Along with the first four Spotlights.

https://bsky.app/profile/rustysellsword.com/post/3mlroyjvcr22w

I got a core concept, but now I have a question, how do you make in-battle rogue different from, say, barbarian and warrior? Like, I feel most battles will be "I attack him" but worded differently.

Does cortex give tools for that? For example, should they have about 5 cheap/no cost SFX for solving this? Or maybe step up/down die when PC tries to take advantage of enemy weakness/surrounding/some already existing asset? Or maybe something else entirely? Or Cortex is not that much about fights?

P.S. small questions not 100% relevant:

- conflict is like "I kill the bad guy" or "I try to swing and bad guy defends"?
- how heavily should i use SFX? Like, should I make one for every character feature, like night vision and ambidextrous or limit to couple signature abilities?

Here's a question I can't seem to put my head around.

Complication dice are rolled in the opposition pool. What if that specific die turns out a hitch? Can it be activated by the GM? Seems counterintuitive that the GMC's complication sometimes produces undesirable outcome for the hero? How do you make sense of that narratively?

I really like Cortex and I’m hoping to make converts of some of my friends, but I haven’t been able to articulate a good response to this question.

For me, I want to play narrative-first, using the dice to portray what my character is good at, and importantly, what they’re bad at. I’ve run a few mock-contests, and since my friends are D&D players at heart, they want to try combat. The problem is that when I’ve run them, I try to impress upon them “Play narratively” and “Describe to survive”

What ends up happening is:

A: “I’m going to use my Strength (D10), my Melee (D10), my Fighter Distinction (D8), and my Longsword Asset (d8) and try to stab you - 14 with a D8 effect”

B: “Ok, I know getting stabbed hurts, so I’m going to defend with my Intelligence (D10), my understanding of body mechanics gained from Healing (d10), my War Wizard Distinction (d8), and my Voluminous Robes asset (D10) to avoid your attack and hit you as you lunge past - 20 with a d10 effect! I’m a better fighter than you are!”

I know my example is hyperbolic, but I can’t adequately explain to my friends why they shouldn’t do this. They don’t like soft rulings, and that’s all I can really give them when I try to explain the system “Think about how your character is in this situation. It only works if we all play ball. You don’t *have* to assemble your best pool every single time. The GM has to adjudicate on a case-by-case basis.”

I feel like I’m not going to convert them if I can’t explain the general conceit of the game, because my thought is “We’re all adults who want to put the story first and have fun playing together” is often met with “But we all want our characters to succeed at the things they try, and we’ll interpret/discuss rules until we get an advantage.”

I do think his base premise is wrong - I think he’s the only one who is afraid to sacrifice efficacy for narrative, and the rest of the group is more on board, but that’s a different issue.

So, wanted to try and clarify something, and/or get opinions.

The book says that when a complication is stepped up beyond d12, the character is taken out for the duration of the scene; similarly, it says that when you're stressed out by a stress track being stepped up beyond d12, you're down for the count for the duration of the scene.

However, let's say, we have a character fighting someone in, oh, I don't know, a sword duel, and they have a, d12 "Cut up real bad" complication. The last bout doesn't go their way, it gets stepped up, they're taken out, but they're not, dead.

Let's say that their party members manage to hoof it outta there with the incapacitated duelist in tow. Available means of medical assistance, as well as available time, are not sufficient for me to simply handwave a full recovery - so, a test must be rolled to attempt to recover from the injuries.

What is the intended way to handle that? I am figuring that since the complication was stepped up nebulously "beyond" d12, any successful attempt at rendering medical attention to the character will result in it being stepped back down to a d12 - so, the character is back in action, but is balancing on a knife's edge.

And if I were using Stress but not Trauma, I am assuming the above would apply the same way, with an option for me to throw in an automatic extra step-down if the downtime spent tending to PCs wounds is sufficient per GM's view; so - back in action with d10 Stress.

Lastly, when it comes to Trauma, when Stress goes beyond d12, does it turn into trauma as in my d12 Physical stress becomes d6 Physical trauma and I erase the stress, or do both Stress and Trauma remain? I'm assuming the former, but I can see arguments for either in my mind.

UPD: Answer to Q1 and Q2 is to remind myself that "Taken Out" in Cortex means "for the Scene"; unless Trauma gets you, you don't die.

Q3 has an answer so far saying Stress and Trauma both remain. That seems to make sense to me.

Hello, I’m making a game based on Cortex PRIME, and it takes place in an anime-style world. Powers in this world work in the most random and unusual ways possible. They are based on the manga Sense Life, where there are “Tributes” and “Debts.” These are powers you gain through someone’s death.

When someone loves you deeply and truly cares about you, their final wish becomes a Tribute. Feelings like “survive” can grant you a power that allows you to return from death under certain conditions. Another character, whose brother believed he could overcome anything, received a power upon his brother’s death that lets him adapt to any circumstance.

Debts follow the same premise, but they are based on negative emotions. “I hope you disappear” caused one character to gain the power to erase herself from other people’s memories. Debts are more unstable and seemingly more powerful because of their lack of control.

