Currency and Prices

In the Cypher rules, when it comes to prices we talk in generalities rather than specifics. Instead of having exact currency values like "10 gold pieces" or "30 Imperial credits" or "50 exodollars," we use general price categories like "inexpensive" and "expensive."

The GM can figure out what those categories mean in their setting. In a fantasy setting, an inexpensive item might be 1 or 2 copper pennies, while an expensive item might require gold coins. In a futuristic setting, a moderately priced item might cost a few hundred credits, and a very expensive one costs kilocredits or megacredits.

Some GMs prefer exact currency numbers for items - so a backpack is 2 gold or 50 credits - and you'll keep track of your character's money much like you do in real life. If this is the case in your game, the GM will develop a detailed price list for the setting you're playing in, you'll track your character's money on your character sheet to determine what you can afford, and you'll never use the price categories after you initially build your character.

But some GMs might want to keep things simple and use only the general categories, indicating currency just as flavor now and then. In a fantasy game, looting a dungeon might net each character enough gold and gems for a couple of moderately priced items. In a spacefaring sci-fi game, hauling passengers to another star system might earn the whole PC crew enough for six expensive items after paying for fuel and such. In either case, the exact amounts don't matter - the fantasy characters are probably trading old coins and jewelry for new things, and the sci-fi characters may be dealing with currencies from two different planetary economies.