There's A New Edition Of The Cypher System Coming

Next year, 2026, Monte Cook Games will be releasing a new edition of its in-house Cypher System rules system.

Originally launched over a decade ago, the Cypher System powers games like Numenera, The Strange, and The Magnus Archives. It's a d20-based multi-genre game system known for its character generation method which has the player filling out the sentence "I am a [adjective] [noun] who [verb]" -- such as "I am a jovial Explorer who howls at the moon". The titular cyphers are one-time use abilities or items. Task resolution involves rolling a d20 against a 1-10 difficulty scale.

This new edition includes a bunch of changes, including genre-specific character creation, character damage and armour, and a greater emphasis on subtle cyphers.

Two new core rulebooks will be published. The Cypher Character Rulebook will delve into creating characters for a variety of different genres, while the Cypher GM's Guide will contain rules, GM advice and resources for creating and running games.

They'll be hitting a crowdfunding platform near you very soon, in late summer, with the books coming out mid-2026.

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[SpellObjectEnthusiast]

The genre books are genuinely good resources even if you never run a Cypher system game specifically.

 

[Emerikol]

The genre books are genuinely good resources even if you never run a Cypher system game specifically.

This is how I feel about the GURPS system. Many of their supplements are just plain good information in general and worth it even if you never played GURPS. Sounds like the same might be true of the Cypher stuff.

 

[chuckdee]

This is how I feel about the GURPS system. Many of their supplements are just plain good information in general and worth it even if you never played GURPS. Sounds like the same might be true of the Cypher stuff.

Yeah, I played GURPS (hurts me to put the -ed, but I haven't played in over a decade), but I still buy it because its well researched and great for use elsewhere. One book I recommend to anyone who runs horror/suspense (and not just because I was one of the advance readers and know the author) is Beyond Darkness and Madness for Kult. It's just so good, no matter what system you use!

 

[CleverNickName]

Currently at $593,792 and 3,307 backers, with 18 days left to go.

Cypher: Faster. Easier. And Even Better!

The award-winning TTRPG perfect for forging the stories YOU want to play. Lightning-quick character generation. Super easy to GM. Unique and imaginative campaigns. And all the flexibility, story focus, and fast-paced play Cypher is famous for!

www.backerkit.com

It's doing really well for a TTRPG product of any kind, but it's doing exceptionally well for a non-5E D&D product.

 

[Von Ether]

For those who want to know the difference between the versions of Cypher, here we go.

The first version was more player focused in the character building section. Everything you needed to know about a Type or Focus was listed under said Type or Focus. It suggested reskinning abilities when you needed but some Focuses did evoke more of a fantasy or sci-fi vibe.

The second was more of a toolbox for GMs to feel comfortable swapping things out to create custom Types and Focuses. There were several tables and lists helping a GM see the approximate power levels different abilities. But for making PCs, things were spread out.

It appears the latest version is trying to do both with the Player's Guide, which feels like it will be less about reskinning. And the GM book, which maybe all about reskinning behind the screen

 

[CleverNickName]

Okay so I'm rubbish when it comes to predicting these things. I thought it would hit about $611K by the end of the campaign, but it's currently at $673,175 with 11 days remaining.

Cypher: Faster. Easier. And Even Better!

The award-winning TTRPG perfect for forging the stories YOU want to play. Lightning-quick character generation. Super easy to GM. Unique and imaginative campaigns. And all the flexibility, story focus, and fast-paced play Cypher is famous for!

www.backerkit.com

I still doubt it will make it into the Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarter Club, but it's going to get a lot closer than I thought a non-D&D, non-Kickstarter project ever would.

 

[stormwriter]

That All-In pledge level is getting more and more enticing. They keep adding new books and accessories to it.

 

[SpellObjectEnthusiast]

The all in contains tons of good stuff, and the Predation book being added is going to make it even better.

Especially if you don't own most of the Cypher Revised PDF stuff - they're fantastic resources.

 

[Thaumaturge]

Okay so I'm rubbish when it comes to predicting these things. I thought it would hit about $611K by the end of the campaign, but it's currently at $673,175 with 11 days remaining.

I appreciate reading your takes, as I haven’t at all kept up with how other RPGs crowdfunding efforts go over the years.

MCG focusing on backer numbers for stretch goals messes with my ability to see how things are going, too.

I understand why they do it, but I end up just focusing on how slowly new backers are added.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Von Ether]

Okay so I'm rubbish when it comes to predicting these things. I thought it would hit about $611K by the end of the campaign, but it's currently at $673,175 with 11 days remaining.

Cypher: Faster. Easier. And Even Better!

The award-winning TTRPG perfect for forging the stories YOU want to play. Lightning-quick character generation. Super easy to GM. Unique and imaginative campaigns. And all the flexibility, story focus, and fast-paced play Cypher is famous for!

www.backerkit.com

I still doubt it will make it into the Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarter Club, but it's going to get a lot closer than I thought a non-D&D, non-Kickstarter project ever would.

MCG Cypher crowdfunded projects regularly hit between $300k to $700k.

Monte Cook Games's Created Projects - BackerKit

Back projects you want to see in the world.

www.backerkit.com