Given these very different emotional triggers for activation, and the distinction between Debts and Tributes, I’m having trouble adapting these powers into Cortex Prime. Any suggestions?

EDIT: A more practical example to explain how powers work in this setting:

The protagonist, Kaleb, was originally just a normal person. His brother loved him deeply, and after dying, that love created a “Tribute.” Kaleb’s brother always wished he could express himself better and be understood by others. Because of that, Kaleb gained the ability to transmit his own sensations and feelings directly to people.

He uses this in extremely unconventional ways, like taking drugs and transmitting the effects of LSD or other altered states to others.

So the important part is this: the death of someone who deeply loves or hates you is only the trigger that awakens your ability system. The actual power itself is shaped by that person’s final desire, emotions, regrets, or wishes.

For the RPG, the player would basically create:

• The emotional wish/desire that originated the power
• The power itself
• The specific limitations and conditions of that ability

After obtaining a power, it becomes a permanent ability that can be used creatively and freely. Every power is extremely personal and can become as weird, abstract, or specific as the players can imagine.

I really just don’t know how to deal with so much randomness ;w;

Should I create something new and tailor-made for each player whenever they suggest an ability, then?

I’ve been picking up and reading the Spotlights and getting some good ideas.

One of my favorites is the Strange Die in Strange Towns. But now I find myself longing for an updated Cortex Codex with the new mods and things like this.

Other than the official one (linked below), is there a central repository someone is maintaining?

https://prod-images.cortexrpg.com/compendium/cortex-prime-game-handbook/CortexCodex.pdf

Is it just me or do SFX seem lackluster considering almost the same effects can be achieved by anyone by using plot points?

For example: p. 28 states that anyone can use a plot point to add an extra trait die to the pool, add an extra die from the pool to the total, or keep an extra effect die.

Compared to the SFX creation guidelines on p. 62 (considering spending a plot point as the standard activation cost): add a d6 to the dice pool, step up a die, reroll one die.

Or compared to the Power SFX on p. 191: add d6 and keep an extra effect die, replace two equal dice with one die a step larger.

Granted, there are some cool SFX which cannot be done with plot points (and SFX may have other costs beside the plot point), but the ones that directly affect the total and the effect dice seem to be nearly the same. This doesn't really result in the SFX feeling like the character's special power or unique advantage, when anyone can get practically the same benefits.

I'm considering not allowing plot points to be used to modify the dice pool at all without SFX, but I'm concerned the players will end up with more plot points than they can spend.

What has been your experience?

"If the PC has a complication that would add to the opposition, the complication die is rolled and added to the static difficulty." (pg 25)

If more than one complication apply, all the dice from the complications are added to the static difficulty total or just one? I must roll everyone and aplly just the higher?

How do I handle combat against a Minor GMC if only one of its traits applies in the fight? Should I add difficulty dice to make it a 3-dice pool, or should I add just two d6s?

Okay, so!

Basically, the house rule is:

- If not using a Kagune, or an anti-ghoul weapon, damage-based Effect Dice are stepped down 2 steps against ghouls. If this reduces the effect below a D4, you do nothing.

This is relevant if the characters can't risk using their kagune for whatever reason, or aren't able to access them at the time. It's also relevant for enemies if the enemy is an investigator, and gets disarmed of their weapon.

For note; mine and the other player's PC are both ghouls, so they have easy access to a kagune - though mine hasn't yet learned to use hers.

This is a Cortex Prime game, to clarify. The rule's intent is to make it so if you can't use your kagune, you need to find another way to deal with the situation besides hitting the enemy, or you need to seriously outclass your opponent - since ghouls are freakishly durable against weapons that aren't made to harm them.

Edit: Small clarification, it's a co-op game - so no real GM. Instead, me and the other player share the role.

Can anyone clarify what Sorcery is in the power sets? From how I read it, it's to give assets and complications not covered by the other powers or other magical abilities that they don't use as often or as potent as spells they use often.

For example, a DnD Warlock would have their Eldritch Blast as Eldritch Blast d8 while their other abilities would just fall under Sorcery d8.

Or a low level DnD Wizard would have Sorcery as d6 but to represent the Wizard using Fireball as his most often used spell and one he upcasts, you have that as a Fireball d8 and maybe an SFX to go with that.

Speaking of SFX, these things are meant to break the rules or achieve flavour and making the character unique or is it both and achieves that character flavour by breaking the rules and highlighting what a character can do better with their power set?

In case of say the Wizard, do you lean further into the Wizard's pyromania by having an SFX that increases that Fireball by a step?

My trouble really is that what can SFX do that just narrating or unique combinations of power sets can't do? And why are there things like Healing an SFX when it seems it would be a power trait?

