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Cepheus Light

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Note that this is a legacy product - a newer, more comprehensive ruleset, Cepheus Deluxe: Enhanced Edition, is available.

Starships riding fire across the sky. Heroes and villains exchanging laser fire. Desperate spacers struggling against an alien monstrosity. Vast alien vistas, flying cities, moonscapes, mad robots, and first encounters. In short: high-action science-fiction adventure that stimulates your sense of wonder. Cepheus Light puts you in the shoes of an adventurer visiting distant stars and encountering untold alien wonders. Whether you are a seasoned player looking for a rules-light game, or a new gamer wanting to experience what science-fiction role-playing games are all about, Cepheus Light opens your way forward.

Cepheus Light is a set of rules for playing classic science fiction games. It includes rules on creating characters, resolving actions, fighting other creatures, and engaging in space battles, generating worlds, handling the risks of interstellar speculative trading, exploring new worlds, and many other activities. While rules-light and designed for fast, action-packed play rather than an accurate simulation of reality, Cepheus Light encompasses a wide variety of rules and materials for building a science-fiction universe and playing in it.

Cepheus Light draws its inspiration from old-school science-fiction roleplaying games. It shares a lot of similarities with these games. Material from older rules sets and those created with Cepheus Light, the Cepheus Engine Core, and old-school sci-fi roleplaying games are easily compatible with only a moderate amount of adjustment.

The future awaits!

Compatible with the Cepheus Engine System Reference Document and other OGL 2D6 Sci Fi games.

Virtual Table Top support for Cepheus Light available on the Foundry VTT - search for for Twodsix in in FoundryVTT's Game Systems tab!

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Reviews (3)
Discussions (20)
Customer avatar
Zachary M December 09, 2023 7:04 pm UTC
I already own Cepheus Deluxe and of course I'm familiar with Cepheus Engine, but I think my ideal game would be somewhere in between (CE's random chargen and broad ecosystem of compatible products, but CD's stamina/lifeblood and its crisis-based starship combat system). Could you tell me a bit about what this retains from Cepheus Engine, what made it into Cepheus Deluxe, and what is unique to this system?
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Customer avatar
Omer J December 10, 2023 7:30 am UTC
PUBLISHER
The starship combat system is similar between Cepheus Light and Cepheus Deluxe, with the exception of armor rules and more varied weaponry. But the core concepts (chase combat, crew-member actions) are shared between the two editions. Cepheus Light uses CE-style damage and healing. There is a free non-random character generation supplement for Cepheus Light if you want Cepheus Deluxe-style character generation, and a Traits supplement as well.
Customer avatar
Kevin N May 09, 2023 1:44 pm UTC
PURCHASER
What happened to the upgraded version that came out last year?
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Customer avatar
Omer J May 09, 2023 3:06 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
We found it had some serious flaws, so we took it offline and are making changes. It should be available again soon.
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Customer avatar
Kevin N May 09, 2023 3:13 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks for the quick reply. Do you have an ETA? I am considering buying a print copy and am juggling between just getting the old version of CL or wait for this one.
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Customer avatar
Omer J May 09, 2023 4:14 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
We recommend buying a copy of Cepheus Deluxe: Enhanced Edition, which is much wider in scope than Cepheus Light: Upgraded,
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Customer avatar
Kevin N May 09, 2023 4:26 pm UTC
PURCHASER
My main player is my six year old son. We have been playing a combination of OSE and BFRPG for our games. Sometimes the wife and or a friend joins us. Would you still recommend the Deluxe edition?

I have wanted to use mostly concise and simple rules so my little guy can handle the game. He is pretty good for his age and remembers a lot of the BX rules from memory. He has no issue calculating THACO and understanding much of the rules.
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Customer avatar
Omer J May 09, 2023 4:30 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Another option is Quantum Starfarer, which is even lighter than Cepheus Light. But if he can calculate THAC0, I don't think there would be any problem with Cepheus Deluxe: Enhanced Edition, which base mechanics are very straightforward.
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Customer avatar
Kevin N May 09, 2023 4:38 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thank you so much for all the guidance!
Customer avatar
Aaron K May 27, 2021 5:46 pm UTC
PURCHASER
How's 2nd Ed coming? I found a paper copy on-line but saw you were updating and releasing v.2.
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Customer avatar
Omer J May 27, 2021 9:13 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Projected release date for 2E is late Q3 2021 or early Q4 2021.
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Customer avatar
Aaron K May 28, 2021 11:44 am UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks. I guess I'll hold out until then.
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Customer avatar
Aaron K July 10, 2021 9:47 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I just came across the digest version of CL on Lulu. I love the digest sized books. Will CL 2 have a digest version, too?

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Customer avatar
Omer J July 11, 2021 10:44 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Cepheus Light 2nd Edition will be published in A5 size by default, with a potential A4 version.
Customer avatar
Timothy W April 23, 2021 3:49 am UTC
PURCHASER
If your fixing errata, the rules for disengaging from space combat (pilot action on pg 84) is a mess and very unclear on how to resolve the action. Looks like a typing error where one sentence was misplaced in the middle of another.
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Customer avatar
Omer J April 23, 2021 4:08 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks for pointing this out! It will definitely be corrected in the second edition of Cepheus Light (coming later this year).
Customer avatar
Janne P February 28, 2021 6:12 am UTC
PURCHASER
Hello!

