I’m in midst preparation for UK Games Expo, which lands next weekend. It’s always a lot of fun getting your games together, not least because, often, I find that I am re-exploring and re-discovering games systems and settings that have languished on my shelves through time and weight of competing numbers. This time around has been no different.
My re-discovery? Numenera.
Numenera is one of my ‘go to’ games for conventions which, given the frequency of conventions and clawing demand from alternatives, means that I get to run the game a couple of times per year at most. Re-reading the game has been a delight, remembering the lightness of system, its ubiquitous potential, the gorgeous art, and the potential for the setting.
Also, by extension I have set off on a winding journey through recent developments of the Cypher System, as ever inspired by Pete Atkinson and Paul Baldowski, who bring the system to conventions with apparently effortless inventiveness. I’m also aware that Pete Griffith has a bubbling Shotgun & Sorcery game available for a future slot, which I’d be really keen to play.
Pete G asked me what setting I would like to see for Cypher and, after some meandering, I realised that it would be Jorune.
I’m certainly not the first to think of this. Fred Lang had been working on just such a conversion. Sadly, Fred has hit sufficient design roadblocks that he has decided to call it a day and is supporting Ian Kaufman’s JoRuneQuest2 development. All good, but confess I’m disappointed that Fred will no longer be doing all the hard work for me! Still, that just mean I have a project on my hands, when I can find the time. Yes, I know, I could Wordplay it, but you know…
I think this could easily start as a light touch conversion that, with some Isho manipulation, would become a Furnace 2017 game. I’d get Cypher out onto the table and the Jorune setting in play. Must find some mini crystals for XP awards!
In my renewed bubbling excitement for Cypher, I’ve been looking at what DrivethruRPG has to offer. I’ve picked up Mortal Fantasy, a nice spin on traditional fantasy, weaving and mixing Cypher for a traditional RPG fantasy spin. It’s mixing and matching with a shed load of ideas. Love it.
I may continue to think that Cyphers are superfluous to the Cypher system, subtle or otherwise, but I think it is a neat system with much to commend it. I’m looking forward to running it in one setting or another.