The Cypher System Rulebook isn't a GAME?! || Review of the Cypher System

[@Gerod253]

🕴️More Cypher System content please.

[@mohnkern]

More Cypher System Content. Couldn’t get the emoji on my phone

[@pemberliegh]

We've been playing cypher for about 2 years now and effort/edge have been second nature for a long time. I think as the power scales, the effort cost starts to make a lot more sense. You're putting energy in to, ideally most of the time, guarantee success and its draining. It should be. But as your pools increase, that cost becomes more bearable. Your endurance kicks up. And if it's your specialty, where your edge is, you can start to do so much for free. You can nova or basically have a free level of effort or two. In dnd terms, make fireball a cantrip and lob it all day. I'm t4, halfway to t5, and I have 5 effort and 5 edge in speed now. If I'm confident on the hit or maybe spend 1 effort for hit, then I can dump 4 effort into dmg which goes hard. I have a magic weapon that basically gives me 1 free effort on dmg. That means I can dump 17-20 dmg on an enemy, which sounds small in other systems, but instantly ends a lot of fights in cypher. That costs 11 speed, but with 5 edge, I only spend 6. With my pool I can do that 3-4 times in a fight if I really, really needed to. And I never have, yet. I mean I'm one of 5 heroes ranging from t2-4 (she didn't overspend xp, just joined the game a year later). I think it has been harder on her to be less powerful, but narratively it makes so much sense. She was living a quiet life in a small village and left home looking for her missing friend. Why would she have the same power as 4 people who have been hardcore adventuring for years (in game)? And her excitement as shes gotten access to more power is great. I was worried just reading about it, in comparison to other games, it would feel weak, but it actually feels so much stronger. GM basically set a difficulty higher than you can roll and with assets and skills and effort I said nah I just get that. I don't even have to roll. You can't really do that in other games. I love the effect of both the gradual xp buy up and big tier bumps on power, they feel so good. More so than a lot of other systems I've played. But I think my favorite thing, as a player, is arcs. It gives me so much rp drive. Like not single-minded, there's nuance to what she wants to be doing, but having not just a backstory but real goals that matter to the story and making progress on them gives xp is so good.

[@Variarte_]

I like your presentation style, not 'hyper' cuts cuts every two seconds but fairly clean and easy to follow. Just some opinions from me (been playing Cypher since Numenera first came out). The key thing about Cypher is that it is fundamentally YOUR game, and you can do with as you please. (I know this is true of any system but Cypher heavily, heavily stresses this) Your Pools represent stamina waaay more than health. The characters are actually very fragile only having 4 states of health-the Damage Track: Hale, Impaired, Debilitated, and Dead. The reason why pools aren't your health is because things can just outright bypass your pools and damage you, you can fall from too high and instead of getting winded (Might damage) you get knocked one step down the Damage Track, or you can get hit by a poison, a spell or some weird quantum fluctuation that takes you down the Damage Track. As a player, this is terrifying and extremely intense "holy shit! I am in real danger here, I need to deal with this problem!" XP is just player narrative control. This is through a whole bunch of ways the two most stressed examples from you being re-rolls or advancement. Re-rolls allow a player to reliably try to alter the course of the narrative as much as stronger characters and more abilities. It is fundamentally up to the player how they choose to execute on this. I would recommend talking to your players if they are happy with how they are spending their XP. In my experience, the player who spends most of their XP on re-rolls is just as happy as the player who never re-rolls and only goes for advancement. The player who has fallen behind in advancement can always opt to focus on advancement instead, and vice versa. The only time when this is concerning is when either player feels like they 'must' always succeed or 'must' get stronger because that's what other systems have conditioned them to do. There were three big sticking points for me when brings players into Cypher, using assets-either through equipment, environment, or assistance-using cyphers, and Player Intrusions. I have made a custom character sheet for new players to really drill into them that the environment, and equipment are just as important as your skills and that cyphers are always an option. Also Player Intrusions. Player Intrusions are an incredible tool for players and getting them to understand all these things means it sticks with them and they are much more willing to use them and have a much better time. Feel free to message me if you would like a link.

