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Cypher System

This Cypher System review is part of my “Best Tabletop RPGs of All Time” article. If you want to check out more TTRPGs and see how other top-tier tabletop RPGs are ranked, visit that page.

My Review – 93 / 100

It almost can't be said enough: Monte Cook is a genius and his games are amazing. He’s a legendary game designer and world builder, and is an absolute top-tier game designer. Of all his work, Numenera and the Cypher System, I believe, are his most well-known and celebrated.

To clear up one thing really quick: The Cypher System is a cross-genre tabletop RPG system. Numenera is a specific world with customized lore and stories that uses (basically) the Cypher System.

Just know that if you plan to buy Numenera or the Cypher System, that they are slightly separate games. One comes with a pre-existing world of lore (Numenera), while the other does not (Cypher System).

Uniqueness of the Cypher System: (10/10)

In the Cypher System, there are only three character stats. These stats represent a “Pool” of points from which you draw for abilities – and if you’d like – use extra effort to complete tasks or engage in combat by temporarily spending those points.

I normally like games with a bit more “depth” to them than three simple stats, but the way that Cypher System utilizes the stats is very unique. The game gets a lot of depth from might/ health, speed/ agility, and intellect/ personality. The simplicity is also a major plus for learning the system if you’re new to the game.

With each stat you also have an “Edge,” which is like a defense against spent points in the associated Pool, for extra effort. 1 edge reduces the cost of actions in that pool by 1. This system is very much like having “armor” against fatigue. It’s as if you’re reducing damage to yourself (your Pools), when increasing exertion for complex tasks.

When it comes to the Cypher System, the player always rolls, not the game master. To hit enemies, players roll against a static value. To dodge enemies, players roll defense against a static attack value. Target values are always based on difficulty of the task. In combat, target values are largely determined by the challenge rating of your enemy.

Players can use Experience points (Exp) to improve their character in a number of ways, to avoid additional story elements brought in by the game master, or to reroll skill or combat checks. When improving their character, players can improve stats, skills, effort, or edge. After improving all of them they go up a “Tier,” which is similar to “gaining a level” in most other TTRPGs.

Characters also gain a “Type” and a “Descriptor” which heavily influence stats and skills from the very start of the game. Types and descriptors are interesting way to broadly sort of make your own class, while giving players some starting roleplay ideas. They’re basically taglines for your character that help explain who your character is, and what they’re like in terms of personality, looks, demeanor, physique, etc.

Finally, characters also get a “Focus” which adds further unique elements to the character, such as “bears a halo of fire,” or “Explores Dark Places.” The Focus gives the player additional powers per character Tier.

Between your character’s type, descriptor, and focus, you essentially create your own character “class.” Otherwise though, and broadly speaking, Cypher System is a classless tabletop RPG.

When it comes to uniqueness, Cypher System is every bit as unique as Dungeons and Dragons was when it first came out.

Ease of Learning the Game: (9/10)

Learning to play the Cypher System is relatively simple. There are quite a few options at the start of the game when creating your character, but as you get familiarized with all the basic terminology, character-building, and the game overall, becomes very simple.

Because there are no character “classes” in Cypher System, and you essentially build your own when you choose your character’s type, descriptor, and focus, you end up reading through a lot of options when building your character. After all, your choices at the start of the game make a very large difference for your character’s overall progression through the rest of the game.

As I mentioned above though, what really simplifies the game and makes it great, starting a new character, is that each player really only has to think about 3 stats. Beyond that, everything really is just bonuses.

You can build a character in Numenera/ Cypher System much faster than you can in most tabletop RPGs. Whereas in other games you might spend 45minutes to an hour creating a character for your RPG campaign, with Cypher System, you might only spend 20-30 minutes.

Personally, I also feel that it’s easier to teach new players how Numenera/ Cypher System works than it is to teach them even Dungeons and Dragons. In reality, Cypher System is much simpler than DnD, yet still retains great game depth and options for character customization and progression.

