If a creature with a cypher card attached to it does damage to a player, can I extort the cypher spell?
If encode says cast/play the spell then I don't see why not.
Yep! And that is awesome!
Just to make it official...
702.97a Cipher appears on some instants and sorceries. It represents two static abilities, one that functions while the spell is on the stack and one that functions while the card with cipher is in the exile zone. "Cipher" means "If this spell is represented by a card, you may exile this card encoded on a creature you control" and "As long as this card is encoded on that creature, that creature has 'Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, you may copy this card and you may cast the copy without paying its mana cost.'"
702.99a Extort is a triggered ability. "Extort" means "Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay {W/B}. If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain life equal to the total life lost this way."
Cipher has you cast a spell, and extort goes off when you cast a spell.
RESOLVED
My idea of an esper extort deck is looking better and better!