[@ganzagaming1849]

Between your HP being all your pools and your Edge, there's very little of that alleged "death spiral" some players are worried about.

[@qsviewsrpgs4571]

I appreciate the in depth break down of the Cypher System. This helps a lot.

[@TheEchoscapes]

Ofcause you can have a fast elf. You don't have to pick your race to be an elf like in other games. So the question is, which one of fast and elf is most important for defining your character? The other should come out in your stats and other abilities

[@CraigLoos]

I always mix up Edge and Effort as well. As for having to pay XP for re-rolling, I just think about DnD, you never get to reroll so I don't mind it. If you REALLY want to reroll, go ahead.... Using your HP for attacking, at first I was concerned, but at the same time it is somewhat hard to die in Cypher. I think it is easier to die in DnD than Cypher. Thank you for the review I enjoyed it.

[@CypherUnlimited]

Great review. I love seeing Cypher get some love.

[@RPGTherapist]

The lizard brain is a powerful force that can seldom be ignored for long 😅. Great video, Corey 👍🎲

[@TheJvespi]

I would love a Genesys review, I think it's quite a lovely system and now that there isn't a die shortage, more people should take a look at it, because it works wonderfully in most campaigns

[@magetower]

There is a variant rule to allow for a species descriptor and one additional. Humans will get two descriptors so they can still be cool too.

[@sanshinobi3664]

"Lizard brain what number go up! Why no number go up? Lizard brain don't like!" Recovery rolls: "I got you, fam" 🎲🕴️

[@KyleHoughton]

I'm piggybacking off your video of converting L5R into Cypher. I actually disagree with your assessment about the stat pools and HP connection. You're not wrong that it makes players second guess using their abilities as it takes them closer to death, but I actually like that type of 'risk/reward' kind of thing. It gives the player the feeling that they're powerful (which they are, even in early Tiers), but it makes them play smart, not just blasting things with fireballs. It also makes for fun and cool moments of 'going nova' where they push themselves to the point where they hinder themselves to the point of death or near-death but doing something cool like destroying the enemy's homebase. Plus, there's many ways to quickly restore those points via abilities, Cyphers and the Recovery Rolls. And the damage track actually takes longer to go down than one thinks, I've only had one true death in the handful of games I've run and played in. Sure I could just be going easy but I found that truly dying takes quite a bit of effort...far less effort than being an immortal 2nd level in D&D, but still doable.

[@DMTalesTTRPG]

I actually love the HP rules, the damage track just makes damage hurt.

[@Dalboni]

Cypher System is the love of my hobby

[@DeadUnicornClub]

Stay subbed for more. I got a few more videos on the subject on the way.

[@saraphys5555]

6:44 I put down 2XP to get a Subtle Cypher to negate my next damage... ...see? Its not a bad mechanic to have your pools to do things, also be your HP...thats real life! If I sprint for 1km...Im gonna be tired, Im gonna be feeling the burn in my legs... I used Effort on my Speed Pool to improve my chance on winning; had a Cypher in the form of the sports shoes I wore for improved movement, thus granting me a speed-asset; and I have an Artefact in the form of the running suit, which is adding another speed asset, but also providing a Speed Edge on tasks related to running... Yeah...real world, mate! 10:30 What? No love for "Doesn't do much" or "Would rather be reading"? 😁 12:03 Well, no, you cant... you'd never have more then 4XP at a time; otherwise you'd use it on an advancement or going up a tier. So, at most, you get 3 re-rolls... but thats a waste; just ask your GM to forget the failed die, ask to spend 2 more, and use the 3XP to just beat it... or, y'know, don't roll at all and just roleplay the scene...be the narrative as th game suggests...and just have fun. OOH! ...yeah, the number one rule of Cypher...if you're not having fun, you're not playing properly! ...so if your scenario were to happen, then the table would be playing the game wrong, because the Player on their Character Arc should be roleplaying, not rolling math-rocks. 13:00 ooof...you know GM Intrusions aren't punishments to players, right? If thats how you see them, I think you played too much "other" TTRPGs... A hall collapses, splitting the party...but no-one is hurt. They now need to decide to continue split, or work together to clear the hall... An Event in a Player Character's Arc happens during an already tense moment; What can the players do? (see Star Trek V: The Final Frontier & Klingon Captain Klaa for this) A Player while alone, is suddenly ambushed and brought to their knees...and...it was just a dream! ...or simply, You offer a player a Subtle Cypher that comes with a flaw (until you use it, Speed tasks cost 1 point more, or something)...but the Subtle Cypher is learning the Spirit Bomb! (Dragon Ball reference, there!) ...anyway...just some advice from a Cypher GM :)