Finally, the math in Cypher System is very simple. There’s a few intricacies here and there, but nothing that’s at all overwhelming, like you find in other tabletop RPGs.

Numenera and Cypher System Presentation: (10/10)

Numenera and Cypher System feature a very easy-to-read game manual. The content is very clear, and instructions are very easy to follow. Even the font and color selection is on-point, making it very simple to reference important rules or sections of the book.

Game Lore: (10/10)

Cypher System obviously does not come with its own lore, really. Instead, it offers a wide variety of selections to its players so that they can play the game in just about any type of setting they’d like.

When it comes to Numenera though, the lore is extensive. Set far into the furthest future imaginable, technology and magic have become synonymous in many regards. The lore is edgy and cool. It hits important traditional points in fantasy/ sci-fi and tabletop RPG legend, while still drastically expanding and creating its own place.

It’s not often that you can find truly unique game settings, nowadays. Between video game RPGs, tabletop RPGs, books, and artwork, just about every conceivable angle to fantasy and sci-fi settings has been at least briefly visited. However, I will say that when you come to Numenera, you’ll find a setting that’s fresh for your imagination to explore.

Cypher System Combat: (6/10)

I like combat in Numenera/ Cypher System more than I do in most games. I don’t like it as much as in Dungeons and Dragons because I feel the simple numbers in this case (and relatively uninspiring combat options) aren’t really to my liking.

Because there are only three core stats in the Cypher System, you don’t get to really flex your strategy/ tactical muscles very much.

In combat, you mostly end up using abilities within just one of your three core stats. That means you just use one single edge and one single effort, as well. Obviously, you go with whatever stat, edge, and effort have the highest values. Meanwhile, your other two stats (and their edges and effort) get completely neglected.

If your character fails in their main pool (runs out of resource points), chances are that it’s time to run away from the fight. There’s no switching to other stat pools, changing your combat tactics, or finding a creative way to restore your main stat points to fight on, like with a second wind of sorts.

So, fights are a bit one-dimensional in my mind.

Combat is less a question of whether or not you’ll win, and more a question of when you’ll win or lose. Fights are not really a matter of tactics and overcoming your enemy’s strategy so much as it is a matter of stat points, Pools, and Edges.

All that being said, as relatively uninspired as the tactical options provide for players, I do still moderately enjoy the feel of Cypher system combat. Fights feel a lot more complex than they actually are, and it does appear like what you do in combat is meaningful, even though that isn’t really the case.

Game “Flow”: (10/10)

Numenera/ Cypher System is more rules-light than other tabletop RPGs, but still with enough framework to really give you something to hold onto. To me, Cypher System actually has the ideal amount of rules for a good flow state. I always really enjoy playing Numenera/ Cypher System.

When playing, you won’t feel like you often have to reference the rules. Dice rolls are relatively simple, and quick. Your character provides you with just enough material to work with when roleplaying, through your type, descriptor, and focus.

Ultimately, the game is great at getting out of its own way, and at letting players just play.

Numenera and Cypher System Artwork: (10/10)

The artwork looks great. It’s uniform, fits the mood, and is dynamic. Top marks.

Cypher System artwork covers are lot of genres, as the game can be played in many settings. Meanwhile, the artwork for Numenera emphasizes the uniqueness of the setting: you get technology, magic, mystery, and drama.

If you haven’t seen the artwork of either game, and you enjoy fantasy/ sci-fi work, I highly recommend checking it out. I think you’ll find that the art present in Monte Cook’s games are every bit as high-quality and engaging as anything you’d find in a DnD core rulebook.

Ease of Purchase: (9/10)

The Monte Cook Games website is pretty good when it comes to site navigation, and purchase for the rulebook you’re after.

Monte Cook games can also be found on Amazon.

Price & How Many Books Do You Need to Play: (10/10)

To play Cypher System, you need just one core rulebook that goes for $23 as a PDF. If you want a printed version, you’re looking at $70, which still isn’t bad as the print quality is very high.

Numenera can be purchased as a started set for $25, or prices range from $20 for a core rulebook PDF, to $120 for a sort of collector’s edition that comes with two different core rulebooks.

