Numenera FAQ
You can read about the premise and overview to Numenera here, but here’s some quick answers to very frequently asked questions:
What products are there?
Right now, first and foremost, there is the 416-page full color rulebook, which we call the corebook. There’s also the 64-page Player’s Guide.
We also have two card decks, the XP Deck and the Cypher Deck. More products are on the way.
Is it a d20-based system?
While it uses a d20 prominently, it does not use the “d20 system.” It’s a brand new game, and quite different from d20 and D&D.
What’s in the Player’s Guide?
The Player’s Guide is material taken from the corebook. It has all the character creation material, and a brief overview of the setting and the rules. Basically, the stuff a player needs to get started. The idea is that a player shouldn’t have to buy a 416-page book just to play. The GM needs the extensive setting material, creatures, NPCs, adventures, and other material, but the players don’t.
Is the corebook available as an ebook/PDF?
Yes. Currently, from DriveThruRPG.com.
Is the corebook available as a print book?
Yes, from your local game retailer.
Are special dice required for the game?
We created some special dice for our Kickstarter backers (and are working on making them more widely available) but you can use an ordinary d20 and d6 (and the very occasional 2d10 if you want).
What other products are out there?
There’s an adventure that is exclusive to Kickstarter backers called the Nightmare Switch. We also did some signed promotional posters of the cover. But there’s a lot more on the way.
What products are still to come?
Well, as I said, we hope to have dice (from Q Workshop) available in the future. But perhaps more importantly, in October we’ll have a 96-page adventure collection called The Devil’s Spine. In January, we’ll release a 160-page bestiary. The line will continue with cool, beautiful products after that.
We’ll also have a number of eb00k-only releases we call “Glimmers.” These short, inexpensive products will cover varied topics, from adventures to setting material to variants to additional rules options. The first of these will be released very soon–it is the adventure we ran at GenCon called Vortex. Look for it in just a few weeks.
There’s a computer game too?
Ye, there’s Torment: Tides of Numenera, a computer game based on Numenera and set in the Ninth World from inXile Studios.
When will the computer game be out?
2015.
Does Monte have a role with the Torment game?
I’m writing a part of it, as is Numenera editor Shanna Germain. We also will be overseeing all of it to make sure it is true to Numenera. So far, it is amazing.
I was a Kickstarter backer or I preordered the corebook from you. When should I expect it to arrive?
Books started shipping more than a week ago, but it’s a huge process and sometimes shipping can be slow–particularly overseas. Depending on where you live, you can expect your shipment anywhere from now to a week or two from now. Many people have already received theirs, so yours should arrive soon!
Also, please keep in mind that follow-up books, such as the Bestiary, will ship when they are available. The Kickstarter launched an entire product line, so backers will be getting cool stuff shipped to them for months to come!
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There are also Numenera miniatures from Reaper Miniatures coming soon! reapermini.com
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Have been playing off the PDF, and it is a blast. Still waiting on my physical copy. Shipped from Atlanta, I’ve seen folks in California and even Australia receiving their copies. I live in North West Arkansas and still no book
Shouldn’t take that long to reach here from ATL. At least the PDF is keeping us busy. -
Are the shirts going to be available in the future, or are they going to remain a kickstarter-only item?
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The bestiary is coming in January? Amazing! I just want to thank everyone at Monte Cook Games for their hard work on this…I just received the (kickstarter) corebook a couple of days ago, and it’s a thing of beauty.
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Hi Hollis! The shirts were a Kickstarter reward. Thanks for asking.
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So – I live in Seattle and have not yet received my pre-order.
Would it be easier to come pick it up?
I was at Gen Con and am jealous of the many people who got their hands on the product before I did.
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Oh Rennie, I wish it were that simple, but no. I hope your copy arrives tomorrow!
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Tammie,
That raises a slightly different question – with the understanding that a delivery process of this size takes time, and that it always difficult to be at the end of the delivery list, when do you expect all of the books to have been shipped out? More precisely, for those of us who have not gotten our physical books yet when should we start worrying? Thanks.
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Hi Josh!
The latest on shipping is this: Our fulfillment house communicated to Charles that, as of yesterday (September 3rd), all of the domestic packages had left the fulfillment house, and almost all of the international packages had left the fulfillment house. Keep the faith, Ninth Worlders! Please give it a few more days. If you’ve not received your package of Numenera-y goodness within a week from today, please let me know at tammie@montecookgames.com.
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Tammie, thanks for the response. I’ll keep an eye out for the package over the next week
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Tammie,
Thanks for your response!
I hope my copy arrives tomorrow as well. I’m crossing my fingers. Good luck with your ship out. We are in the middle of our Kickstarter Rewards fulfillment as well (I produced the movie “The Gamers: Hands of Fate” with Dead Gentlemen/ZOE) and I DO understand just how difficult fulfillment can be!Rennie
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Thank you, Rennie And much good luck I wish to you, too!
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I wrote 1 hour too soon. Postal service dropped it off. SOOOO Excited to read it! (And play it.) Thanks!
