it still probably wouldn't link you up to the embezzler on the 50th floor, unless he had some other thing going on that was more "street".