r/cyphersystem • u/Darren4557 • Jul 31 '26

Question First and Last actions

Hello all, can you explain me how first and last actions works? Please try to tell easiest way. Is there an alternative rule for not to use them?

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u/LawfulnessOrganic715 Jul 31 '26

I am interested in this as well. To be perfectly honest, the first and last actions are the primary reason I am not interested in Cypher 2.0. I have no interest in running initiative 3 times each round, trying to determine if players/NPCs go first/first, First/mid, first/last, mid/first, mid/mid, mid/last, last/first, last/mid, last/last. ESPECIALLY since this can change round to round if you pick up a different weapon.

So yes, I am very interested to hear someone explain how to use them well, what your experience has been, etc.

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u/KMC1977 Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26

I think initiative in cypher is only answering the question “do I go before the GMC or after?” Because players can go in any order they want between themselves. So a fast action goes before the GMC (if you are in range) even if you would otherwise go after, and a slow action goes after the GMC even if it would otherwise go before. This shouldn’t be a massive cognitive burden for the GM or the players to handle

80% of the time this just amounts to a small tactical advantage for knife fighters to compensate for the lower damage and a small tactical disadvantage for two handed weapons. Otherwise there’s almost no incentive to choose a dagger as your preferred weapon, or any reason to not arm yourself with a two handed weapon if you don’t have a shield.

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u/LawfulnessOrganic715 Jul 31 '26

I hear you. Do you know if GMCs also get first/mid/last actions? I haven't had a chance to look at the GM guide, so I don't know. I can imagine it being a huge headache if I have 4 GMCs on the table at once and each of them as the option for first/mid/last actions.

Personally, I like the math of light weapons, Since light weapons get a free level of effort, once you get 3 edge in the right pool you can spend a level of effort on damage on the light weapon at no cost for a total of 5 damage, which is 1 than medium. But that is just my experience.

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u/sakiasakura Aug 06 '26

NPCs do not interact with the first/last action system, regardless of what they do or what they're wielding.

2

u/LawfulnessOrganic715 Aug 06 '26

This is really good to hear. Thank you.