Based on your earlier comment you're presently implementing errata. I wonder if it will include clarifications to the rules under "Ground Force Weaponry Against Starship-Scale Targets" on page 54? (r6.1)

As it stands the second paragraph appears to be missing words and / or sentences.
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Customer avatar
Omer J February 28, 2021 4:17 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks for pointing this out. We are currently working on a second edition of Cepheus Light, which will also correct this flaw, as well as many others.
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Customer avatar
Janne P February 28, 2021 4:43 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Glad to hear it! Will an editable version of the second edition be also released?
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Customer avatar
Omer J February 28, 2021 5:39 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
An SRD, actually; potentially online and hyperlinked.
Customer avatar
Steve S January 03, 2021 11:58 am UTC
PURCHASER
Revision 6.1 seems to be missing skill bonuses for Elite and Navy careers - is that intentional?

Also the POD does not seem to be available any more. Are there any plans to bring it back?
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Customer avatar
Omer J January 03, 2021 3:51 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks for spotting this error!
And the print version should be up again in a few weeks; we took it off to correct errata.
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Customer avatar
Steve S March 20, 2021 10:40 am UTC
PURCHASER
Any news on the new 2.0 version of Light?
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Customer avatar
Omer J March 20, 2021 11:03 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Working on it. Should be ready around Q3 2021.
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Customer avatar
Steve S March 22, 2021 8:37 am UTC
PURCHASER
No updates or POD to this version until then?
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Customer avatar
Omer J March 22, 2021 10:20 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Only minor fixes to the PDF until then.
Customer avatar
Paul B July 15, 2020 9:50 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I’m wondering when the next revision will be releasing? The latest pdf I have is R4 from October 2019. I’d like to order a hardcopy but see posts mentioning next updates in January and April 2020.
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Customer avatar
Omer J July 16, 2020 5:00 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
We will update the book after we will complete the Sword of Cepheus print version, which is likely this month. Updating the print edition will take longer, however, as the pandemic slowed down the print process (and hence getting proof copies) considerably.
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Customer avatar
Paul B July 16, 2020 5:52 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks Omer. I'll keep an eye on the FB group for an announcement :-)
Customer avatar
Ted A April 21, 2020 10:16 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Missing descriptions of Recon and Repair skills on page 24.
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Customer avatar
Omer J April 22, 2020 4:27 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks for pointing this out. Will be corrected in the next revision.
Customer avatar
Stephen R April 19, 2020 2:42 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Can we have bookmarks in the PDF please. It would make it much easier to navigate.
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Customer avatar
Omer J April 19, 2020 2:56 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
We will definitely add bookmarks in the next revision.
Customer avatar
Garrett K January 27, 2020 6:54 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Where are the stats for Support weapons?
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Customer avatar
Omer J January 28, 2020 6:02 am UTC
PUBLISHER
This is known errata - should be corrected in the next revision (to be uploaded this week).
Reply
Customer avatar
Garrett K January 28, 2020 3:15 pm UTC
PURCHASER
In the interest of quashing typos, here's what else I noticed. I just ordered a print copy of cepheus light a couple days ago. Any chance of an at-cost coupon so I can buy the errata'd version? :P

1. On page 10, under "resolve your term of service", section 2.6 should have both references of step 3 changed to step 4.

2. page 69, under "turrets may mount the following weapons", it reads "h, Cr2500 each". I believe h should be replaced with Smart missiles.

3. There are two conflicting rules for smart missiles. The first set of rules is on page 69 that reads "Smart missiles hit on a throw of 6+ regardless of the gunner’s skill, and if they miss their target, they may re-roll this throw once the following round."

Then there's the rules on page 85 that read "On the round missiles reach their target,
throw 4+ to hit the target, unmodified by any skill. The Evasive Maneuvers Pilot action affects this missile attack...See more
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Customer avatar
Garrett K January 28, 2020 5:33 pm UTC
PURCHASER
"Gravitic lances" on page 70 should be bolded.
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Customer avatar
Garrett K January 28, 2020 5:45 pm UTC
PURCHASER
The rules for foot chases are tucked into the vehicle combat rules. It seems like they should appear in an earlier section, e.g. where grappling rules are defined.
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Customer avatar
Omer J January 28, 2020 5:54 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Many thanks! These should be corrected soon enough.
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Customer avatar
Garrett K January 30, 2020 5:25 pm UTC
PURCHASER
On page 81, the TL10 600-TON FREIGHTER is described as "Dispersed" instead of standard, streamlined, or distributed. What does Dispersed mean? I'm guessing it should say distributed.
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Customer avatar
Garrett K January 31, 2020 4:01 am UTC
PURCHASER
On page 58 under working passage, the baggage allowance is noted as 1000kg. I'm guessing this should be 10kg
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Customer avatar
Garrett K January 31, 2020 5:56 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Under the grappling rules, "though this is no cumulative regardless of the..." should read "This is not cumulative".
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Customer avatar
Omer J January 31, 2020 6:52 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks for the input!
Reply
Customer avatar
Garrett K February 02, 2020 12:39 am UTC
PURCHASER
Recon is not listed as a skill on page 24.
Customer avatar
Garrett K January 24, 2020 3:33 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi,