[@magetower]

I plan to use the milestone method as well, it makes sense! Hopefully, a future version does uncouple the attribute pool and health. Overall it is a pretty cool system!

[@Buddy_Kryyst]

It's that effort = hit points which can lead to a death spiral that I really enjoy about it as a GM. It makes combat actually feel really dangerous in a game where players are generally very competent. It also push players to put their abilities and try and come up with assets to help lower the difficulty and once they start seeing those connections it makes for some really dynamic play as the difficulty ramps up. On the XP side, I think having XP being both used for temporary and permanent buffs is a good mechanic and not a flaw. Your experience is used for short term gain or long term advancement. Your experience is what drives you to get better or get out of bad situations and if you are burning it on re-rolls that is your experience at play. You can always choose to take the fumble and the impending intrusion if you'd rather horde your XP. It gives players a choice. Unlike D&D Cypher isn't a game with 20 tiers of progression so having XP being dual natured helps extend the development race. However I do understand why some players thing it's unfair and to that I think the best solution is XP awarded in the game for intrusions can only be used in game to avoid re-rolls and for other in game effects. The XP you would normally award at the end of a game that can be used for character advancement or in game effects.

[@alderaancrumbs6260]

I think the Cypher System would really benefit from two pools (physical and mental), or three (physical, mental and spiritual). “Speed” feels really weird and off at times. I also find the need to constantly insert cyphers can be cumbersome, but the concept is cool.

[@basilnottheherb]

Kinda all over the place with this review. I can definitely see the struggle with the way that effort and health works with the stat pool, but I feel like you undersell how easy it is to recover those pools during in-game time. Not to mention how easy it is to insert items of different rarity and price to allow you to heal yourself. Again, totally fine if this isn't your jam with the way the system works, but I feel like there is a lot in the book itself that is being ignored that solves the problem of not having enough in your stat pool

[@xezzee]

Two things. Almost all you said applies to D&D 5e also. So D&D 5e is just a game engine. And 16:20 there is no crits in Cypher System 😏 On roll of 1 you fail the task and get GM intrusion which could be argued to be Crit Failure but on natural Roll of 17, 18, 19 and 20 if the roll succeeded you get benefic of +1, +2, +3 or +4 dmg if it was successfull hit or on 19 minor benefic and on 20 major benefic if the roll was succesfull. At the start and in the game rules no where it says roll of 20 automatically succeeds a task nor hit. You must first succeed the task normally and after that if you did succeed you can get minor or major benefit ❤

[@DeadUnicornClub]

I disagree with your first state. D&D 5e is an exclusive fantasy game that locks you into specific classes and races, only giving you limited tools to change those in sourcebooks way later down the road. Cypher is open to many genre and allows the GM to create classes using powers they combine into a cool new type, right out the gate. As for the 'no crits' I mean is a major benefit and crit so similar as to be the same thing? That's for the rules lawyers to decide. I mean what is the definition if 'it' anyways? But yes, as you described it, that's exactly how the rule works.

