Language skills are part of every characters

"Language skills! Especially Streetslang. How to play them and their usefulness." u/grownassman3

I think the key here is to acknowledge that we are playing Street level, remenber "it's Always Street level".  Up until now, I had a BIG tendency to focus on the most usefull skills in order to achieve an effect in the game. I was wrong. The more I write, the more I read about CPR and the more I understand how I should play it. That's a process. And the way I play the game might not be inline with the way you play it. That's fine. We are all encouraged by the authors to make the game ours.

Everything in TTRPG is a matter of choice. You can't have everything, and you should create a consistent Character. Not an optimized one, at least consistency should be the priority. I cleary wasn't enough into language up until few weeks ago. And now with this article, I think I grew up a bit more.

I really tried to think about it from different points of view, but I didn't find any satisfying answers.

"At a Base 10, you can speak the language well enough to get by on the street but you don't understand a lot of the slang. At a Base 14, you are a fluent speaker of the language and most people assume you grew up speaking the language. At a Base 18, you not only speak the language fluently but you know all the ins and outs of the language including slang, complicated situational rules, and all dialects of the language."

• Base 10 you are capable, but not really fluent.

• Base 14 to speak like a native (grew up speaking the language).

My issue is this one : A bit over the average person, someone with INT 5 is NOT capable as he doesn't even reach Base 10, you would need to add 1 point in order to be capable, not fluent. Even with 8 INT you are NOT speaking your native language fluently unless you spend 2 more skill points. That's an issue for me. And even if the 4th war put a number on the education level of most of the population. Asking for 8 in language when you are already above average in INT (6). That's too much for your mother tongue.

I don't know for other GM but those I'm working with and myself, we should use language skills a bit more. I know that my players don't like the idea to invest point in language, (unless they are Face characters and even them are not that much into language), but we should put more effort into it.

First of all, Streetslang is quit enough. That's a the "universal" language in the street, and we already have to spend 2 points in it. Face and Stylish characters who want to show off should develop this skill (alongside with Wardrobe and Style and Personal Grooming). But in fact it applies to any character hanging out in the street. 

Streetwise is not easily accessible to everyone, but if your character doesn't have a high COOL score, I hope that he isn't be bad in INT. Meaning he can speack fluently Streeslang, I fully agree that's not the same, but it's damage control, if you speaks the street language, at least you are part of the street. You may not behave exactly how you should with underground mobsters, still, you are Street dude, and that matters.

And think about it, most of social skills requires you to be understood by your counterpart. You really want to have a Base 10 and even more in Streetslang. That's another way to differenciate your character, to make him more unique. That's also a reason why Fixers gain language with their Role Ability. This is the way, be good at Streetslang, that's the only way to assure you will be understood by everyone that matters. Maybe some Executive aren't going to get you, that could happen yes. Else that's a sure shoot.

I have 2 players very good in Acting at my table, like base 16 (bonuses included) at minimum. They are playing with it in a very smart way. Which allows them to overcome plenty of obstacles. But not speacking the right language could endanger their cover. That's why you can use language as a limitation, if someone wants to be a good infiltrator... he needs high INT and a chipware socket with many language skillware. At least to reach 10 and sometimes even 13 (INT8 + Skillchip 3 + Boost 2).

A vey important part for your character is his survival ability, not only in combat. And when you are part of a group, you have a better protection. Some group came with a flavor : hispanic, chinese, japanese, etc.. Learning the language should be a priority for your character. He wants to part of them, and not learning the language is not a smart move here.

Pink is a rockergirl, she is a performer in night clubs for adult, she is not that good a dancer : Dance & Contortionist both base 10.

But she have Personnal Grooming & Wardrobe and Style both Base 12 + 2 (Light tattoox3, Chemskin + Techhair) and Streetslang base 12. She is the real deal in the street, full of Style. And you can tell it from the way, she takes care of herself, her clothes and the way she speaks. Of course she is a beauty, but without Style it's not that new when a 500eb biosculpt can change you in a little goddess. They are plenty of nice looking girls out there. But few of them have the full package as Pink

For the record, this is a character we just created with one of my players for a Oneshot. 

Laguage can be a great addition to your street game, it's not a big investment for high INT character, but it's a bit difficult for other. reaching base 10 is not so easy because it's hard to spend 6 skill point into one language... well maybe not if where are talking about Streetslang. And that's only 4 points as 2 of them are mandatory. I know that getting a better Rank or level in Autofire is tempting. But I'm sure it can be a great addition to your character to speack other language.

I did it with my Solo, high INT, I spend a certain amount of IP to reach base 10 in multiples languages. When you are paranoid, you want to understand what people around you are saying.