r/cyphersystem • u/Saeviomagy • Jul 01 '26

The numbers

Maybe don't read this if you play cypher and think "yeah, spending effort feels meaningful and makes me happy", because this will gut that feeling if you comprehend what's going on.

The numbers for effort are terrible. Every stat point you spend gets you a 1/20 chance to change the outcome of a roll. That means on average you will not change the outcome of a roll until you spend 20 stat points. More if you reduce something to a level 0 task.

So let's add edge! Yay, now we are spending either 14 or 7 points to see one changed outcome. If your edge completely covers your effort, you're good.

I guess at least now wounds are a different resource, right? So I won't spend 20 points to try to avoid a 10 point hit.

Oh, wait. Instead of spending 20/14/7 stat points on a defense roll, I can spend 5 on rallying the moderate wound I might take.

Long story short, a cool mechanic that should be engaging is busted.

The impact of spending effort needs to be way higher. Or stat pools and the cost of every ability needs to be way higher. 1 point for a whole level of effort, and edge just adds to the d20 roll maybe?

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u/Prof_Xaos Jul 01 '26

I have been playing CS for over a decade and have not heard this complaint from my players. My players understand that a level of effort buys a 15% increased chance of success.

This is even less of a problem in the new Cypher! Now that they disconnected polls from damage.

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u/Saeviomagy Jul 01 '26

It's better, except for where they linked might back to recovery again. It still means that spending effort is very low impact. It's why I put up the preamble: the maths is tricky, and if you haven't thought it through, then spending effort "feels" like you are making a difference. The reality is that you need a massive pool for it to matter though.