[@matunusdonnerhammer3423]

I agree that both D&D 5 and Cypher Systems are just "game engines", in the way that they are generic systems that are not bound to a specific setting like Shadowrun or Vampire: The Masquerade. While D&D is a generic fantasy system, Cypher System is genre independent. The archetypes presented in Cypher System are therefore much broader. A fighter, barbarian or paladin would all be Warriors in Cypher System, as would a contemporary soldier, a Roman legionaire or a space marine. I disagree on crits, though, there are rules for exceptional success, so there are crits in Cypher System, they are just more open to interpretation than those in D&D.

[@mikekanjun]

100% combing the HP and stat pool is amazing. It represents fatigue which is more realistic. Best rule in the game to me.

[@DMTalesTTRPG]

very nice video on this. I’m a huge fan of Cypher.

[@Skiamakhos]

To be fair it's much like AD&D - bear with me: many game worlds exist for D&D but the original was always intended for the DM to make up their own. Numenera exists - a whole world for the Cypher System, along with rule customisations. Cypher System's core rulebook does supply you with enough example material to just pick it up & play with fairly minimal prep, but it's expected that you will use your imagination. Much like BRP or GURPS, but Cypher is designed to be simple to pick up, not a mad crunchy system that'll take you months to get going.

[@Skiamakhos]

Oh, update: last night I got the Cypher System Humble Bundle, 47 PDFs with a bunch of different game worlds and supplements including supplements for horror gaming, a game where humans from the future travelled to the upper Cretaceous and are now stuck there with the asteroid inbound that ended the dinosaurs, and another that's about interdimensional beings, another about gods. £19 the lot.

[@matunusdonnerhammer3423]

I think the main difference compared to any edition of D&D is that Cypher system is more flexible when it comes to genres, while D&D is still mostly a fantasy system. Sure, you can adapt the base D&D rules and invent new classes and abilities to fit a science-fiction, contemporary or historical game, but Cypher System can do it with the base classes.

[@Skiamakhos]

@@matunusdonnerhammer3423 pretty much, yeah. Cypher is like BRP, GURPS or Fate in that regard, a generic rules set. There are some awesome applications of the system like Numenera, Old Gods of Appalachia, Predation for Cypher, Call of Cthulhu and Runequest for BRP, Fate of Cthulhu for Fate (I *love* that the entire game and a number of scenarios fit into 1 A5 sized volume!) and of course the old GURPS Traveller. D&D rules are found in a few adaptations like Ruins of Symbaroum, but Symbaroum has its own perfectly good system that makes for quick, savage fighting where someone is likely to end up dead. I do like combat to be unpredictable and dangerous - tends to avoid things devolving into murder-hoboism.

[@matunusdonnerhammer3423]

@@Skiamakhos As far as combat goes, I think it also pretty unpredictable in Cypher System, because the players make all dice rolls. I think this sort of two-edged sword, as it has the potential of breaking the plot in a more narrative driven game. Unlike in other systems the DM can't simply save a character from death by a bad roll by fudging. Unlike in D&D giving a character plot armor is rather difficult. On the other hand I see your argument about murder hobo behavior. D&D has a weak spot here, as it can't prevent murder hoboism mechanically while being extremely vulnerable to it narrativly. The city watch is no match to a medium to high level D&D character and the narrative of a heroic fantasy game is utterly destroyed by murder hobo characters. In D&D the DM has to remove the murder hobo player to deal with the problem once it arises. In systems like Cypher System the city watch or police or whatever law enforcment your setting has, is likely able to keep the character in check. In other systems, characters may get away with murder hobo behavior, but without ruining the setting and story, e.g. an Exalted character exercising their divine right to judge people or a Shadowrun character pursuing their criminal career.

[@Skiamakhos]

@@matunusdonnerhammer3423 the problem with D&D is that it's meant for people who want to create invincible heroic characters. Symbaroum is more horror oriented, you expect to meet something horrible in the dark forest and die. Numenera has monsters that could kill you if you just run & fail to notice what's around you. D&D, there's usually a way to cheese things.

[@stefane1915]

Hero system is for tinker.

[@windmark8040]

Great job explaining everything!

