The first step in S⁴ is creating a character. Character concept is everything. Once you have a concept for your character, work with the GM to make the rules of the game fit that concept. Characters in S⁴ are built using the Cypher rules. Changes and additions to the Cypher System rules are explained below.

The major difference between the usual character creation sentence from Cypher and S⁴ is that S⁴ adds a second descriptor for your species. Like Cypher you still build your character using a simple statement, but it is now:

“____name____ is a(n) ____descriptor____ ____species____ ____type____ who ____focus____.”

For example: Aanthor Kesh is a Clever Harvendi Soldier who Needs No Weapons. The descriptor, species, type, and focus you choose will fill out the details and special abilities of your character.

Humans are the default species and convey no advantages or disadvantages. Other species grant advantages to your character balanced with disadvantages.

Character Stats

S⁴ uses Cypher’s three basic stat Pools: Might, Speed, and Intellect. The Pools use Edge and Effort as per the Cypher rules. 
 

Character Type

Character type is the core of your character. Your type helps determine your character’s place in the world and relationship with other people in the setting. It’s the noun of the sentence “I am a descriptor species type who focuses.”

You can choose from four character types: soldier (warrior), searcher (explorer), speaker, and savant (adept). Magic does not exist in the S⁴ universe, but psionic powers do. All references to “magic” in the skills or special abilities listed in the Cypher rules should become “psionics” to suit the setting. If you need help with modifying formerly magic abilities, talk to the GM about customizing the effects to a more psionic flavor.

The table below contains suggestions for flavoring your character type to achieve some of the typical characters found it the S⁴ setting. You may use any of the suggestions or create your own character concept. As with any flavor addition, discuss it with the GM.

Character Type Flavor Suggestions

Soldier (Warrior)	Ares Marshal	Soldier with psionic (magic) flavor
	Bounty Hunter	Soldier with stealth flavor
	Merc	Soldier with skills and knowledge flavor
	Trooper	Soldier
Searcher (Explorer)	Engineer	Searcher with technology flavor
	Pilot	Searcher with skills and knowledge flavor
	Scientist	Searcher
	Scoundrel	Searcher with stealth flavor
Speaker	Celebrity	Speaker
	Con Artist	Speaker with stealth flavor
	Empath	Speaker with psionic (magic) flavor
	Physician	Speaker with skills and knowledge flavor
Savant (Adept)	Esper	Savant
	Psi Trooper	Savant with combat flavor
	Metaphysician	Savant with skills and knowledge flavor
	Tech Priest	Savant with technology flavor

Descriptors

All of the descriptors listed in the Cypher System Rulebook on page 64 are available in S⁴.

Species

Humans are the default species in S⁴ and serve as the baseline for character creation. Originally from from the Sol System, they are extremely common across the Orion Spur and Saggit Arm of the galaxy, but can also be found on tens of thousands of worlds beyond.

If you would like to play a non-human species choose from the list below. Rather than using the descriptor as the Cypher rules suggest, species adds an additional descriptor. Non-human species gain one or more advantages at the trade-off of one or more disadvantages. This is similar to the optional mutation rules in Numenera.

Human | Alhuri | Dolmyranth | Gobban | Harvendi | Ki’tik | Slilan | Synthetic | Zaal
(Click the species name to learn more about it.)

Note that all of the non-human species are humanoid. While truly alien species exist in the galaxy, in most cases their psychology and physiology are so radically different from that of the humanoid species that they would be very difficult to roleplay and maintain a cohesive party. If you would like to create a new species for play, humanoid or non-humanoid, discuss it with the GM.

Character Focus

You may choose from one of the following foci listed in the Cypher System rules. If none of these foci work for you, consider the “Customizing Foci” option on page 91 of the rulebook or perhaps discuss creating a new foci with the GM.