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Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion => Topic started by: Ghost Whistler on October 11, 2012, 06:10:27 AM

Title: Cortex +
Post by: Ghost Whistler on October 11, 2012, 06:10:27 AM
Anyone know if there are any plans to open source this awesome system?

If not whom must I bribe?
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Ladybird on October 11, 2012, 08:14:50 AM
Quote from: Ghost Whistler;590746Anyone know if there are any plans to open source this awesome system?

If not whom must I bribe?

There were rumours of a toolkit-ised version of the core mechanics, and how to tweak them for your particular game. But it isn't really "one system" as such - the various C+ games are all quite different, beyond that one core mechanic. Not sure what the current schedule is though.

As for it becoming "open source", I don't think that is a thing that is planned. Define what you mean - do you want to see the mechanics under the OGL, for example?
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Ghost Whistler on October 11, 2012, 08:49:27 AM
Quote from: Ladybird;590761There were rumours of a toolkit-ised version of the core mechanics, and how to tweak them for your particular game. But it isn't really "one system" as such - the various C+ games are all quite different, beyond that one core mechanic. Not sure what the current schedule is though.

As for it becoming "open source", I don't think that is a thing that is planned. Define what you mean - do you want to see the mechanics under the OGL, for example?

I mean not getting sued for using the really good ideas in MHR for my own work, if e'er i finish it and try selling it.
Title: Cortex +
Post by: crkrueger on October 11, 2012, 10:40:32 AM
Ask Margaret Weiss, she'll be in one of Dan's chats next week.
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Ghost Whistler on October 11, 2012, 11:24:19 AM
Quote from: CRKrueger;590787Ask Margaret Weiss, she'll be in one of Dan's chats next week.

cool. if i can figure out mirc and it's hosted at a UK friendly time i will check it out. (I ain't getting outta bed at 3am for no broad!)
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Ladybird on October 11, 2012, 01:36:22 PM
Quote from: Ghost Whistler;590768I mean not getting sued for using the really good ideas in MHR for my own work, if e'er i finish it and try selling it.

Could be more complicated than you'd like, due to MHR being a licenced product.
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Ghost Whistler on October 11, 2012, 01:44:02 PM
Quote from: Ladybird;590840Could be more complicated than you'd like, due to MHR being a licenced product.

MHR yes, but it follows a basic system they've used for a few games now.
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Anon Adderlan on October 11, 2012, 02:53:46 PM
Quote from: Ghost Whistler;590768I mean not getting sued for using the really good ideas in MHR for my own work, if e'er i finish it and try selling it.

You can't legitimately be sued because the rules aren't patented, and MWP are not big enough assholes to attempt to anyway.
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Ghost Whistler on October 11, 2012, 03:36:33 PM
You might not be able to patent rules but without some kind of endorsement using someone else's ideas wholesale just seems like plagiarism to me. I wouldn't feel good about that.
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Scoundrel on October 13, 2012, 02:50:23 PM
I think that the very concept of Cortex+ is a little too loose and "wild west" to open source-  At it's heart Cortex+ is simply "How far can we bend the Cortex System (which has its own really good generic book, BTW) without the whole damn thing being utterly broken?"

How many Cortex+ games are out there?  We've got Leverage, MHRPG, and Smallville.  None of those even remotely look like one another at the character sheet level.  Which one of these would be the model for the open source project?   Choosing one over the other two will alienate (and confuse, and piss off) fans of the other two who have only played that version of the Cortex+ concept and have a firm idea of what "Cortex+ is".

 and let's not get the Cortex System Book (and other games that use the Cortex System, like Demon Hunters, Supernatural, Serenity, NuBSG, etc.) confused with the Cortex+, as it will create brand and game confusion similar to D&D vs. Advanced D&D-  People who have heard of neither will take a look at the shelf and go "Cortex...  and Cortex Plus...  Do I need the Cortex book to use Cortex+? Is one better than the other?  Which one do I get?"  Brand confusion is a thing.  It's the main reason why my first RPG wasn't D&D or AD&D.

Anywho...  Just some thoughts.
Title: Cortex +
Post by: TristramEvans on October 13, 2012, 04:08:10 PM
At its most basic, Cortex seems to be The SiliCORE system with different die types.
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Ghost Whistler on October 13, 2012, 04:25:45 PM
Quote from: TristramEvans;591247At its most basic, Cortex seems to be The SiliCORE system with different die types.

I once owned tribe 8 but it weirded me out and I don't remember the rules system.

I once owned Core Command too, but they fucked that right up.
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Scoundrel on October 14, 2012, 05:43:04 AM
Quote from: TristramEvans;591247At its most basic, Cortex seems to be The SiliCORE system with different die types.

