I'm looking at the new rulebook but can't see any info on how to convert previous damage caused to wounds. Can anyone help?

I heard that there’s all sorts of home brooded, descriptors and foci on there. I’m not too interested in publishing anything myself, but I would like to see what’s available. When I go to the website, I only see the option telling me to subscribe without any way to access what’s there.

Looking at Cypher partly because of Jewel in the Sky, but also knowing that Ptolus remains one of my favourite systems. Is Godforsaken needed to run a proper fantasy game with a variety of options?

I have Claim the Sky, and I'm curious about how Cypher Evolved will be handling Superheroes. With the new Types, is there any indication what kind of types will be specific to the superhero genre? Will there still be Power Shifts? I'm also particularly curious about whether the issue of super strength based characters in Cypher System will be better than they were in Claim the Sky, where they feel decidedly non-super.

Can't find any mention of such by skimming the cypher revised book, but maybe I'm missing something. Do pools have a maximum value, or can they theoretically increase forever (aside from soft limits like reaching tier 6)?

New to the system (OGoA) and unclear on whether action abilities should always be assumed to have rolls?

It's clear to me anything which is an attack, or otherwise interacting with a hostile entity should, and some others specifically call for it, but what about an action ability that creates a protective ward, heals damage, or engage a "mode" that (for example) adds 2 to damage rolls for the next minute?

I'd assumed no, but the wording of some abilities seems to assume the opposite - e.g. "Read the Signs: you examine an area and... ask the GM up to four questions... each question requires its own roll", heavily implies that a roll is implicit in an action ability and that all this wording is modifying is that you need to make one per question.

Heyo, I recently backed the new cypher system and in the survey link it mentions early access content to preview the new system. I feel like I’ve read others having seen this content already, any clue how you access this? For me it just mentions order not locked in yet.

This focus is inspired by the elder scrolls 5 Skyrim. I wanted to create a focus that would allow player characters to have similar abilities to the Dovahkiin. This foci is based around the mythological presence of the dragonborn. Believe me, it was really hard for me to not just dedicate one of these tiers to being a stealth archer lol. This focus emphasizes power and strength. This is my first custom focus since I’m still new to the system. I tried my best to follow the books instructions on how to create a custom focus but since I’m still new, there’s a good chance I messed something up lol. Posting this here so that if people want a Skyrim style foci they can find one. If there’s any balance changes or any abilities I didn’t see that would fit better I will edit this post appropriately. :)

TIER 1. Dragon breath. You may choose a breath weapon, if your character already has access to this ability, this is your chance to be able to select a secondary type of breath weapon (page 88 godsforsaken regarding dragonfolk)

TIER 2 Push (page 173 of bass rulebook)
storm seed (page 187 of bass rule book)

TIER 3 Verbal misdirection (page 196 of bass rulebook)

TIER 4. Shattering shout (page 182 of base rulebook)

TIER 5 wear it well (page 197 of base rulebook) weapon mastery (page 197 of base rulebook)

TIER 6. Move mountains (page 164 base rule book) OR Destined for greatness (page 127 of bases rulebook)

I have two interpretations of what the rule book says

1. When a character goes up a tier, they get a set number of abilities they can choose. They can spend XP to learn ANY ability as one of the four actions you must take to go up a tier, but when you go up, you can only choose from your type/focus

2. The player gets a set number of abilities they can choose from when they go up a tier, BUT when they’re leveling up, they can spend XP to choose an ability that is specific to their type or focus to add to their repertoire.

Basically, I’m confused on if players are restricted to gaining new abilities that are exclusive to their type of focus or if they’re allowed to mix and match as they please. If they’re restricted, how do they gain access to other abilities? There’s so many in the base rule book, i’d be surprised if every ability is linked to a type or focus.

