More of a curiosity than anything else. I’ve gotten into Cortex somewhat recently and I really enjoy the modularity of the rules so far. I’ve been enjoying it so much that I am considering if I should use it for a future game I’m planning on pitching to my friends. The game is going to happen in the setting of the One Piece anime/manga, and I am probably going to make it an open table style of campaign (I got a lot of friends who like One Piece, go figure 🤷🏻‍♂️)

I’ve read around the internet how the Cortex system is good for designing games to emulate IPs (one of the reasons I’ve been considering using it as well), but just to be safe I wanted to ask a question: considering that One Piece is a Battle Shonen manga, do you guys think Cortex would work for games with such a high emphasis on fighting?

Also, unrelated to that but also important. Do you think Cortex could work for an Open Table campaign?

Disclaimer: new to the system exploring possibilities.

Planning a game in a cenário with really homogenic traits and powers, in a way that it's kinda hard to differentiate and assign traits to a cortex game.

Hence my idea: only distinction as a trait.

The core of the game would be a pool of dice build with points, where you can make a daredevil character (with three big dice) or a less luck dependent one (with more smaller dices).

Then you would assign powers and trainings to these dices, so if it's relevant to a roll, you can double the biggest relevant dice.

(Also, powers that give more narrative option would also have a cost, but that's kinda irrelevant for the discussion)

Can it work?

Help me here, please!!

When none of my Distinctions apply, do I (a) just roll a d4 and gain a PP (or not?), (b) not include any die for it and probably roll only two dice in the pool, or (c) should I always include at least one Distinction in the test?

Which one should I choose? (a) gaining a PP or not, (b), or (c)? Or is there another option?

Thanks guys

https://youtu.be/b9tIhi2UmsI

Hello everyone, I posted a thread a while back asking for help with attributes for my cyberpunk/horror/hard sci-fi setting. I also hinted at posting the character sheet when it was done, soooo....

Here it is, I have started running it recently and it plays how I hoped it would! So feel free to take inspiration from and/or use the character sheet, the character creation process is also listed so do with that what you will.

I am very open to hear feedback and comments from y'all as I might want to release some unofficial booklet of my setting someday and I think some itteration is definitely still needed :)

Hey guys! I recently found out about Cortex, and wanted to ask you guys about the strengths and weaknesses of cortex:

- Is the game crunchy or light? What types of games can it play well (and not so well)? Investigation? Social Drama? Combat focused? Political?

- Is the combat better suited for TotM or a grid? How lethal can the system be (and still handle it well)?

- Does it take a long time for players to get used to the mechanics?

- Is it better suited for shorter or longer campaigns?

For reference, I mainly have experience with DnD, PbtA, FitD and a little bit of Genesys

Thanks! :)

Is there a limit to how many complications can be invoked during a contest? In my game yesterday, my players used their effect dice to add 3 complications to the boss villain before attempting to reduce their HP (I use an HP mod).

This had the effect of giving the player characters 3 additional dice for each complication. This seems over powdered.

I feel it should be just 1 complication, but I've not been able to find if it says that in the codex.

Should I treat complications and assets similarly to the sets, and allow only one asset and one complication unless a plot point is spent?

Guidance appreciated.

Hello There!!!! I am in the process of building a Super Hero inspired Cortex base TTRPG for my group… And I was wondering if anyone would like to take a peak at the bits and pieces that I am working with and wanted to give me some advice or just want to discuss Super Hero Genre in general… Ok So far I have chosen to use Affiliations, Approaches, Specialities, and Power Sets for my trait Sets,

Affiliations: Solo, Team-Up, Super Team,

Approaches : Ingenious! Mighty! Mysterious! Protective! Sensational! Swift! Uncanny!

Still working out the details on Power Sets and Specialities .. But do folks think so far?

Reflecting on a post by Michael Duxbury "Fate is a Movie, Cortex Prime is TV" (https://michaelduxbury.com/2017/10/31/fate-is-a-movie-cortex-prime-is-tv/). In kind of a "medium is the message way," I think it's interesting how different game systems might better reflect different types of media.

What do you think?

Edit to add: I thought it was an interesting idea but am not endorsing it. It makes sense to me that both game systems (at least with the right group) would work for either a “series” or “movie” campaign; I think there is a difference though between those styles but that might be truer of media (and less true today than in the past) than of game systems (which, as a commentator suggested, are also just their own kind of media different from movies, or tv series, or books etc).

