The Cortex system is an RPG system where die-size represents skill or potency. For instance, a Stealth skill of d6 would be worse than an Alertness of d12. Use this tag by itself to denote something common to other cortex games or with a specific game tag to provide the necessary context to your ...
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393 views
From Serenity through Battlestar Galactica to the Stand-Alone Rules for Cortex, what has been changed?
I get the impression that the Cortex RPG system has evolved in several directions since the release of the Serenity RPG.
Not including genre-specific changes like whatever rules for the supernatural ...
10
votes
3answers
2k views
How does the Cortex System RPG differ from more traditional RPG rulesystems like D&D and nWoD?
We're starting to get that bug to try switching up our RPGs for a bit of variety. I've heard that a popular system, known as "Cortex", is used in several settings which our group would be enthused ...
9
votes
1answer
103 views
Cortex rules: critical failures
The Cortex rules say (and I'm paraphrasing from memory) that critical failures happen when all the dice are 1's.
Is this all the dice, or just the stat and skill? If I have an asset that adds a die, ...
9
votes
2answers
197 views
Cortex rules: how to handle complications
The Cortex rules generally say that you should "subtract your complication to a roll in certain situations". What exactly does this mean?
The two ways I can interpret it is:
Step penalties ...
7
votes
3answers
177 views
Using the plot point system of Cortex in other systems
I've recently played in a Serenity Cortex game, and discovered the joy that is plot points. Now, for those who aren't familiar with the system, plot points are an expendable resource given for good ...
6
votes
1answer
114 views
Passing out from damage in Cortex
The Cortex rules (generic rules) say:
When your character's damage… is
greater than his Life Points, he risks
falling unconscious. Roll Endurance
against an Average Difficulty…. Every
turn ...
5
votes
2answers
124 views
In the Cortex system, what is a difficulty number?
I think I understand the concept of the Cortex system, adding the rolls for the skills together, and the Wikipedia page for the Cortex system says that I compare that roll to a difficulty number. In ...
4
votes
1answer
68 views
Cortex rules: formatting on action rolls
If you are writing down a roll, what is the accepted format for action rolls?
For example, if your Agility is d12+d4 and your Pistol is d12+d2, and you spend 3 plot points, it's Agility+Pistol. But ...