[@DeadUnicornClub]

Glad you think so!

[@chrismeyer1856]

I love the cypher system and would love more content for it.

[@DMTalesTTRPG]

“Fall behind” … it’s not punishment.

[@markoesterling5257]

I mean, if a PC rolls bad and they want to override what the dice gods have said .... SHOULDN'T that be costly? My players LOVE the tension in that decision ... is it worth it?

[@Dys5670]

🕵️🕴️ More please, it is underrated and overshadowed by dnd

[@BjornKuma]

So, it's basically a hardcover SRD?

[@sanshinobi3664]

As a Cypher fan, I hate how much sense that makes.

[@RockingJDesign]

🎲more please !! Great stuff !

[@williamlucas9847]

How did they misjudge the throw with the blackhole grenade?

[@DeadUnicornClub]

You roll a 1, then you roll a 1 on a re-roll. So we had a discussion about it, I was going to do something different when everyone said they wanted to know where the grenade really went. Okay, so I rolled a directional die, and how many meters it missed by. It came up short and one player was in range. I allowed that character to roll a defense against the level of the grenade. This also failed. You know, how things just go off the rails sometimes.

[@leokhorn]

​@@DeadUnicornClubHow did the player who got slurped in feel about this? 😵‍💫

[@DeadUnicornClub]

@@leokhorn He wasn't the happiest about it. There are many choices you have to make when you GM. Sometimes you have to give consequences, sometimes you have to lets some things slide. The boss they fought was completely optional, they knew it from the beginning, they got in over their head and stuff went wrong. Maybe you would have handled it differently, but I don't think I handled it wrong.

[@AceneDean]

Cypher is great! 🕴

[@Qedhup]

Nice and clear vid. Good job :)

[@DeadUnicornClub]

Thanks!

[@rimersh]

Actually the rule that forces players to lose life is where strategy comes in to play. I actually like that rule… please do NOT change that.

[@michaelmullenfiddler]

You remind of Paul Giamatti. 😊

[@UsuarioGenerico-li5pf]

1:08 It is obvious that you have never played those games or read at least the character creation rules.

[@DeadUnicornClub]

I have a whole "actual play" channel called @DeadUnicornLIVE here on KZbin that would disagree with you. Got several Cypher playlists on it. Go check them out when you get the chance, maybe you'll like them.

[@slaapliedje]

Ha, you really REALLY need to know GURPS on a crazy level to be able to make a character crazy powerful right out of the gate without being completely mentally ill...

[@CorndogMaker]

I have the opposite review for this one. Its kind of not for the tinkerer. It wasn't made generic enough. It looks like they took the rules to Numenera and copy and pasted them, removing references to Numenara. As an afterthought, in each chapter, they go over how to tweak them to make them work with your genera- but that was what they were supposed to be doing with the meat of the book.

[@Oreosforlunch]

🎲

[@patriciobarrazairiarte1083]

🕴

[@renanfranca9879]

🎲🕴️

[@DallasIsRokkoS]

🕴🏼🎲

[@yourworstfan]

🎲🕴

[@corycorycoryyy]

🕴🎲

[@Drudenfusz]

In my opinion the Cypher System is better than GURPS, Hero System, or Savage Worlds, but still not even close to Fate. But well, that might be because I want more drama, thriller, horror focused games. And sure, Fate is also not perfect for that, which is why I design my own system.

[@DeadUnicornClub]

Love the Fate System. We gotta give more TTRPGs love!

[@stefane1915]

you know the expression: You compare apples and oranges ? If you say that Cypher Gamer is better to Gurpd or Hero System, I highly doubt that you have read the rules and least of all that you have understood them.

[@Drudenfusz]

@@stefane1915 Sure, doubt whatever you like, I doubt your reading comprehension, since I stated clearly what my desire is to get out of any give system, and thus I can compare them based on that goal.

[@TheWiseRabbit]

🕴🏾

[@juanzarabozo8164]

🕴

[@mookipa]

🕴🎲

[@JamesFellows]

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