Misdirected Mark Productions   /     Cypher Speak Episode 11: Level Up Your XP

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious

-Albert Einstein.

Darcy & Troy discuss the many uses of XP in the Cypher System, from the usual things like re-rolls & tiering up to things like adding narrative flavor, modifying Numenera, establishing NPC contacts or houses, and more.

Short-term Benefits:

• The Cypher System Rulebook lists the following ideas for short-term benefits:
  • 1 XP: Re-roll any die roll, Decline a GM Intrusion
  • 2 XP: Gain training in a very focused skill, Gain short term use of an item or ability
• Our other ideas:
  • 1 XP: Narrative flavor for a single scene
    • The shopkeeper has a tell that allows you to negotiate a better price.
    • You just happen to have a crowbar in your bag for opening this chest.
    • Modify the way a cypher works, staying with the original use of the device, but stretching it a little bit.
    • There is particular lighting in this warehouse fight that makes your character look really cool
  • 2 XP: Narrative flavor that lasts a bit longer
    • Characters are able to modify or add a new ability to an artifact, perhaps with a drawback kor additional depletion effects.
    • Recruit a friendly NPC that will help out the group for a short period of time, or is an expert in a specific field.
    • A temporary safe house.

Long-term Benefits:

• The Cypher System Rulebook lists the following ideas for long-term benefits:
  • Familiarity: +1 to the die roll of a given task
  • Contact: Someone helpful to the party that can assist them over a period of time.
  • Home: A residence to call home.
  • Title: A title
  • Wealth: Characters come into some money
  • Artifact: Create an artifact
• Some of our ideas:
  • Long-term benefits should have a long and impactful effect on your campaign.
    • Allow players to bring in someone from their backstory as a contact.
    • Modify an existing artifact to have additional properties. Sort of a legacy weapon feel, so you have an item that grows with you.
    • That creature you formed a bond with permanently becomes your companion animal.
    • Your tinkering with that device/piece of Numenera allows you to permanently have a Google Glass-like HUD that tells you some extra information of things you look like (Horizon Zero Dawn’s scan ability, for instance)
  • Refunds. If players invest in a long-term benefit and for some reason it’s not applicable anymore, you should consider refunding the XP they invested, or some portion of it.
    • Maybe the contact did work out. Maybe the Title became hollow, Maybe the GM burned your home to the ground. If for whatever reason something you invested 3 XP in no longer has value, or is taken away, think about softening the blow with additional XP. These types of things should be GM Intrusions at least, and Troy would consider giving a bonus XP to the affected player.

Poddities

• Troy: Jade Colossus: Ruins of the Ninth World.
• Darcy: The CypherCast podcast, run by the amazing David Wilson Brown & Andrew Cady, has picked up one of the most fabulous humans in the Monte Cook Games community as their new co-host: Dani Neary! I love this group already and can’t wait to hear new episodes with this trifecta of awesome.

How do you use your XP in a Cypher System Game?  Let us know your thoughts!

Keep in touch & let us know your thoughts on the show or anything in the CypherSphere!

• Tweet at us:
  • @CypherSpeakPod
  • @TroyP23
  • @DarcyLRoss
  • #CypherSomeone
• Email us: cypherspeakpod@gmail.com
• Review us: Cypher Speak iTunes Page
• Edited by Casey Ross

Thanks for all the support so far!