Close
Close
Advanced Search

The Strange CorebookClick to magnify

The Strange Corebook

ADD TO WISHLIST >

This is the full version of The Strange Corebook. Check out the free preview.

“Hands down the best RPG rules system and setting I've ever run.”

“The whole ability to basically go anywhere that one could
possibility want to go, from any fictional world or alternate setting
or imaginary realm, is amazing.”

“After reading The Strange from cover
to cover, I am looking forward to running and playing
The Strange as much as any game I have ever played.”

Monte Cook and Bruce R. Cordell, in their first major collaboration, bring you The Strange. It’s an RPG set on Earth, in the modern day. But a few people—a very few people—have discovered how to travel to other places. They call them recursions, and they’re like limited pocket dimensions with their own laws of reality, connected to Earth via a dark energy network beneath the normal matter of the universe. A dangerous, chaotic network they call the Strange.

Ardeyn-Map.jpg

Recursions spawn from the myths, legends, and fiction of humanity, so the setting of virtually any story, film, or novel could form a recursion, as could any mythical realm or place of legend. They aren’t entire parallel universes—they’re limited in scope, rarely larger than a continent and sometimes not much bigger than a city block. Often the denizens aren’t even self-aware, but are little more than automatons going through the motions of their fictional world.

Landscape-Ardeyn.jpg

But sometimes, in the larger or more mature recursions, they have the spark: Self awareness. Sentience. The ability to form their own motivations and agendas.

And some of those beings understand that they aren’t alone in the Strange. Some of them know about Earth, and the limitless universe beyond it. And some of them are very, very dangerous.

The-Strange-Bestiary-5-John-Petersen.jpg

In our own world, there are individuals who secretly travel to these recursions—perhaps for adventure, perhaps for profit. But there are others with more nefarious motives, and conspiratorial organizations operating in the shadows, looking to exploit the Strange and its recursions for their own ends. And some of them are also very, very dangerous.

Eschatology-Code-1-Matt-Stawicki.jpg

Your character is quickened; you’re one of the ones who can travel into Earth’s shoals to discover and explore the seemingly limitless recursions around our world. Oz. Barsoom. Asgard. The Dreamlands. The Victorian London of Sherlock Holmes. The setting of your favorite novel or movie. Worlds even more exotic or bizarre, driven by laws of magic, psionics, or weird science. When you visit these worlds, you adapt to them, taking on some of the physical aspects and knowledge of the natives. You become, in part at least, a different version of yourself.

What will you find when you venture into Earth’s shoals? And what will find you, as you travel into. . .

The-Strange-Logo.png

The Strange is driven by the Cypher System, the same Origins- and ENnie-Award-winning game engine that powers Numenera. In fact, it’s almost entirely compatible with Numenera—you can borrow creatures, foci, descriptors, cyphers, and other elements from the one to use in the other.

Like NumeneraThe Strange is a 416-page book with everything you need to play. Its production values, layout, and artwork are every bit as mind-blowingly awesome as Numenera’s. It comes with two poster maps. And there’s a Player’s Guide as well—it’s 96 pages but at the same low price point as the Numenera Player’s Guide. And if you’re still not convinced, you can download a free preview and take a look inside the book!


pixel_trans.gif
pixel_trans.gif
 
 Customers Who Bought this Title also Purchased
pixel_trans.gif
pixel_trans.gif
Reviews (13)
Discussions (13)
Customer avatar
Frankie B September 19, 2015 10:35 am UTC
This game takes the idea of creating a fantasy world and raises it up to the Golden Mean. Fractal worlds in dark matter. Our fiction protects us from the ravaging things that consumed all other intelligent life in the universe. Those that can travel between them are translating through The Strange. Good game.
Customer avatar
Johan J August 04, 2015 6:51 am UTC
I bought the physical book as a (geeky) tourist memory while visiting Sydney, so I'm not allowed to make a proper PDF review.

I really enjoyed the Numenera system and the whole weird fantasy art, but I thought the sandbox execution made the setting shallow and sparse. As a big fan of Trinity, Fringe, the X-Files, Deus Ex, and the like, I had hoped that Strange would take an excellent system and build a tight cyberpunk setting around it. It really, really didn't.

