Ashes Without Number vs Cities Without Number
Compare Ashes Without Number and Cities Without Number side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, and more.
| Ashes Without Number | Cities Without Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Post-Apocalyptic | Cyberpunk |
| Tags | Sandbox, Deadly, Gritty, Exploration, Survival, Faction Play, Ascending AC | Sandbox, Classless, Noir, Ascending AC, Gritty, Deadly, Mission-Based, Heist, Random Tables, Strong GM Support |
| Core Mechanic | 2d6 + skill + attribute modifier ≥ target for skill checks; d20 + modifiers for combat. Edges and Foci customize survivors. Enclave turn manages settlement-level play. Mutation system for mutant wasteland campaigns. | Skill checks roll 2d6 plus the relevant attribute modifier and skill level against a difficulty. Attacks roll 1d20 plus base attack bonus, combat skill, and attribute modifier against Armor Class, and a melee miss can still inflict Shock. Lethal hits roll a Trauma Die, and a result at or above the target's Trauma Target multiplies damage. |
| Dice | 2d6 / d20 | 2d6 / d20 |
| Complexity | Medium | Medium |
| Availability | Free core rules | Free core rules |
| Runnability | 5 of 5 book tools | 5 of 5 book tools |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Third-Party Publishing | Not yet researched | Commercial publishing allowed — Cities Without Number System Reference Document (CC0 1.0) |
| Summary only, not legal advice. Check current terms before publishing. | ||
| Publisher | Sine Nomine Publishing | Sine Nomine Publishing |
| Year | 2025 | 2023 |
| Languages | English | English |
| Best For | Sandbox post-apocalyptic campaigns (nuclear wastelands, zombie deadlands, or societal collapse) with the same incredible GM tools as Stars Without Number. | Groups who want a lethal cyberpunk sandbox where the players pick their own jobs and work for or against the city's factions. |
| Highlights | Three apocalypse flavors (mutant wasteland, zombie deadlands, after the fall), comprehensive sandbox GM tools with encounter site and enclave generators, mutations and cybernetics, compatible with other Without Number games | The complete core rules are free in a separate PDF, so a table can start play without buying the deluxe edition. Mission tags and one-roll tables generate patrons, jobs, and complications without long prep. Faction schemes and the Heat system give the city and the team's notoriety mechanical momentum between missions. |
| Considerations | OSR combat can feel flat, dense 294-page rulebook, requires GM comfort with sandbox play | Combat stays on a light OSR frame, so groups wanting granular tactical combat will find it thin. The game expects a GM to build a city and improvise its consequences, and it offers little support for scripted story arcs. Hacking and cyberware add bookkeeping through Access pools and monthly maintenance. |