I noticed that the PDF on DTRPG has 109 pages, and the print version on The Other POD Website starting with an L and ending with a U (Not sure if I can say the name) has 164 pages. What's the reason for the page count difference?
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Customer avatar
Omer J January 24, 2020 6:29 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
The layout is different and so is the font. The A4-sized Cepheus Light book sold on the competing site uses a larger font and less compact layout than the one sold here. The contents are identical.
Customer avatar
David A October 22, 2019 4:01 pm UTC
PURCHASER
A very effective edit of the core Cepheus rules set. I appreciated many of the choices made to streamline game play, particularly regarding the skill list, vehicle combat, and ship design. It's very close to how I've played Traveller since the LBBs. Would recommend.
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Customer avatar
Omer J October 27, 2019 6:05 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thank you for your kind words!
Customer avatar
Garrett K June 07, 2019 5:34 am UTC
PURCHASER
Any ETA on the POD version? I would like to pick up this, FTL, and the regular game for the summer.
Reply
Customer avatar
Omer J June 07, 2019 5:44 am UTC
PUBLISHER
There is a PoD version available from another site; I cannot post the link here but you can google it. I am also working on a PoD version which will be available from DriveThruRPG within approximately two months.
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Customer avatar
Omer J October 19, 2019 6:41 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
I am happy to say that we are in the final stages of producing a PoD version sold here, on DriveThruRPG. Expect an announcement within a very few weeks.
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Customer avatar
Omer J October 27, 2019 6:05 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
The Print-on-Demand version is ready - enjoy!
Customer avatar
Michael H February 01, 2019 11:08 am UTC
PURCHASER
Hi there,
I'm finding a small issue with character generation in this game compared to original Traveller (although not necessarily with the original Cepheus, which I haven't played). The dice throws required to progress in a career are pretty steep. In original Traveller, you could get as much as +3 from the right characteristic scores. In this game, you'll be very lucky to get +1 with +0 being much more likely and -1 being a real possibility (it never was in Traveller). It struck me as quite jarring whilst creating my first five characters, none of whom survived the process; checking out before their third term. Is this something you've encountered or considered?

Here's a quick example of enlisting in the army; in both systems the required throw is 5+. In Traveller if you have STR 5+ and DEX +6 you get +3 to the throw (+1 and +2 respectively), it's automatic for many candidates. in Cepheus Light you get +1 with END 9+ and +2 if you have a 12. If you had an END of 5 you'd suffer a -1 penalty....See more
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Customer avatar
Omer J February 01, 2019 3:54 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks for the comment.

The system is one inherited from the Mongoose SRD, upon which the Cepheus Engine is based. Indeed, the +DMs are smaller than in Classic Traveller, where sometimes you get DM+3 if you meet two requirements. This indeed makes things tougher than in Classic Traveller.

Indeed, in a later revision, I may lower these numbers.
Customer avatar
John W January 10, 2019 10:29 pm UTC
Not having a POD option is the only thing holding me back from buying this title, but I really like what I see. The stuff Zozer, Michael Brown and yourself are doing are really pushing the Cepheus engine forward.
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Customer avatar
MR M H P March 16, 2019 5:24 pm UTC
PURCHASER
+1 this looks like it hacks out most of the irritations around you-know which game and its immediate offspring, especially bonkers level of detail for computers and software, though I'd love to see more abstracted rules for trading.

Once it's in digest sized hardcopy I'll buy it.
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Customer avatar
MR M H P March 18, 2019 5:37 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Purchased! I'm going to have fun with this.
Reply
Customer avatar
Omer J March 18, 2019 6:48 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks!
Reply
Customer avatar
Omer J May 09, 2019 12:40 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
We are currently working on a Print-on-Demand version of Cepheus Light for publication right here on DriveThruRPG (the current PoD version is on a secondary site).
Reply
Customer avatar
Omer J October 27, 2019 6:05 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
The Print-on-Demand version is ready - enjoy!
Customer avatar
Peter K November 12, 2018 9:08 am UTC
PURCHASER
After taking a closer look, I REALLY like this rule set. It definitely clears a lot of detritus from the original CE and adds the best elements of MgT2. The Combat rules contain everything essential. The only thing missing are animals and non-space encounter rules, but those can easily be adapted from other rules systems.

If you are looking for a fast, compact version of the 2D6 SF rules, you should really give this ruleset a closer look. And while it is "pay what you want" it is definitely worth the recommended $ 10,-.

And, from a personal POV it fits perfectly with my GDW RPG Apps, so you can use all of them without having to do any rule bending.

https://peterssoftwareprojects.com/category/traveller/
Reply
Customer avatar
Omer J November 12, 2018 10:33 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Many thanks for your kind words!
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109
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23 MB
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This title was added to our catalog on October 31, 2018.