The Strange is, for lack of a better word, a kind of Stargate SG:1 RPG. I never understood why anyone would name a show Stargate Stargate One, but the again, I never understood that show either. Why does everyone speak English? Why is everything so cheesy? The Strange copies this. It often gushes about conspiracies and cosmic horrors, but it's essentially a cheese fest. For example, the fantasy world you can visit was created by some researchers dumping World of Warcraft MMO code into the Strange's dark matter network. Fiat Lux!...See more
Customer avatar
Josiah B December 22, 2014 9:29 pm UTC
PURCHASER
How many recursions come with the corebook?
Reply
Customer avatar
Pierre S September 29, 2016 7:50 pm UTC
PURCHASER
No one answered your question? Two recursions, Ardeyn and Ruk, are described in great detail, six recursions each in two pages or so of detail, and 11 more are outlined. On The Strange web-site, fan-submitted recursions are detailed in a standard format.
Customer avatar
Robert S November 13, 2014 3:20 am UTC
Some of the expansion sets for this game use cards. Does the core game also use cards? I have never used such a system before, and I am not sure I want to start.
Reply
Customer avatar
Leo M November 14, 2014 3:19 pm UTC
PURCHASER
which expansions? I've not heard of cards being used in any cypher system products.
Reply
Customer avatar
Robert S November 18, 2014 1:16 am UTC
There's The Strange Cypher Deck and The Strange XP Deck. Sounds like you answered my basic question that, no, cards aren't used with the base game.
Reply
Customer avatar
Charles R December 02, 2014 5:29 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
As Robert said, there are a few decks available for use with The Strange: The XP Deck, Cypher Deck, and Creature Deck. These are all designed to speed and ease game play and/or GM prep time, but they are in no way necessary for play.
Customer avatar
Peter S October 06, 2014 3:33 pm UTC
Love This game, was a kickstarter backer so I don't own it through drivethru but i'd give it a 4/5

Some people have complained about some of the redundancy between this game and its cypher system sister Numenera. This is partially true, but if the redundancy didn't exist the game would not be complete for those who aren't already familiar with the system. That being said there are some things with the cypher system that i think were unintentionally vague that they could have explained better but just cut and past rather then reevaluate

If you own Numenera There is the option to just buy the players guide, but you would be missing out on the actual setting. If you are running the game i think that would be a huge mistake. I think it would be hard to run the strange with just the players guide even knowing the system well. You would likely end up being able to run a game that uses the Rules for most of the strange but misses a lot of the feel. Also, if i recall correctly, the players guide...See more
Reply
Customer avatar
Charles R October 06, 2014 4:29 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Hi, Peter, and thanks for the great comments! It would be really beneficial to the game if you could write this as a review instead, since that's where a lot of gamers look first to see how a game is being received.
Reply
Customer avatar
Pierre S October 16, 2015 9:47 pm UTC
PURCHASER
He said he can't write a Review here because he didn't purchase it from here.
Customer avatar
Craig S September 27, 2014 1:29 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Great addition to the Cypher system!!! Monte Cook Games has becoming my favorite game company. The same solid system as Numenera, easy to play, easy to understand and a lot of fun!! As a GM they make my job easier and much more fun! One of the hallmarks of Monte Cook Game's release, Numenera and The Strange is the thought given to the GM. They make deep engaging settings that are open so a GM can dive right in and build his or her world. Simple easy to use rules that make sense. Love these games...
Reply
Customer avatar
Charles R October 06, 2014 4:28 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Hi, Craig, and thanks for the great comments! It would be really beneficial to the game if you could write this as a review instead, since that's where a lot of gamers look first to see how a game is being received. Thanks for the support!
Customer avatar
September 17, 2014 10:41 am UTC
PURCHASER
This is a game I feel I will really enjoy, I bought it on a whim and am sure glad that I did, it has fantastic graphics and well thought out game system an late contender for Game of the Year
Reply
Customer avatar
Charles R October 06, 2014 4:29 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Hi, Philip, and thanks for the great comments! It would be really beneficial to the game if you could write this as a review instead, since that's where a lot of gamers look first to see how a game is being received.
Customer avatar
Carl P September 09, 2014 7:04 pm UTC
Bought a physical copy, and I have to say that I am immensely glad that I did. This book is amazing, the setting is cool and the mechanics are interesting. The whole ability to basically go anywhere that one could possibility want to go, from any fictional world or alternate setting or imaginary realm is amazing. The theme is basically exactly what I have been doing to various other game lines since I started roleplaying almost a decade and a half ago. The ability to change focus as one moves to different recursions allow characters to change and become different based on the needs of the particular story or realm, without ruining balance or requiring a vast amount of modification. The text is easy to read and the rules make sense, and ideas came to me as I was reading through it. Really enjoying it, glad I purchased it, and all I need to do is try and find others to play in such a game. :)
Customer avatar
Ronald P August 19, 2014 5:23 am UTC
PURCHASER
Hands down the best RPG rules system and setting I've ever run. This game practically sums up my gaming style and aligns perfectly with the games I've run for the last 25+ years. Any fictional, historical, or imaginary realm you desire fits right into a recursion. There is constant character growth, never maxing out, and never ending your story because your character has become over-powered.
Reply
Customer avatar
Shanna G August 22, 2014 3:05 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Wow, thanks so much Ronald. That means a lot!
Reply
Customer avatar
Charles R October 06, 2014 4:28 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Hi, Ronald, and thanks for the great comments! It would be really beneficial to the game if you could write this as a review instead, since that's where a lot of gamers look first to see how a game is being received.
Customer avatar
carlos F August 01, 2014 9:51 pm UTC
PURCHASER
No date of release yet?
Reply
Customer avatar
Nicholas A August 01, 2014 10:40 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I talked with Customer Service, they said that when its available, its available basically.
Customer avatar
Scott N July 24, 2014 3:24 pm UTC
Is this a PDF preorder?
Customer avatar
Scott H June 05, 2014 5:17 am UTC
Sounds a little like Tom Molvay's masterpiece "Lords of Creation".
Reply
Customer avatar
Tim M July 12, 2014 4:10 am UTC
Sounds a LOT like a formalized version of John Wick's "The Flux".
Reply
Customer avatar
Colin C August 14, 2014 8:14 pm UTC
It's a bit closer to Dark*Matter, I think. The the back of the book did a XXX job explaining what the players do in this game.

