Subtle Cypher Deck
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Generate random cyphers on the fly for your modern¸ sci-fi¸ or other realistic game Cyphers-single-use abilities that characters gain over the course of play-lie¸ not surprisingly¸ at the heart of the Cypher System. In many genres¸ cyphers come in the form of items¸ like magic potions¸ one-shot spell scrolls¸ or bits of alien technology. But physical items with overt¸ supernatural-seeming effects don't fit every setting. Modern¸ historical¸ near-future science-fiction and similar genres demand realistic character abilities¸ and magic crystals or bizarre alien doohickies don't fit. These types of games use "subtle cyphers¸" which grant effects that are believable¸ minor¸ and not connected to physical items. The Subtle Cypher Deck gives you dozens of subtle cyphers¸ distributed among the 100 cards according to rarity. Generate subtle cyphers on the fly simply by drawing a card-pick one randomly¸ or use the suggestions on the card backs for when the cypher might be encountered. The player keeps the card until the cypher is used¸ then turns it in. It's quick¸ convenient¸ saves rolls and rulebook lookups¸ and prevents the player from having to write down (and later erase) details of how the cypher works. The deck even works as a random d100 or d6 number generator! PDF purchasers: To print your Subtle Cypher Deck¸ set your double-sided printer to short-edge binding and print on a cardstock material. Then¸ with a sharp utility knife and straight edge¸ use the crop marks as guides to trim the cards apart. If you don't have a double-sided printer¸ print the pages individually and then glue them back-to-back with a thin¸ even coat of adhesive. Before glueing¸ hold the back-to-back sheets up to a light source to ensure they are lining up correctly. The gutters between the cards give you a little bit of leeway if the two sides do not line up exactly.