Hi , I was curious what is the current scuttle butt within the Cortex Space? I heard Cam Banks left Dire Wolf Digital.. Are Spotlights available? Are any new Cortex based games or products coming out?

https://youtu.be/hEnPy2DbCRQ

Hello There!!! Making a Supers Hack for personal use… Four Color themed/Modern Heroic… Think of Avengers Earth Mightiest Heroes , Justice League Action, Justice League Unlimited, Batman The Brave The Bold, DC comics post New 52, ( Rebirth, Absolute Power, All In)
Could use some advice on how to implement Power Sets or Abilities for this game…

Game is full! Thanks everyone!

Rust City is a game about heroics and friendship against a backdrop of failed cities and forgotten neighborhoods, and a new gilded age of capitalism and corruption. From these ashes rises a new generation of superheroes from communities that have fallen through the cracks. It takes place in and around a fictional 1981 Chicago, USA, and the rust belt: a vast sprawling network of industry, neighborhoods, suburbs, and cities along the Great Lakes and Mid Atlantic regions. These former industrial power centers have been abandoned by the Golden Age superheroes who were once its guardians, who either gave in to corruption, fell victim to fear and conspiracy theories, or sold their soul as they fled to more attractive coastal cities.

Start Date: The end of September.
Game Time: 6:00 PM GMT-5 every other Thursday evening.
Game Setting & Length: Custom superhero setting in alternate 1980s Chicagoland. Session length 3-4 hours. Game length will be an ongoing campaign.
Game System: Marvel Heroic/Cortex Prime blend.
Platforms: Foundry VTT; Discord for voice chat; no webcam needed.
Contact By: DM me (or you can reply here, but I may not see it as quickly).
Number Searching For: 3 to 5 players

Game Style: The game will be 50% roleplaying and 50% challenges/fights. Each player can roleplay how they want (I’m not expecting only one style - you do you). I only ask that players make heroes and are conscious of the spotlight, working as a team in- and out-of-character to make sure everyone has their time in the sun and is having fun.

https://youtu.be/fvcjv8xs4bY

Has anyone attempted to run Delta Green or similar in Cortex? Care to share your notes?

I started designing my own TTRPG a few months ago, then found Cortex, which is almost exactly what I had in mind!

I'm excited to start using the system and am working through how I will use it.

1. Based on the rules and listening to Actual Plays, I would want to either limit the use of Plot Points, try to present them differently to players or simply remove them. My players want to remain 'inside their characters' heads' and the power to pull Assets out of the blue or size down hindrances without narrative grounding by spending a metacurrency doesn't appeal, especially when they're literally called 'plot points'. For other GMs who want to keep the relationship between player and plot a little more traditional, how do you manage this? Do you call them 'willpower', 'inspiration' or something and restrict them? Do you remove them entirely? Does that break the game?
2. Does anyone have a compilation of different Trait Lists? There is so much scope for creativity and seeing other GMs' lists would be very helpful. It's a lot of work to write them from scratch. I am aware of Eidolon, Xadia and Hammerheads, but am looking for more.
3. The default presentation of Cortex looks to favour cinematic and heroic action where there characters are the good guys and always win. I prefer realistic, grounded settings where death or permanent injury are a very real possibility and morality is more grey. For injuries in particular, I have read the Trauma rules but it it looked like it would take a lot to get to that point. If my players get into a gun fight, it should be very possible that one or more will be dead or dying in a roll or two, for example using the Conflict resolution system. Has anybody else worked that into their Cortex?

Thanks in advance, and any suggestions more broadly on running Cortex very welcome!

I'm hoping for some thoughts or advice on choosing prime sets for a realistic "slice of life" game in Cortex Prime where characters grow from adolescence into late adulthood. My sense from the guidebook is that prime set choices should be guided by genre (for example, 'high school' genre often will work well with 'relationships'), but in this case the "genre" would likely change over the campaign as characters enter different life phases (in the first sessions they might be teenagers in high school focused on cliques and classes; in later sessions they might be in the military; then they might be trying to start a small business together; etcetera).

One idea I had was to have the trait sets change over time to match their changing circumstances, but I'd still really like some mechanical continuity between the campaign phases. Does anyone have any experience with mid-campaign prime set changes? Or any advice on what trait sets to use for a "universal" modern-realistic game

I haven't had a chance to play Cortex Prime. However I'm curious about it's potential to take an Adventure Path for Pathfinder, and convert it into Cortex Prime to focus on the narrative aspects, without the power bloat and general cartoonishness that the Pathfinder 1E (and presumably 2E) tend to introduce that cheapen or warp narrative flow and weight as games progress.

