Upgrading cyphers on the fly
This page was made by comparison of cyphers in the Numenera Corebook and Numenera Discovery books. It helps to upgrade cyphers from Technology Compendium on the fly. It uses cyphers as examples. Artefacts can be upgraded in the same way.
General fixes
- Numenera Lore → Understanding Numenera
- Ranges: 6.1m → 6m, 9.1m → 9m
- Same level or lower → Cypher level or lower
- Modified by one step → Eased or hindered
- Range of 200 feet [61 m] → Very long range
Duration of 28 hours almost always remains unchanged.
MAX is calculated as the maximum level that you can get from the dice roll. For example, for 1d6+2 cypher, MAX is 8, MAX-2 is 6.
Easy cypher's power up: Improve cypher’s effect for MAX-2 level.
No duration → Set minutes/hours per cypher level
Examples:
| Tech Name | Old | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Antivenom | Renders user immune to poisons of the same level or lower | Renders user immune to poisons of the same level or lower for one hour per cypher level |
| Detonation (Sonic) | Explodes with terrifying sound, deafening all in an immediate radius. | Explodes with terrifying sound, deafening all in an immediate radius for ten minutes per cypher level. |
| Detonation (Web) | Explodes in an immediate radius and creates sticky strands of goo. | Explodes in an immediate radius and creates sticky strands of goo that last 1 hour. |
| Sound Dampener | Dampens all sound within immediate range, providing an asset | Dampens all sound within immediate range for one minute per cypher level, providing an asset |
Static duration → Set duration per cypher level
The lower border should be equal (or around) old duration. If there is some value (damage or armor) AND duration, then duration (not value) is increased by cypher level. Examples:
| Tech Name | Old | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Adhesion Clamps | Lasts for twenty minutes. | Lasts for ten minutes per cypher level. |
| Catseye | Lasts for eight hours | Lasts five hours per cypher level |
| Detonation (Flash) [powerful] | For one minute | Ten minutes if the cypher is level MAX-4 or higher |
| Eagleseye | ability to see ten times as far as normal for one hour | ability to see ten times as far as normal for one hour per cypher level |
| Force Screen Projector | plane of solid force up to 20 feet by 20 feet (6.1 m by 6.1 m) for one hour. | plane of solid force up to 20 feet by 20 feet (6 m by 6 m) for one hour per cypher level. |
| Magnetic Master | The connection lasts for ten rounds. | The connection lasts for ten rounds per cypher level. |
| Phase Changer [powerful] | For one minute | Add: Two minutes if the cypher is level MAX-1 or higher |
Damage → Increase damage for MAX-2 and MAX level
Takes 1 additional point of damage → Add: 2 points of the cypher if level MAX-2 or higher, 3 points of MAX level
Examples: Density Nodule, Disrupting Nodule, Heat Nodule, Retaliation Nodule, Shock Nodule
Armor → Increase armor for MAX-1 level
Examples:
| Tech Name | Old | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Force Nodule | Adding 2 points to the armor it provides | Add: adding 3 to the armor if the cypher is level MAX-1 or higher |
| Sheen | Resists damage +1 to Armor | Add: +2 to Armor if the cypher is level MAX-1 or higher |
Range → Increase range for MAX-2 level
Close → Long range → Very long range. Examples:
| Tech Name | Old | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Attractor | Long range | Very long range if the cypher level MAX-2 or higher |
| Image Projector | The image appears 25 feet away from the user | The image appears up to a close distance away (long distance if the cypher level is MAX-2 or higher, very long distance if the cypher level is 6 or higher) |
| Ray Emitter (Numbing) | Project a ray of energy up to 200 feet (61 m) | Add: Very long range if the cypher is level MAX-2 or higher |
| Tracer | Within short range | Add: Long range if the cypher is level MAX-2 or higher, very long range if the cypher is level MAX or higher |
Value → Increase it for MAX-2 level
Examples:
| Tech Name | Old | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Banishing Nodule | Hindered by one step | Add: Hindered by two steps if the cypher level MAX-1 or higher |
| Comprehension Graft | Understand one language | Add: Two languages if the cypher is level MAX-2 or higher |
| Controlled Blinking Nodule | Eases defence by one step | Add: Eases defence by two step if the cypher is level MAX-2 or higher |
| Datasphere Siphon | One question | Add: Two questions if the cypher is level MAX-2 or higher, three questions if MAX or higher |
| Gravity-Nullifying Spray | A nonliving object about the size of a person or smaller | Add: Two humans if the cypher is level 6 or higher |
| Intellect Enhancement | Adds 1 to Intellect Edge for one hour | Add: Or adds 2 if the cypher is level MAX-3 or higher |
| Knowledge Enhancement | The character has training in a predetermined skill | Add: Or two skills if the cypher is level 5 or higher |
| Personal Environment Field | The aura extends to 1 foot (30 cm) around the user | Add: double that radius if the cypher is level 7 or higher |
| Psychic Communique | Telepathic message of up to ten words | ten words per cypher level |