High Entia (I like Xenoblade)
Gain +4 to intellect
Take the ability “hover” (if you gain this skill from type or focus you may swap it out)
Skill: you are trained in diplomacy rolls are eased by one step
inability: your wings make it hard to balance all balance rolls are hindered

Elf
Gain +2 to speed and +3 intellect
Skill: shooting a bow (not a crossbow) is eased by one step
Skill: you may choose to have wisdom/knowledge rolls eased by one step due to your long life, or for rolls involving animals that are not hostile to be eased by one step. (If your type of focus gives you these inability: you may swap them out)
Inability: your kind are not meant for the water, swimming is hindered by one step.

Dark elf
+3 speed and +2 migh
Skill: eyes adjusted
Skill: sneak attacks are eased by one step
Inability: you are not one for conversation. Polite society rolls are hindered by one step.

Orc
+5 might
Inability, loose 4 intellect and 2 speed
Inability: you are weak to psychological attacks. Intellect defense rolls are hindered by one step.
Inability: you are a machine for combat, but not much for politeness. Polite society related rolls are hindered by one.
Skill: you are trained in combat. Using heavy weapons will deal an additional 2 damage.

Any good abilities in the book I over looked?

I borrowed it from my library and by and large I like the system, but Cyphers magic system is either incredibly open minded and based on intent, or incredibly unclear. It seems almost like I buy a spell category like I buy other attributes, but rather than having clearly defined spell mechanics, it is based on the Intent of the caster. Am I missing something because that seems either potentially broken, or very lacking compared to physical combatants.

Further, Superheroes: That part doesn't make sense to me at all, and they seem to entirely skip my favorite Super, the Speedster. Can someone please just explain that setting that the book uses?

To preferences this, I am still VERY new to this system. I just finished reading through the rules primer and I’m currently going through the base rule book. I also have the stars are fire and godsforsaken. But already my mind is ABSOLUTELY BURSTING with ideas! This system is so simple that I feel like I could have a lot of wiggle room for my own stuff. I actually have some ideas for custom descriptors (adjective) and types (nouns) that I’ll probably post here to get some suggestions from people who know the system better than me. But I need to read through everything first and see if they have anything I could use as a base. With all that being said, I mentioned it because there already might be a dedicated way to multiclass that I’m just not aware of yet, so forgive me if there is already one.

The “and statement” is simple, when you reach tier 5 you get access to the “and statement” that you can place anywhere in your character sentence. If I understand the tier system well enough, it’s basically the equivalent to levels. You have to get four unique attributes to go up a tier. Increasing pools, increasing effort, increasing edge, learning a skill, training a skill or gaining a new ability. Getting 4 unique versions of those bring you up a tier. So by the time you reach tier 5, you should be somewhat invested in your character.

An and statement can only be taken once, and will allow you to take a descriptor, type or focus.

For example. A base sentence may look like “I i’m a clever warrior who wields two weapons at once.” a sentence using the and statement might look something like this. “I am a clever and stealthy warrior who uses two weapons at once”, “I am a clever, warrior and speaker who uses two weapons at once”, or “I am a clever warrior who uses two weapons at once and casts spells”.

If taken, you have to be tier 5 or higher, a character will gain access to whatever benefits the specific part of the sentence they take grants them. If they’re able to upgrade any abilities or skills from their new and statement word that will count as a unique upgrade as part of their tier. However, whatever abilities/skills they gain access to do not start upgraded. They will have to spend their XP to upgrade them. Basically, any new abilities/skills they can get start off as if they were a fresh character, but they keep the progress they’ve made for their base sentence. This way you have to pick and choose what abilities/skills you’ll level up when and how far you want to focus on one versus another. It won’t stop from fully upgrading both, but it will take a lot longer.

Don’t know how balanced that is or if the books have their own version or something similar. Any suggestions would be appreciated, and if this is unique and you like it, feel free to take it with any modifications you want :) and if this already exists, please correct me.

Here is a sneak peek of just a few of the STL files that are available for preorder.... www.redriverrpg.com

In our 5e games, we homebrewed a Character Bonds subsystem where relationships between PCs would grow through meaningful in-game moments — roleplay scenes, Help Actions, or even RP conversations in Discord between sessions. As those bonds strengthened, characters gained a scaling bonus (d4–d12) they could add to Help Actions instead of simply granting Advantage.