Reply
Customer avatar
Arthur R August 15, 2014 6:32 pm UTC
Lords of Creation were my first thoughts as well.
Reply
Customer avatar
Chris T August 31, 2014 4:26 pm UTC
Sounds a bit like Amber or the old TSR Amazing Engine game to me.
Reply
Customer avatar
Pierre S January 23, 2015 3:48 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Tom Moldvay, yes.
Reply
Customer avatar
George J February 10, 2017 7:55 am UTC
PURCHASER
Lord's of Creation.... loved that game !!!!
Narrow Results
$ to $
 Follow Your Favorites!
NotificationsSign in to get custom notifications of new products!
 Recent History















Product Information
Mithral seller
Artist(s)
Rule System(s)
Pages
416
ISBN
978-1-939979-17-9
Publisher Stock #
MCG028P
File Size:
21.98 MB
Format
Original electronic Click for more information
Scanned image
These products were created by scanning an original printed edition. Most older books are in scanned image format because original digital layout files never existed or were no longer available from the publisher.

For PDF download editions, each page has been run through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software to attempt to decipher the printed text. The result of this OCR process is placed invisibly behind the picture of each scanned page, to allow for text searching. However, any text in a given book set on a graphical background or in handwritten fonts would most likely not be picked up by the OCR software, and is therefore not searchable. Also, a few larger books may be resampled to fit into the system, and may not have this searchable text background.

For printed books, we have performed high-resolution scans of an original hardcopy of the book. We essentially digitally re-master the book. Unfortunately, the resulting quality of these books is not as high. It's the problem of making a copy of a copy. The text is fine for reading, but illustration work starts to run dark, pixellating and/or losing shades of grey. Moiré patterns may develop in photos. We mark clearly which print titles come from scanned image books so that you can make an informed purchase decision about the quality of what you will receive.
pixel_trans.gif
Original electronic format
These ebooks were created from the original electronic layout files, and therefore are fully text searchable. Also, their file size tends to be smaller than scanned image books. Most newer books are in the original electronic format. Both download and print editions of such books should be high quality.
File Last Updated:
June 23, 2015
This title was added to our catalog on August 15, 2014.