Overall, when it comes to tabletop RPGs, I think the value that Monte Cook provides is top-notch. I like the diversity of pricing options that range from those on a budget, to collectors.

Fame & Availability of Supplemental Material: (9/10)

Surprisingly, many people are not extremely familiar with Numenera or Cypher System. Both games are quite popular in the hardcore tabletop gaming community. Many casual gamers have most likely heard of at least Cypher System, most have not played.

Still, if you’re looking to start up a game of Numenera or Cypher System, it does help that most people are at least familiar with the names.

Both games/ settings come with lots of supplemental material. If you wanted to start up a Numenera or Cypher System campaign, it’d be pretty easy for you to do so.

Numenera and Cypher System are Produced By:

Monte Cook Games

Jacob Tegtman

Dear reader, I hope you enjoyed my article. Tabletop gaming has been a passion of mine since I was 6 years old. I've played just about every game from Dungeons and Dragons to video games like Final Fantasy. These games have inspired me, made me laugh, made me cry, and brought me endless hours of enjoyment.

I started Eternity TTRPG - and the indie tabletop game that goes along with it (Eternity Shop) - to share my love of gaming with others. I believe that in our technology-driven age, tabletop games help bring a sense of magic and community back into our world.

If you love the site, please share it with others! I have lots of gaming-related material for you to peruse and use in your own gaming sessions. If you have any questions about the site or want to contribute, just send me a message using the "Contact" page, which you can find in the site's footer.