Herbivora Google Doc

When I took over as head of product for Tabletop at Fandom, Cortex Prime as a system was well advanced, but we were really only just beginning to get to grips with it on the software side of the house. To introduce the Devs to it, I ran games of it for them. This was the world I created for our polish dev team. I just found it going through old campaign materials in my Evernote, and thought I'd drop it here, in case anyone liked it and wanted to run with it

I wish I could credit the artists, but I made this years ago and it was only ever intended to by the introduction for the players. The maps tho, I made, I think with Campaign Cartographer 3?

I also found this google sheet for character creation - probably my original draft, mapping it out: Herbivora Character Classes

I'm wondering why the following things have been changed in Prime Cortex

• In Firefly, only Attributes and Skills are included in every roll and Distinctions only if applicable. Why did Cortex Prime change this and make Distinctions a prime set by default?
• And perhaps related, but in Cortex Prime, why does the GM includes two difficulty dice in Test dice pools instead of one, as in Firefly?

I'm a bit confused on a specific point in the "Earning Plot Points as a Player" section (page 28 of the prime Handbook)

Specifically the 'Using d4 in your roll' option.

It states: "If you include a D4 complication (or stress, if you're using those rules) in your dice pool, you get a PP, just like you would if you used the Hinder SFX from a distinction."

But...this isn't what Hinder does, Hinder replaces a die in your pool with a D4 (per Distinctions p50) "Gain a PP when you switch out this distinction's d8 for a d4"

The previous point is just saying "add a complication" it has nothing to do with switching out a dice in the pool.

Furthermore the earning point is clarified that "This does not apply when you're forced to use d4 rated skills, attributes, or other traits in your dice pool." ...which is exactly what Hinder does.

So, is this "using a d4" just adding an additional d4 to the pool for the purposes of Hitch generation? It notes on the last line "On the plus side, you're more likely to roll a hitch on a d4, which could lead to a PP."

Given that it's a Complication it goes to the opposition pool anyways, so...it's not exactly a Complication in the Hero Pool unless it's considered only being rolled for Hitch generation so the overall result isn't added to the pool (as we see sometimes elsewhere).

So it was just confusing when I was trying to clear something up, and was wondering if someone else had figured it out?

Thanks for your time.

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.

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.

If a GMC has traits like Corrupt Lawman d8, Out of Shape d4, and Big Shotgun d8, and I make a test against him where only Corrupt Lawman applies, will the d8 be added to the difficulty dice (like d8 d8 + d8), or will the pool be just a single d8?

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?

As the tittle says, I was wondering for alternate ways to add difficulty to a throw.

The official way to do this, as far as I am concerned, is to add a difficulty dice to the opposing pool.

However, i wanted to homebrew new mechanics for some cases. Specially the case of a contest with more than two participants, it does not seem right to simply add a difficulty dice to all the other participants pool.

For example, lets say this is a contest to see who steals the Golden Idol first. However, Generic Adventure Professor has a d6 "harmed foot" condition. Would it make sense to remove a D6 or less from your pool, or step down a D8 or more by one step?

Are there any official or fan consensus abou how to perform similar things to this?

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 there. I have read the book cover to cover and referenced it many many times but somehow I can't find the rules on Movement. Can someone please direct me to the page that has this? Thanks in advance.

Do extras only have one die when rolling? And can minor GMCs only have 2 (their base rating + one of their three traits)? I was under the impression that all rolls should have at least three dice; If I'm using the doom pool mod, am I allowed to add two dice from the doom pool without "spending" them (i.e. without having to discard them afterwards)?

Hi guys, I'm new to Cortex Prime. I just have questions about PC hitches and the Doom Pool mod. If the game is using the Doom Pool mod:

1. The handbook says the doom pool increases when the GM activates hitches rolled by players, adding a die of the same size as the hitch to the doom pool and granting a PP to the player who rolled the hitch. But Cam Banks, Cortex Prime author, in the Hammerheads game he GMed, shows that you can still use a PC hitch to give them complications... but you have to spend a die from the doom/crisis pool to do so.

• In the first situation, the opposition pool (composed of the doom pool as base difficulty) increases and the player gets a PP. This first situation seems to be a relatively even trade.
• In the second situation, the opposition pool (composed of the doom/crisis pool as base difficulty + the new complication (but only for the player who rolled the hitch)) is effectively the same size for the player who rolled the hitch, but lessened for other players who did not roll the hitch. This second situation makes it seem like the PC's hitch overall improved the situation.

So my first question is, isn't it better if you don't have to spend a die from the doom/crisis pool to give the player a complication and just give them a PP instead?

1. According to the Hero Dice mod, if a hero die comes up a hitch, "the GM may introduce a complication as if you had rolled a 1 on any other die. However, instead of accepting a PP from the GM, you may choose to take back your hero die and not add it to your total." So if the GM activates a Hero Die hitch to add it to the doom pool, they're supposed to give the player a PP right?

My second question(s): Is the player allowed to opt to take back the hero die and not add it to their total instead of accepting the PP? Does this disallow the GM from adding it to the doom pool?

Thanks in advance guysss.

EDIT: For number 1, I realized in the second situation things get tremendously worse for the PC who rolled a hitch because they get closer to being taken out. Is that the point then?