Cypher System vs Index Card RPG
Compare Cypher System and Index Card RPG side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Cypher System | Index Card RPG | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Universal | Universal |
| Play Style | Narrative, Low-Prep, Exploration, Cinematic, Collaborative, Theater of the Mind, Roleplay-Heavy | Fast-Paced, Dungeon Crawl, Low-Prep, Rules-Light, One-Shot Friendly, Combat-Heavy, Pulp Action, Ascending AC, Tag-Based |
| Core Mechanic | GM sets difficulty 1–10, multiply by 3 for target number. Players spend Effort to reduce difficulty. | Roll d20 + stat vs. a single Target Number for the whole scene. On a hit, roll an Effort die (d4–d12 by type) to chip away at a task's Hearts (10 HP each). Timer dice count down each round to create urgency. |
| Dice | d20 | d20 + d4–d12 |
| Complexity | Low | Low |
| Accessibility | Medium | Medium |
| Community | High | High |
| License | Cypher System Open License | 3rd Party License |
| Cost | $$ | $$ |
| Publisher | Monte Cook Games | Runehammer Games |
| Year | 2019 | 2019 |
| Best For | GMs who want minimal prep and players who enjoy spending resources to shape the story. | Groups who love D&D's d20 feel but want something faster, lighter, and more improvisational. Excellent for high-energy dungeon crawls with minimal prep. |
| Highlights | Very easy GM prep, flexible character descriptors, XP for discovery | Very fast play, extensive GM tools, five genre settings included, highly hackable, timer dice create real tension |
| Considerations | Players track most complexity, limited tactical combat, can feel same-y | DIY philosophy can overwhelm new GMs, loot-as-progression feels punishing if gear is lost |