Jacob Tegtman

Gargoyles in armor stand on a stone roof at night under a blue moon

Stoneborn of Crooked Moon: D&D Gargoyles

By Jacob Tegtman • April 13, 2026

Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMnHDV9p7hk Transcription What if your next D&D character was carved instead of being born? And what if their entire purpose was decided the moment they were made? Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG. Today, we’re returning to Crooked Moon to explore the playable monstrous races that this awesome campaign setting provides. Next on list are the Stoneborn from Pholsense – I hope you’re ready, as this race is really fun. Stoneborn are carved from – well, from stone – by the ruler of their land—and they’re brought to life through a divine force called the Silver Path. In Pholsense, Stoneborn don’t come from families. They literally start as blocks of stone. The ruler of the province, Archbishop Danton Alexandre Renault (a name you may have heard from some of my other Crooked Moon videos – particularly the ones based on specific adventures), oversees their creation. A body is carefully carved into shape—usually with wings and a humanoid form. So, think gargoyle statue. At some point during this process, the Silver Path—a divine power—brings that body to life. Based on the lore of Crooked Moon, we don’t really know exactly what “the Silver Path” is. It’s not like buried somewhere obscure, later on in the campaign book. I think it’s left open-ended so your group, or DM, can sort of play it up as they’d like. Mystery is, after all, a big part of the Crooked Moon setting. It’s worth starting here with the Stoneborn though because the Silver Path is the process of how this carved statue of stone awakens. The Silver Path is clearly stated in the lore as A divine force or guiding power associated with order, light, and purpose. In the Crooked Moon setting, whether you’re playing a Stoneborn or want to highlight them as a DM, the Silver Path functions as: A religious belief system (what people worship) – as the whole process of Stoneborn creation is either overseen, or even performed, directly by the Archbishop A real source of power (it actually does things, like awaken inanimate stone) And is a standard for morality (what’s considered “good” and “right” in the lands of Crooked Moon) In short, the Silver Path is the god-like force that defines “order and good” specifically within the lands of Pholsense. It’s also worth noting that the Silver Path is not described as a spell, and it’s clearly not some form of hidden technology. It is like a divine power. So, moving on, the Stoneborn are made of whatever stone they were carved from. That determines their color and texture. Their shapes can vary a lot, depending on their creator’s artistic choices. This means that your Stoneborn could be a gargoyle, like I mentioned before. But, they could also have features similar to animals, dragons, or angels. You can also have a lot of fun with it and mix different traits rather than having just one clear form. All Stoneborn do have wings, but they’re heavy. And they can fly—but just not quickly or easily. When it comes to the land of Pholsense it’s a strict and orderly place. Rules are taken seriously, and roles are clearly defined. Stoneborn are usually created to actually serve a very specific function within their society. Common roles include: Guards Enforcers of the law Or protectors of important places, such as religious buildings (perhaps even locations where the Silver Path takes place) Because they are created rather than raised, many Stoneborn strongly believe in following their assigned purpose. But – and this makes for great roleplay opportunities – not all of them agree with their assigned paths, forever. Some eventually start to question: Why they were made Whether their role in life is fair And whether the Archbishop—or the Silver Path—is always right Mechanically, Stoneborn are durable and flexible. They’re classified as Constructs. You can choose to be Small or Medium-sized. They also have a flying speed equal to half their normal movement. When it comes to abilities, Stoneborn come with: Argent Gleam Once per long rest, you can use a bonus action to choose one of two effects: 1) Path’s Grace You cast Bless without needing components. 2) Zealous Charge You take the Dash action, and your next attack deals an extra 2d6 radiant damage—even if the attack misses. Next, they have Silver Bulwark When you take bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage, You can use your reaction to gain resistance to those damage types until your next turn. And then lastly, Watchful Senses gives you proficiency in either: Insight Perception or Survival When it comes to roleplaying, Stoneborn characters are mainly about purpose. You might think about: Why your character was created Whether they still believe in their assigned purpose now And how they feel about the person who made them Some Stoneborn fully trust the system they come from. Others might not. You can also explore their relationship with the Silver Path: Do they see it as a real guiding force? Or just something they were told to believe in? Finally, Stoneborn don’t die of old age, in quite the same way as most creatures. After a long life—around 300 years—they physically break down and return to rubble. Personally, I think it would be kind of cool if they just permanently petrified, returning to their state before the Silver Path – almost like every Stoneborn graveyard isn’t just filled with creepy gargoyle statues like in most fantasy games... but the graveyard is the gargoyles... providing a glimpse into each stoneborn’s life, and what mattered to them. So what do you think? Would you play a Stoneborn, or have you played one already? And more importantly—Would you follow the Silver Path… no matter where it leads, or what it asks of you? Or would you be a black sheep among the gargoyles? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. I think next up I have planned to cover the Plagueborn. But if you have another Crooked Moon race on your mind that you want me to dive into, let me know. See you guys next time!