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I’ve been calling around my local (Denver-Fortcollins-Cheyenne area,) game stores and can’t seem to find anyone who has even a vague idea of whether or not they will ever be getting any copies of Numenera in…
I only just recently found out about this game, and I’m really intrigued, but having not backed the kickstarter (totally would have had I heard about it then,) or placed a pre-order (totally would have done that had I heard about it before the 7th or 17th or whenever the cut-off was,) I seem to be stuck to a PDF copy.
PDF is ok, I suppose, but I really prefer it for something like a 36-page module, as opposed to a 400+ page corebook that I’ll probably want to pass around the table and let others reference.
If anyone in the area knows where to get a copy of this, lemme know at yyzhed@gmail.com. Really bummed that I can’t find it.
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Oh dear! I chose a store in Denver at Random and called them up and this is what I learned: I called The Wizard’s Chest and spoke with Kevin. Not only was Kevin aware of the game, he was a Kickstarter backer! He said they blew through their original order of the game and will be ordering more through their distributor, Alliance. Kevin is hopeful to have the game back in stock next week. I hope that helps you, Yyzed. Cheers!
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Hi.
I pre-ordered my corebook outside of the Kickstarter, but as I did so in May, I was led to believe that mine would ship along with the backers’ ones. Should I have gotten some sort of confirmation of it having shipped? I tried asking this on the contact us @ numenera.com, but I never got a reply. Would love to know if I can expect it within the next week or two..
-Sam
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Hi Sam! Are you the Sam Lindberg from Finland? If so, I can confirm your order…huzzah! I can also tell you that pre-order customers shipments were combined with the Kickstarter backers shipments and were treated the same. I hope that puts your mind more at ease.
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Hey,
I pre-ordered the corebook in April. Since then I have not received any word from Malhavoc Press in regards to when or even if I will indeed get what I paid for. I have since sent several inquiries, to which I have not yet received any form of reply. The sad thing is it appears that it is too late to get my money back too, since pay-pal has a 45 day limit to start a dispute.
I too would like to know, at least an estimate, when I can expect what I paid for.
-Jonathan
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Yup. I don’t mind waiting, but would be nice if someone would at least reply..
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I’m sorry you aren’t feeling the love, Sam. But we (everyone at MCG) feel the love for all of Numenera’s backers and customers. It’s been a hectic 48 hours for me, and, as I wrote in reply to Mike in the comments below: life happens. But I’m here now to let you know that, according to the information given to Charles by our fulfillment house, all domestic packages have left the warehouse (huzzah!) and almost all international packages have left the warehouse (huzzah!). Please keep the faith, Ninth Worlders!
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Hi Jonathan! I received an email that was forwarded to me today. Please watch your inbox for my reply later tonight (my time, not your time).
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When I ordered, well actually before I Kick-started, I asked if the up grade to the leather bound copy would be signed and was told Yes it would be.
Mine arrived the other day and disappointingly was not signed. That was the main reason I upgraded to the leather bound copy of the core book.
Was wondering if I was misinformed or my copy got forgotten some how.
I asked in the FAQ section and was replied to by Monte if that helps anyone find out about this.Thank you for your help.
Mike-
Hi Mike! It’s been nice talking with you via email. I’m sorry that I’ve gotten behind on my inbox over the last 48 hours. Life happens, you know?
To be frank, I can’t answer your question right now. I need to do some research. Give me just a little time to figure this all out and I will get back to you on email.
Thanks!
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I ran the first game for my group last night. As a GM I’m blown away, the game leaves you free to imagine adventure because you spend less time worrying about rules overload. I’m in love with a game (i’m so embarrassed).
My players can’t wait to play our next game this weekend.
Thanks Monty and crew.
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I just purchased the hardcover corebook for Numenera on Amazon and was wondering if I could get the pdf for free with it. I can provide proof of purchase, if necessary.
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Its a great game but with one criticism – I really dont like how (read: hate, hate, HATE) that you’re FORCED to take a very SPECIFIC inability with your descriptor. This strikes me (as both a player and as a GM) as massively limiting. A simple and non-game balance affecting change (say : pick an inability from the following list …) would have prevented this.
Ok ,so when I GM I’ll be house ruling this, but its really a bad limitation ; but sadly , some GMs will be inflexible on this, and that is really a constriction/ enforced stereotype that marrs an otherwise open game system …. it takes it down the route where every “charming” character is too similar – and some dont even make sense for most concepts – Having a clever character who is unable to remember lore or knowledge, for example.
As you expand the game with add ons, new descriptors, etc, might I suggest you at least have a sidebar in a book with a comment to the effect that mixing and matching inabilities with descriptors is allowed – otherwise those of us who play with pedantic ref’s will suffer…and like I say, I think its a needless restriction ,both characterisation and game-balance wise.
Otherwise, nice game.
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When do you expect international orders from the kickstarter to turn up? And any idea who I should expect to deliver it? I’m in the UK.
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The very last of the international customers should expect their deliveries this week. If you don’t have your stuff by the 23rd, email info@montecookgames.com.
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