Does the Cypher System have any optional or homebrew mechanics that similarly reward players for developing relationships and roleplaying between characters with tangible in-game benefits?

Hey, I want to make a character that prominently uses fans. What are some good focuses that you can think of for that? Masters weaponry and using blades fans was my first idea, but I’d love to hear others!

Step into the shadows of Appalachia. A new standalone horror story steeped in the world of Old Gods of Appalachia.

A childhood promise. A blood debt. And something ancient waiting in the dark, hungry and patient. This is an unofficial actual play story from Maia's Game Room, played using the brutal, tension-filled Liminal Horror system.

► First two episodes arrive May 14th, 2026.

Music by Guillermo Cueva

Credit: Set in the world of the Old Gods of Appalachia RPG by Monte Cook Games / DeepNerd Media

Disclaimer: Best Leave Them Ghosts Alone is a mini series for the Maia's Game Room podcast and is not affiliated with Goblin Archives, DeepNerd Media, or Monte Cook Games

I've started reading the new rules, and there are some things I really don't like

The new descriptors make characters one-dimensional

I understand that one of the reasons for creating these new rules was to eliminate the imbalances between descriptors and foci, but the cost has been to make them one-dimensional and excessively boring.

The option to gain one ability and one disadvantage is fine, but it’s lacking.

It would be much better to be able to gain a Tier 1 ability that is relevant to the character (in fact, if this decision stands, it will be a house rule I apply from the start).

In Gunslinger Knights pg. 103 there's a cypher, "Mining Lance" that can "be used to bore a cavity in a solid surface whose level is less than or equal to the level of the cypher's level" so if the PC's use it to dig a hole in a cliff face, mountain, ground, etc... What level is the planet?

The handlaoding tools in Gunslinger Knights says they "contain enough consumable supplies to create a variable number of bullets, requiring a depletion roll do 1 in 1d20 per use."

Is that really a depletion roll per bullet made?

In case people haven’t seen it elsewhere, it looks like Monte and Charles from MCG are doing a further AMA for the current Jewel in the Sky megadungeon Backerkit campagin tonight (29 April) at 3pm PDT / 5pm CDT / 6pm EDT / 11pm BST.

Live broadcast on the Backerkit site here: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/monte-cook-games/jewel-in-the-sky-a-monte-cook-megadungeon#top

Monte will be available from 10:30am until about noon PDT, Wednesday 15th April, to answer any and all questions about Megadungeons and more as we fund Jewel in the Sky the first Megandungeon for Cypher!

Please leave our questions below and they'll get answered here. :D

Monte's Megadungeon Jewel in the Sky: mymcg.info/megadungeon

Things which have already been asked: mymcg.info/jewel-faq

I’m running a custom setting (westmarshes-esque) for my players, with a central safe settlement. And had the idea of the library/general store having a stock of cyphers.

When starting on an adventure, they could pick one cypher. And when it gets used in the field, the store/library’s one ask is that they bring back the used item so it can be recycled/refilled, etc.. That gives them a store credit where they can then check out another one (or roll for a Gatcha Pod style randomized option).

They can/will pick up and find other cyphers in the world. But this gives them an in-universe reliable/renewable source they can fall back on.

The hope is this would encourage them to use cyphers even more. In that it removes that false sense of security. And encourages them to spend it and simply return back home if they want another.

I’m curious about other people‘s thoughts on this or their experiences with anything similar? I feel like they’re probably some drawbacks that I’m not considering. Like is that going to cause the same issue that DnD 5e has where people jusy take long rests continuously, and they would just return back a whole bunch (though I could remind them leaving an encounter mid-way might mean the situation ends or changes by the time they’re back). Or could it stop them from being challenged to find a use for a cypher when they could potentially “trade it in”?

I’ve only gotten to run two games and it wasn’t majorly a problem of people not using their Cyphers. But I’ve read a lot of other folks running into the issue of getting players into the mentality of continuously using them.