Cortex Plus, or the Cortex Plus System, is a game engine and modular role-playing game by Margaret Weis Productions that was developed from that company's earlier Cortex System. It is the second version of the Cortex game engine.
Publications using Cortex Plus[]
Cortex Plus was the game engine used for four published games and one stand-alone quickstart, each of which used different versions of the modular rules as appropriate to their genres and settings. The system's design principles were published in a rulebook called the Cortex Plus Hacker's Guide, a book of advice in how to create new games using Cortex Plus.[1]
- Smallville Roleplaying Game (2010)[2]
- High School Yearbook (2011)
- The Watchtower Report (2011)
- Leverage: The Roleplaying Game (2011)[3]
- Dragon Brigade Roleplaying Game (2011) - A 45-page quickstart instead of a full rulebook.
- Marvel Heroic Roleplaying (2012)[4]
- Marvel Heroic Roleplaying Civil War Event Book (2012) - Available in two versions, the Premium version includes the rules of the Marvel Heroic Roleplaying Basic Game, and the Essentials edition excludes it.
- Marvel Heroic Roleplaying Annihilation Event Book - Released only as pdf
- Cortex Plus Hacker's Guide (2013)
- Firefly Role-Playing Game (2014)[5]
- Echoes of War: Thrillin' Heroics (2014)
- Bucking the Tiger (2014)
- Smuggler's Guide to the Rim (2015)
- Ghosts in the Black (2015)
System[]
Characters in Cortex Plus have statistics (called traits) measured by the size of the associated polyhedral dice for d4 to d12. A trait associated with a "larger" die (i.e. one with more sides) is better, and d6 is considered the default. These traits are organised into trait sets, which are groups of traits that cover an important feature of the genre or setting of the game (e.g. a drama game includes a trait set for each character's relationships, whereas an action game includes a trait set for attributes). The only constant trait set in every version of the game is distinctions, which in most versions (other than Smallville) are traits that can be either positive (letting players roll a d8) or negative (a d4) depending on the situation.
When a character wants to take action, their player rolls a dice pool made of one die/trait from each of the character's trait sets, then adds together the two highest-rolling dice to get the result.
If a die rolls a natural 1, it doesn't count towards the result and causes some form of negative consequence which, depending on the game, either creates a complication for the characters to overcome or adds to the escalation pool (called the Doom Pool or Trouble Pool) representing the GM's resources within the scene. Adding a d4 to your dice pool is considered a penalty because it isn't likely to roll one of your best two die results and there's a high chance of rolling a 1.
Cortex Plus also uses plot points, the normal uses of which are to establish something as notable (turning it into an asset), power a stunt or ability, to add a die to your roll, or to keep an additional die in the result after you have rolled.
Action[]
Cortex Plus Action is used in both Leverage: The Roleplaying Game and the Firefly Role-Playing Game, and is the most traditional of the three. The relevant trait sets for Action games are attributes (Leverage uses the six from the Cortex System, Firefly uses Physical/Mental/Social), and either skills (Firefly uses a skill list of 22) or the similar roles (Leverage uses Grifter, Hacker, Hitter, Mastermind, and Thief which are based on the TV show). Also in the dice pool can be a distinction, an asset, and a complication affecting the opposition.
The Leverage RPG, as a heist game, allows characters to spend a plot point to establish flashback scenes to explain what is really going on and why things are not as bad as they appear.
Drama[]
Cortex Plus Drama is used in the Smallville Roleplaying Game, which was the first Cortex Plus game. It has the most complicated character generation: the players start by drawing a relationship map that step-by-step ties the player characters to each other and the setting. Instead of attributes and skills, the important trait sets are relationships with other characters and values (Duty, Glory, Justice, Love, Power, Truth in Smallville). Each relationship and values has a statement attached and you can use the dice when acting in line with the statement. A character can also challenge a statement and possibly reject it, allowing them to use it three times in the dice pool on that roll - but using a smaller die for the rest of the session every time they want to invoke that value or relationship.
When a character loses a contest and doesn't give in Smallville they take stress (Insecure, Afraid, Angry, Exhausted, or Injured) which can be used against them - or they can use at the cost of increasing the amount of stress they've taken, and being taken out if they are pushed beyond d12 stress.
Heroic[]
Cortex Plus Heroic was written for Marvel Heroic Roleplaying and has the largest dice pools. In addition to distinctions, assets, complications, and stress (Physical, Mental, and Emotional in Marvel Heroic), Cortex Plus Heroic characters have an affiliation (Solo, Buddy, Team), at least one power set and possibly more, and some specialities (which represent a mix of skills, resources, and contacts). The power sets are further detailed with SFX and limits so they more closely represent the vision of the character, and character creation is largely freeform. Unlike other Cortex Plus games, the default is to keep three dice with the third die representing the effect size and not being added to the total, only the size of this die mattering. This third die is known as the effect die. Marvel Heroic Roleplaying commonly uses large dice pools with seven separate categories (and potentially more than one power set). The dice in Marvel Heroic are:
Reception[]
Reception to Cortex Plus games has been good. Leverage: The Roleplaying Game was nominated for the 2011 Origins Award for best Role Playing Game,[3] and Marvel Heroic Roleplaying won the 2013 Award and the Award for best supplement, as well as the 2012 ENnie Award for Best Rules and runner up for Best Game.[4][6]
A common theme in reviews is that there are no procedural elements, and you are instead rolling based on what you consider relevant to the situation[7] and the way that 1s add narrative complications to the results that would not normally be expected in other role-playing games.[8] Another theme picked up on in the system is the way that it allows balance between characters of different power levels while having enough mechanical crunch to distinguish them.[9]
References[]
- ↑ Cam Banks et al. (2013). Cortex Plus Hacker's Guide. Margaret Weis Productions. ISBN 978-1-936685-11-0.
- ↑ Smallville RPG on RPG Geek
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Leverage RPG on RPG Geek
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Marvel Heroic Roleplaying on RPG Geek
- ↑ Firefly RPG on RPG Geek
- ↑ 2012 ENnie Award winners
- ↑ Scott Wachter. "RPGamer > The Saving Throw > Review". rpgamer.com.
- ↑ Roll Perception Plus Awareness - SFSignal review of Marvel Heroic Roleplaying
- ↑ Reshape Wolverine and Spider-man's world with the new Marvel RPG - io9
External links[]
- Cortex Plus at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.