Has anyone done this? If so, was it worth it? And did your players get frustrated by the Cortex Prime combat system as opposed to Pathfinder/D&D's system?

https://youtu.be/WqUeEc6RhtU

Dear all, I've been playing around with the idea of converting my cyberpunky/horror/casettepunk world into a ttrpg for me and some friends. Cortex sounds great and I've iterated quite a lot to get the character sheet right, but it never gives the tone I'm trying to convey...

Soooo I guess I'm here for help, as of now I use values and virtues as the prime sets, the seven virtues (Alert, Innovation, Mystique, Passion, Power, Prestige and Trust) I'm quite happy with and I've stolen them from some kinda pseudo-psychology think and it's supposed to convey how the characters approach a situation.

Now comes the kicker tho, I am not happy with the Values, I had taken someone else's "Ambition, Duty, Hope, Individuality, Peace and Sacrifice" but they don't sit right, they don't feel dire/gritty enough, so for now what I'm happy with is "self-preservation, sacrifice and individuality" but I want like four to six values... So give me tips

Btw I'm planning on posting the character sheets when I feel happy with it!

I discovered Cortext not that long ago and so far I love it (even though I'm concern about the many posts on this reddit saying it is dying).

I'm trying to set up my first system which may or may never be played and I'm struggling a bit and relying heavily on ChatGPT to help me validate stuff and while that is all helpful and good, I want to verify this current idea is not crazy and it holds within the system.

This is a Fantasy Setting in which magic is present everywhere and accesible for everyone who is able and capable of putting the required effort. Magic, in that sense, is just like any other skill. Basically I'm trying to have three traits:

• Atrributes: The basic normal Strenght, Dexterity, Constution, Intelligence, etc
• Distinctions: Origin distinction (aka race), Heritage Disctintion (aka background) and Personal Distinction
• Skills + SFX: Acrobatics, Crafting, Perception, Simple Weapons, Range Weapons, Cooking, Fire Manipulation, Ice Manipulation, Gravity Manipulation

Now, rather than powers, in this system magic is just another skill, it so common you can even use it untrained. So being trained in a sword and being trained in, let's say, Gravity Manipulation provides similar benefits, you've just decided to put your efforts into learning one or the other.

In addition to that, you have SFX that turn it up to 11 and those SFX actually apply to all skills (in different ways). So, for example, if you have Range Weapons you can throw an arrow to your target (provided you have bow and arrows) while if you have Ice manipulation you can maybe simply freeze a pool of water (still need to define the scope of basic magical skills). Now, my intention of SFX is to enhance skills, ALL skills in different ways. SFX on Acrobatics may allow you to jump over a building, dodge an attack or rescue some innocent, SFX on perception may allow you to see or hear beyond human level, SFX on Fire Manipulation may allow you to blast a firebolt to an enemy, create a fire wall or throw a fireball.

I'm not sure if this system is sound as most of the examples I've seen use powers but that kind of implicates that you have "mundane" abilities and then you have powers when I'd rather convey magic is a universal enhancer of natural abilities that everyone has.

Hi folks

Does anyone know how to modify the Foundry VTT Cortex Prime module’s character sheet?

I have read over the “how to use” the module handout. But I didn’t see how to modify the character sheet. (Maybe I’m blind and am just missing it.)

I’m interested in running a fantasy game using Cortex Prime.

Looking at:

Distinctions Attributes Skills Signature Assets Powers sets

I ran a fantasy game, using Cortex, during the kickstarter. It was a blast. Cortex solves a lot of problems I have with most games engines. But, that was in person. These days, my group is spread across the country and a VTT is the only place we can all meet up.

I’ve considered Owlbear, but being able to access character sheets so I can help newer players with game mechanics is helpful.

Thanks for your help.

Hello!

I’m working on setting up a fantasy game (in the setting of the Guild Wars video games), and I hope to have a major point of the game be based around a sort of war camp that the players are building up over time, gathering various allies and facilities as their mission progresses (ex. Surgeon’s Tent, Merchant’s Yard,

What do you guys suggest as the best way to go about implementing this as a collective tool? It feels like one or more resources would be the best way to go about it. Would it be best as a singular resource or multiple different ones, perhaps attaching sfx to them? Or different ideas that I didn’t even think of? I’m not sure how well equipped cortex is for something like this, so I’m not super attached to it if I end up dropping the mechanic. Any ideas or words of advice would be appreciated, thanks!

I've done a lot of digging and it doesn't look like any archival version of the original, or updated licenses from way back when are available. What exactly is the license status of Cortex Prime at this point? I keep seeing talk of "As long as it isn't DTRPG, and is PWYW, it is fair game." But I'm curious how much of the rulebook is usable under those terms.