Cortex Primer

[@TheJoukai]

There seems to be a few things wrong in this video: 1. In a combat situation like in the example given, the action based resolution makes more sense unless this is depicting something like a narrative duel where each roll in the contest is a direct reply and has high-stakes (however loses is taken out). Where the opponent is simply defending or "reacting", the back and forth struggle makes less sense. You initiate, they react, then you move on to the next character in the combat. 2. I'm a bit new to the rules, but stepping up a complication or stress doesn't require a dice of the same size or higher, it only requires an effect dice of the same size or lower. So you can advance a complication of d10 with a d4 effect dice just as well. If the dice is greater than their current complication or stress, the new dice replaced the old (from d8 to d12, for example). 3. With that Hitch, the GM could have created a d6 complication for the player; not only making their stress d10, but also giving them a d6 complication like "Freezing", but he would get a Plot Point for the Hitch being activated as well. I think this is pretty important to mention. 3. The paladin character would not have gotten a plot point for rolling and losing a contest. The only person that can get a plot point from giving in is the person who initiated it. Because the back and forth contest doesn't work very well for combat unless it's a narrative duel (stated in point 1.), say it's a debate instead. The wizard makes his point, the paladin rolls to disagree, and the paladin wins. The Wizard can either back down and take a plot point and the paladin's effect die as a new consequence or roll against the paladin's new result. If they continued to fight against the paladin's new result and lost, they would not get an plot point. 4. Your rules for combat are more-so the rules for "Contests". Tests are against the environment, Contests are against characters, and they can be anything from a debate, to a card game, a race, etc. This is an okay video, but as I've been reading through the rules myself, this video seems to gloss over some important details (like hitches being able to inflict consequences and grant plot points, or the fact that Stress tracks are not a core mod, or that Cortex Prime is even a modular system with tons of movable parts and rule sets), and then it seems to get things wrong as well (like stepping up complication and stress dice and getting a plot point for losing a contest with a roll).

[@toddweaver1390]

Thank you so much for this! Especially #2. I spent the last 30 minutes trying to comb through the book to find examples where I was pretty sure the video explained it incorrectly. It doesn't make sense that a character would be harder to hit to the more damage they take like in the video. Any effect die less than or equal to the current stress will step up the current stress by one. Higher effect die than the current stress will replace the current stress.

[@Dragonleagion224]

I think the narrative driven element of this is awesome, it feels like Genysis or FFG’s Star Wars rpg. But I feel like I personally would need a lot of practice with this system. I don’t think it’s bad, watching this video again, everything makes sense. But it’s for sure a very abstract system. That being said, I’m very interested to see it in play.

[@MephiticMiasma]

from what I've seen, it's less a game system and more a system to create game systems. Not that that's bad, I actually find it to be a cool concept. A TTRPG IDE!

[@tadhgtwo]

Sounds like a really interesting system. Also love the disembodied voice of Jason.

[@erosempai]

Really looking forward to see it in action, after years of hearing you guys I've realized I stayed because of your world, the cast and the story not the system, hope everything runs as good as it sounds, keep the good work!

[@alanthomasgramont]

I think as long as you take your characters through a session-0 mock set of encounters to learn this, it can be fun. The trick is getting good enough so that the entire game isn't talking about the rules. I'd be willing to try this.

[@DandRpodcast]

It's a really fun system. We ended up switching back to D&D just because 90% of our audience knows it and is more comfortable.

[@DryRoastedLemon]

@@DandRpodcast That’s a shame though! As someone who’s learning Cortex Prime now I’d love to know more about how you designed your game. The link to the character sheet doesn’t seem to work anymore.

[@MirkoFroehlich]

Great video to explain the core Cortex Prime mechanic! Just two comments: 1) While it looks like your particular game doesn't use Distinctions, most Cortex Prime games will have that as a third prime set, and characters would almost always be rolling at least 3 dice. Seeing the defending character only roll 2 dice in your example doesn't feel typically. 2) You mentioned that the defending character received a plot point after they took stress. My understanding is that they would only receive a plot point if they give in after the attacker rolls. But if they attempt to beat their result and lose, I don't think they receive a plot point.

[@mistersolace265]

I have started GMing this system. It is hands down my favorite for the narrative focus with high action game I run.

[@timmickle7685]

Cortex sounds awesome!

[@Ares_0926]

I really think I'd like to play this at a love table setting with a GM who knew it well enough to teach

[@geoffreyperrin4347]

i'm curious. Mostly heard of it because Dragon Prince is using the system, so researching what the system is

[@digitalspecter]

Discord sounds haunt me everywhere.. now they're even bleeding into the videos!

[@A.Stromouse]

Link to custom character sheet not work :(

[@keithmathews4605]

The link to the character sheet is not working... is there a chance someone can provide a working link?

[@DandRpodcast]

Sorry about that! I fixed the link. :) drive.google.com/file/d/191GaraUHGKjNnYR3pcT0sVsjOCZLmsIH/view

[@alysluna]

Let’s do this!

[@TheInfamousRPGGroup-on-Rumble]

Can someone explain the "stress and trauma" mentioned?

[@DandRpodcast]

Sure! Basically, stress and trauma act as the "health" of a character. As a fight wears on and you take damage, your stress die value goes up. If it gets beyond a d12, you fall unconscious and the die now moves into "trauma". Trauma is a lot harder to move back down from and takes a bit to recover from. If you get all the way to the end of the trauma range, your character dies.

[@goodbuddy7607]

The video is great. The system, not so much.

[@DandRpodcast]

We ended up switching back. :)

[@necrophage12]

The link to the discord does not work, it says it is an invalid invite

[@DandRpodcast]

That is totally my fault. Sorry about that. discord.gg/Ynba274gWn

[@TheTYMONGER]

custom sheet licks to nothing

[@georgemouzakitis1876]

Fun rules for a boardgame not for an RPG.

[@pendragonpoe]

Is this a new game system they made?

[@DandRpodcast]

This is actually from Cam Banks. It's a system that acts as a bunch of legos. :)

[@pendragonpoe]

@@DandRpodcast is this where your taking D&R? Seems like an interesting place to take it since you all started with 4th Ed. (Yeah, I remember those days. I remember way back when there was only one group.)

[@DandRpodcast]

@@pendragonpoe Yeah, we tested this a ton and it works really well.