I'm...  perplexed at this statement.  

Silhouette/SilCore  takes your skill number, rolls that many dice, and adds the single relevant attribute modifier to that single highest die to form a total, and then compares that total to a difficulty number.

Vanilla Cortex (and Cortex+ as portrayed in the Leverage RPG) takes two )(and only two) trait dice, rolls, adds them together to form a total, and compares that unmodified total to a difficulty number.

Cortex+ as written in MHRP rolls as many trait dice as you can justify to the gamemaster, adds two of those together to achieve an unmodified total,to beat another diceroll (the GM's Doom Pool if nothing else) and then the player picks a single die from those remaining to be the strength of the applied result.


I suppose that there are dicepools involved in examples 1 and 3, but they achieve resolution methods differently.  


I also suppose that examples 1 and 2 both compare totals to a difficulty number, but the dicerolling methods don't add up.

So, how is Cortex or Cortex+ Silcore with different dice?
Title: Cortex +
Post by: RPGPundit on October 16, 2012, 05:51:19 PM
I don't care for this system.

RPGPundit
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Ghost Whistler on October 17, 2012, 03:23:57 AM
Quote from: RPGPundit;591780I don't care for this system.

RPGPundit

that's nice, but why?
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Ladybird on October 17, 2012, 08:11:00 AM
Quote from: RPGPundit;591780I don't care for this system.

RPGPundit

It's not a billion miles away from FATE, but I could see why it wouldn't be your sort of game.
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Scoundrel on October 18, 2012, 03:25:07 AM
Quote from: Ghost Whistler;591850that's nice, but why?

I'm with Ghost Whistler, here...   Why isn't it?  Elaborate!  Please!  What about it doesn't scratch your particular itch?
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Dirk Remmecke on October 18, 2012, 06:39:52 AM
Quote from: Scoundrel;592219Why isn't it?  Elaborate!  Please!

Also, which version of Cortex?
And does it include the three versions of Proto-Cortex as well? (The three variants of Sovereign Stone (http://www.therpgsite.com/showthread.php?p=371153) - Quickstart, First Edition, and Revised.)
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Skywalker on October 18, 2012, 02:59:45 PM
Quote from: Dirk Remmecke;592240Also, which version of Cortex?

Cortex+ refers to Smallville, Leverage, Marvel Heroic and Dragon Brigade (which is upcoming IIRC)
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Dirk Remmecke on October 19, 2012, 05:33:48 AM
Quote from: Skywalker;592434Cortex+ refers to Smallville, Leverage, Marvel Heroic and Dragon Brigade (which is upcoming IIRC)

Yes, I know. My question to Pundit was if he just doesn't care for the + variant or rather the whole family of rules, and if the former, what's wrong (or just not interesting) about this particular rule set.
Title: Cortex +
Post by: RPGPundit on October 20, 2012, 12:32:02 PM
The non- "+" version is basically a mediocre game; the "+" variant is a mediocre game infused with significant elements of storygaming, making it a disaster.

RPGPundit
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Ghost Whistler on October 20, 2012, 01:21:19 PM
Quote from: RPGPundit;593345The non- "+" version is basically a mediocre game; the "+" variant is a mediocre game infused with significant elements of storygaming, making it a disaster.

RPGPundit

explain, ffs.
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Ladybird on October 20, 2012, 02:23:04 PM
Quote from: Ghost Whistler;593358explain, ffs.

Oh goody, let's have the "it's a storygame!" "it's not a storygame!" "your mom's a storygame!" argument again. We all learned so much last time.
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Ghost Whistler on October 20, 2012, 02:34:29 PM
Quote from: Ladybird;593379Oh goody, let's have the "it's a storygame!" "it's not a storygame!" "your mom's a storygame!" argument again. We all learned so much last time.
The fuck?

Pundit claims evidence for this particular system, three times he has been challenged to provide that evidence in light of what are otherwise ad hom nonense remarks.

I'm not asking for anyone to whine about storygames. I'm asking him to explain his opinion.  

For once.
Title: Cortex +
Post by: Scoundrel on November 04, 2012, 01:35:41 AM
Quote from: Ghost Whistler;593385The fuck?

Pundit claims evidence for this particular system, three times he has been challenged to provide that evidence in light of what are otherwise ad hom nonense remarks.

I'm not asking for anyone to whine about storygames. I'm asking him to explain his opinion.  

For once.

Yes...    There comes a point where trying to be cryptic just makes you look/sound like an asshole. Call it Kosh's law, if you will.

And, honestly, I really don't want Pundit to sound like an asshole.  I'd like Pundit to explain his opinions with only the depth with which he can.

*sigh*

Looking at the level of activity in this thread, should I just ask for a pony as well?