Cypher System

Cover of sourcebook

The Cypher System is a genre-agnostic role-playing game ruleset developed and published by Monte Cook Games. It provides the underpinning for games such as Numenera and Stars Are Fire, as well as being used as a standalone game for homebrew settings.

### Core Concepts

The following summary of concepts is intended purely as an overview. For a detailed explanation of the mechanics, consult the Cypher System Rulebook, or an all-in-one core book such as Numenera: Discovery.

* Character Sentence: Characters are defined as an Adjective Noun Who Verbs.
* Stat pools power both abilities and represent a player character’s health: Might, Speed, and Intellect.
* Effort: Player characters can spent points from their pools to ease a task’s difficulty.
* Edge: Player characters can reduce the cost of special abilities/Effort by acquiring Edge.
* Intrusions: GMs may offer XP to players in exchange for a GM Intrusion which typically adds a complication for the players, or players may spend XP to alter a story element to their favor in the given scene.
* Cyphers: One-use powerful items that can be acquired during gameplay.

### Cypher System Settings & Games

Examples of games and settings that utilize the Cypher System.

#### Published by Monte Cook Games

* Numenera: Post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post-post apocalyptic science fantasy.
* The Strange: Multi-genre dimension hopping and creation.
* Stars Are Fire: Science Fiction
* Stay Alive: Horror
* We Are All Mad Here: Fairy Tales
* Godforsaken: Fantasy
* Predation: Science Fiction with F@\*king DINOSAURS
* Gods of the Fall: Heroic fantasy.
* Ptolus: Fantasy setting compatible with both Cypher System and D&D 5E
* Unmasked: Teenage superheroes.
* Claim the Sky: Superhero setting.
* First Responders: Modern setting where players take on roles as first responders.
* No Thank You Evil!: A family RPG designed for young players.
* Old Gods of Appalachia RPG: Upcoming RPG based on the hit horror fiction podcast.

#### From Other Publishers

* Shotguns & Sorcery: A fantasy noir setting based on the novels of Matt Forbeck, published by Full Moon Press.
* Vurt: Cyberpunk setting based off of the Jeff Noon novel of the same name. Published by Ravendesk games.
* Diamond Throne: Upcoming adaptation of the Unearthed Arcana setting for Cypher System. Published by Here Be Dragons Games.
* Hope’s Horizon: A science-fiction setting published by Angel’s Citadel.

1. ↑ https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/cypher-system-rulebook-2/
2. ↑ https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/numenera-discovery-and-destiny/
3. ↑ https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/the-strange-corebook/
4. ↑ https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/the-stars-are-fire/
5. ↑ https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/stay-alive/
6. ↑ https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/we-are-all-mad-here/
7. ↑ https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/godforsaken/
8. ↑ https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/predation/
9. ↑ https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/gods-of-the-fall/
10. ↑ https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/ptolus-monte-cooks-city-by-the-spire/
11. ↑ https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/unmasked/
12. ↑ http://www.nothankyouevil.com/
13. ↑ https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/old-gods-of-appalachia-roleplaying-game/
14. ↑ https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/314247/Shotguns--Sorcery-The-Roleplaying-Game?filters=45193\_0\_0\_0\_0
15. ↑ https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/223730/Vurt-The-Tabletop-Roleplaying-Game?filters=45193\_0\_0\_0\_0
16. ↑ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/herebedragonsgames/monte-cooks-the-diamond-throne-rpg
17. ↑ https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/336361/Hopes-Horizon--Starter-Kit