Cypher System Revised Edition vs Numenera
Compare Cypher System Revised Edition and Numenera side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, and more.
| Cypher System Revised Edition | Numenera | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Universal | Sci-Fi, Fantasy |
| Tags | Toolkit, Modular, Character Building, Resource Management, Exploration, Theater of the Mind, Low-Prep, Strong GM Support, Narrative, Character-Driven | Exploration, Weird, Resource Management, Character Building, Narrative, Theater of the Mind, Low-Prep, Strong GM Support, Lore-Heavy, Atmospheric |
| Core Mechanic | The GM rates a task from 1 to 10 and multiplies that difficulty by 3 to set its target number. Players roll a d20 and succeed on a result equal to or above the target. Skills, assets, and Effort ease the task before the roll, with Effort paid from a stat Pool after Edge reduces the cost. | Roll a d20 against a target number equal to three times the GM's task difficulty. Training, helpful assets and Effort reduce that difficulty before the roll. Effort spends points from Might, Speed or Intellect Pools, with Edge reducing the cost. Reducing difficulty to zero makes the task automatic. Players roll attacks and defenses against creature difficulty. |
| Dice | d20 | d20 |
| Complexity | Medium | Medium |
| Availability | Free core rules | Free quickstart |
| Runnability | 5 of 5 book tools | 5 of 5 book tools |
| License | Cypher System Open License | Proprietary |
| Third-Party Publishing | Commercial publishing allowed — Cypher System Open License | Noncommercial only — Fan use policy |
| Summary only, not legal advice. Check current terms before publishing. | ||
| Publisher | Monte Cook Games | Monte Cook Games |
| Year | 2019 | 2018 |
| Languages | English | English, Italian, Portuguese |
| Best For | Groups building their own campaigns across genres who want detailed character choices and frequent resource decisions, with light mechanical preparation for the GM. | Groups who want discovery-focused science fantasy and changing tools for solving unusual problems. It suits campaigns about exploring ancient ruins and deciding how to use their technology. |
| Highlights | Descriptor, type, focus, and optional flavors let players combine broad character concepts with specific abilities. Single-use cyphers continually refresh the powers available during play. Character arcs reward progress toward personal goals, while XP can also buy rerolls and changes to the story. | Single-use cyphers give every character temporary powers that can change their approach to an obstacle. Discoveries earn experience points, giving characters a reason to explore beyond combat. Combining a character type with a descriptor and focus supports distinct mechanical specialties. |
| Considerations | Players budget stat Pools across Effort, abilities, and incoming damage. The GM must choose suitable character options and genre rules before a campaign begins. Abstract distances and flexible difficulty ratings rely on consistent table rulings. | Effort draws from the same stat Pools that absorb damage, so increasing the chance of success can reduce a character's resilience. GM intrusions let the GM add complications to successful actions, so players need to be comfortable with negotiated setbacks. The Ninth World's unexplained technology leaves many answers for the GM to invent. |