Lost Gary Gygax MegaDungeons Crowdfund

By Jacob Tegtman • April 9, 2026

Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-Ut7R3J2m0 Transcription Lost megadungeons from Gary Gygax himself are hitting crowdfunding this week. This is unpublished content from the father of D&D that's been sitting in archives for decades. Plus, the community is reacting strongly to what this might mean for old-school gaming. Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG - your go-to source for all things D&D and tabletop RPG news. Today we're diving into what might actually be the most significant piece of D&D history to surface in years. So here's the scoop that's got the “old school renaissance” community in a frenzy. The Gygax Trust has announced they're bringing previously unpublished megadungeons created by Gary Gygax to crowdfunding platforms. Now, before you ask "wait, didn't Gary pass away in 2008?" - yes, he did. But here's the thing that makes this absolutely incredible. These aren't reconstructions or "inspired by" content. These are actual, honest-to-Mordenkainen unpublished works that Gygax created but never got to release during his lifetime. Here’s what We're Actually Getting: According to the announcement, we're looking at multiple megadungeons that showcase Gygax's legendary dungeon design philosophy. And when I say megadungeons, I mean the real deal - we're talking about sprawling, multi-level complexes that could keep your party busy for literal years of gameplay. The Gygax Trust is being pretty tight-lipped about specific details, but they've confirmed these materials were found in Gary's personal archives. Think about that for a second - these are dungeons designed by the original dungeon master. They are effectively classic D&D dungeons... that were never released. Also, I will be putting links for these megadungeons in the video’s notes, so be sure to check there to back them and get your copies if you’re interested! And with this... Community Reaction Is Off The Charts The D&D OSR (old school renaissance) subreddit is absolutely exploding right now. One user posted: "This is like finding lost Beatles recordings. Gary's dungeon design was unmatched - geometric, deadly, but fair. If these are authentic Gygax creations, this could be the most important RPG release in decades." But it's not just the old school gamers who are getting excited. Even 5e players are recognizing the historical significance. Over on r/DnD, another user wrote: "Even if you never run OSR games, owning actual unpublished Gygax content is like having a piece of D&D's DNA. This is our hobby's history." Now, here's where it gets interesting from a business perspective. The Gygax Trust is going the crowdfunding route rather than partnering with Wizards of the Coast or another major publisher. This makes total sense when you think about it. Crowdfunding gives them complete creative control, and honestly - The OSR community has proven they'll throw serious money at quality old-school content. Just look at the success of campaigns like Rappan Athuk or Barrowmaze. Here’s What This could mean For The Hobby: These dungeons matter beyond just nostalgia. Gary Gygax wasn't just the co-creator of D&D - he was a master of dungeon ecology and design philosophy that modern game design still draws from. These megadungeons could provide incredible insight into how he approached long-form campaign design. We're talking about seeing the evolution of ideas that influenced everything from the Temple of Elemental Evil to modern 5e adventures. Plus, let's be real - in an era where a lot of published adventures hold your hand every step of the way, getting pure, unfiltered Gygax dungeon design could be exactly what some tables are craving. D&D has effectively – shall we say, lost its soul(?) – in recent decades. This represents a return to what D&D was at its core, from one of the gentlemen behind the game. There are some Questions with these adventures though, that Everyone's been Asking Of course, the community has concerns too. The big question is authenticity and presentation. How complete are these materials – that is, is there a reason they weren’t published to begin with? Will they be published as-is with Gary's original notes, or will they be "updated" for modern sensibilities? One user said: "I hope they preserve Gary's original voice and design philosophy, even if it means the content feels dated by today's standards. That's literally the point - we want to see how the master actually designed dungeons." So that's this week's big news! The return of Gary Gygax content through crowdfunding is honestly something I never thought we'd see. What do you think? Are you excited for authentic Gygax megadungeons, or do you think some things should stay in the past? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. If this video got you hyped for some classic dungeon crawling, smash that like button and subscribe for more TTRPG news every week. I’m certain these will be some dungeons that I’ll be covering in the future, once they’re available. Until next time, keep those dice rolling!

A high-angle shot of a crowded Gen Con event

Does DnD Actually care about Gen Con Again? Return to DnD's Roots

By Jacob Tegtman • April 5, 2026

Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvxI1GXJerE Transcription Dungeons & Dragons is finally returning to the convention that made it famous… Well, to be clear – D&D has been at Gen Con. It’s just, they haven’t really had much of a presence there in recent times, have they? Even small indie games have had substantially larger booth space than D&D, which I saw last year basically tucked into a back part of the convention, with pretty much only like a 20ft by 10ft space, or so. If even that, to be honest. And, I don’t know for sure if D&D hosted many events even at Gen Con while we were there last year. Maybe a few intro games? But if I had to guess, I would’ve said that third parties may have run more games of D&D than Wizards of the Coast D&D actually did. But, after years of near silence… Wizards of the Coast is planning to go all-in on Gen Con again. The real question is—why now? We’ve seen a lot of relatively big moves from D&D recently, back towards its roots. So, what could this move mean for the future of D&D? Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG—your go-to news channel for all things D&D and tabletop roleplaying. Today we’re diving into some pretty cool news, hopefully a big positive for the direction of D&D: Wizards of the Coast is officially heading back to Gen Con with D&D in a big way. And honestly… it’s kind of a full-circle moment. Let’s rewind for a second, because – as I’m sure you know – Gen Con isn’t just any convention. Gen Con was founded back in 1968 by Gary Gygax, which to be honest, I didn’t know prior to researching for this video. If you aren’t aware, Gen Con is now the largest convention for tabletop gaming, I believe in the world. It pretty much takes over Indianapolis for, what I can confidently agree, is probably indeed the best 4-days of gaming each year. At the time they started Gen Con, it was just a small gathering of wargaming fans in Wisconsin. But in 1974… Gygax and Dave Arneson released Dungeons & Dragons. And, of course, Gen Con became ground zero for spreading the game. People would attend… pick up a copy… and bring it back to their hometowns. That’s how D&D went viral—before the internet even existed. It turns out, hanging out with cool people in person and telling them about cool things – in person – was the OG way to go viral. Go figure! So, fast forward a few decades… Gen Con became the D&D event, and the tabletop gaming event. We’re talking massive tournaments, huge reveals… Even a life-sized castle built on the convention floor. Yeah. That actually happened. But then something changed. In recent years, Wizards of the Coast has been… mostly absent. No big booths. No major announcements. Just a quiet, minimal presence—if anything at all. I can tell you, seeing them last year, like I mentioned, was not only unimpressive... it was actually even a bit sad. I remember thinking like, “why are you guys even here? Why bother with a booth like this, it just makes D&D look bad.” And other fans have definitely noticed, as well. At this point, you might be wondering: why did D&D pull away from Gen Con, anyways? Well, a few key things: First—vision. Wizards started treating D&D less like a game… and more like a global entertainment brand. You’ve seen the somewhat recent movie, and then they’re pushing hard towards digital tools now, trying to make D&D more of a money-making tool, and truthfully, less like the D&D we all grew up with. Second—control. Instead of third-party events like Gen Con, Wizards of the Coast has focused more on their own events. Things like MagicCon – for Magic: the Gathering. And third—cost. Giant booths and live events are expensive, and brand-awareness is not the same as actual sales. In the past, the cost of large-scale live events like Gen Con was a no-brainer investment for D&D. However, with D&D moving towards online income, live spaces didn’t fit the online vision as much. So, for years… Gen Con became more of a community-run D&D space rather than an official one. But now—that’s changing. Wizards vice president recently confirmed that Gen Con is about to become a major part of D&D again. Starting this year: Annual D&D product roadmaps will be revealed at Gen Con They’ll have more organized play events And there will be more direct and “official” community engagement Like so many of the things Wizards of the Coast is doing to push live community spaces for D&D again, this could be a big deal – but it will depend on how well Wizards follows through. Still though, this is the first time in years that Wizards is showing up where the players are. And this could be a great sign for the game. With all of this in mind, we now finally come to the question: “why is this happening now?” There are a few clues. First—D&D has lost major momentum in the TTRPG space, let’s be real. Wizards is, perhaps, finally recognizing the loss of their community, and is trying to reconnect with the people who built the community to begin with. We’ve seen: The return of classic settings – which is ok. I’d rather see – as one recent viewer put it – new stuff. Done in the classic way, but some actual new content would be x1,000 times better. And they are creating new seasonal content, with a return to D&D modules and “official” weekly play at local gaming stores. Second… Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The OGL controversy. You may remember: The Open Gaming License controversy, when Wizards of the Coast tried to change D&D’s open license in a way that would restrict creators and potentially take a cut of their earnings—sparking massive backlash and boycott calls from the community. That moment seriously damaged trust with fans. And while things have cooled down… This Gen Con push feels like a very intentional move to rebuild goodwill. Because if you want to win back hardcore players—You show up at Gen Con. That’s all there is to it. Show up, and make it fucking awesome. Make your audience actually want to play D&D again. For a lot of fans, D&D skipping Gen Con has felt… weird. It’s the place where the fire started. It’s been the biggest name in tabletop ghosting the biggest tabletop event in the world, in favor of creating online subscription models that very few people actually want. But now? This feels like a return to D&D’s roots. A reconnection with the community that built the game’s legacy in the first place. So the real question is—Is this just good PR… Or the start of a new era for D&D? What do you think? Drop your thoughts in the comments. And if you enjoyed this coverage, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and roll for initiative on the next video. See you next time!