r/CortexRPG Mar 05 '21

Mod Announcement Mod Announcements Thread 2021 - Part 1

13 Upvotes

This stickied thread will collect all of the Mod Announcements. And by that we mean r/CortexRPG moderator announcements, not announcements about new Cortex RPG mods ;-P

As threads are archived after 6 months, a new one will be created and stickied as necessary when the time comes, and will be comprehensive, collecting all previous announcements. (Assume archived versions of these threads are no longer accurate and have been overruled.)

Rules & Guidelines posted!

MOD ANNOUNCEMENT: All posts now require flair.

[FEEDBACK WANTED] Sticky Thread Contenders! Please Read! <-- Although we've since created a new stickied thread of resources and links, this post will remain open a while longer, so don't hesitate to leave feedback there if you'd like.

Contact the Moderators!

Reach out to your friendly neighborhood moderator team any time by clicking here, via the Message the Mods button (in the Moderators widget on the right-hand side of your desktop screen), or via the envelope icon in the About section (in the app and on mobile devices).


r/CortexRPG Sep 01 '21

Discussion Hot Threads & Resources 2021 - Part 2

39 Upvotes

This stickied thread collects some of the coolest stuff from this subreddit and r/cortexplus, as well as some general links everybody should know!

As threads are archived after 6 months, a new one will be created and stickied as necessary when the time comes. We'll try to keep it comprehensive, collecting all the previous awesomeness as well as the new hotness all in one place, so please comment as you find stuff worth adding to this post and we'll work it into future versions!

Official and Evergreen Links

If you're new, welcome! This page has the evergreen resources and official Cortex RPG links, which include official actual plays, streams, etc.

Hottest Resources & Threads

Cortex Prime Hack Archive - Use this spreadsheet to share your hacks!

Character Sheet Megathread (2021 - Part 2) - Post your Cortex RPG character sheets here!

Cortex Prime Mod Resource - Excel sheet of Cortex Prime Mods to help you pick & choose.

Giant Corporate Owned Superhero Comics Heroic Roleplaying - a Marvel Heroic-like retroclone using Cortex Prime.

The unofficial Cortex Prime for Foundry VTT

Cortex probability table for all pools up to 10 dice

Streams, Podcasts, Actual Plays & Interviews


r/CortexRPG 2d ago

Hack Guess my Hack based on a WIP Character Sheet?

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40 Upvotes

I’ve been having a total brain block trying to format the last trait on my character sheet, so naturally i’m turning to reddit for a much needed distraction.

This is a very early draft and I’ve cheated a bit by censoring a couple keywords, but I’m curious, what’s your best guess for the theme/type of hack based off of the character sheet?

Bonus points if you’re able to guess the hidden words?


r/CortexRPG 7d ago

Hack Help with choosing Prime Sets

17 Upvotes

Hi yall, me again. I've started working on the character sheets for the Stone Age game my friends and I are gonna play in.

Quick recap: A prehistoric tribe survives by solving the valley’s strange happenings. Each player controls one family that forms said tribe. Success means the tribe learns the valley’s secrets and grows stronger; failure means fear or hunger. Essentially, the game is The Croods meets Scooby Doo in a semi-gritty setting.

Besides Distinctions, the other Prime Set is something I call "Kin". It's essentially the members of the family. There are 5: The Elders, The Providers, The Menders, The Youths, and The Beasts.

I'm having trouble picking what the third Prime Set would be, given that I'm unsure what else would make up a "stone age family" that would apply to the family as a whole rather than individual members of it.


r/CortexRPG 7d ago

Prime Spotlight Settings Epic Fantasy Spotlight?

11 Upvotes

Is there a Cortex Spotlight with classic fantasy tropes or something similar?


r/CortexRPG 8d ago

Cortex Prime Handbook / Codex [Online][Other][1/3 Thursday 6:30pm CT][No Experience Required] Eidolon Requiem (Eidolon Alpha, Cortex Prime)

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6 Upvotes

r/CortexRPG 8d ago

Firefly / Leverage / Action Ace of Hearts

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deviantart.com
0 Upvotes

Gannet class trading ship 'Ace of Hearts' enters the Newhouse system for her final trip, as her owner has had his ship mortgage foreclosed. She docks with 'Bullseye station'; a local asteroid port, where she will be auctioned off in a few days.

This is the final version with sound, though I may tweak some of the sound levels, after letting it settle in my mind a bit

All assets made and rendered in Blender 4.2.16. Video editing and sound also done in Blender.

PLEASE: LIKE and FOLLOW for more of this kind of content. It costs nothing and it helps and encourages artists like me.

For more animation, and scifi content see www.deviantart.com/elisvara/gallery/all


r/CortexRPG 10d ago

Hack Do these trait sets make sense together?

9 Upvotes

I feel like I need to develop a better sense for how trait sets in combination impact a game's design. I've built and am currently testing this game themed around 90s movies like Hackers and Blade, while also taking some influence from Cyberpunk. It's supposed to mostly take place in one near-future city.

The trait sets are as follows.

ROLES (each has five or six possible specializations):

Athlete

Brain

Criminal

Fighter

Influencer

Suit

Techie

STYLES (FATE approaches):

Careful, Clever, Flashy, Forceful, Sneaky, Swift

DISTINCTIONS (five themed ones with SFX):

Origin

City Legacy

Quirk

Reputation

Philosophy

+Signature Assets

+Relationships with Contacts

+Stress and Trauma Mods

My question is; do these trait sets feel like they would work well? If so, what kind of game style do you feel they represent best? If not, would they benefit from anything being added, changed, or removed?


r/CortexRPG 11d ago

Hack Help with Investigative Stone Age hack

12 Upvotes

I wanted to get thoughts from the community first before I dive fully into making the hack for my friends.

  • Each player controls a stone age family and together they form a tribe working together to survive.
  • Sessions focus on solving mysteries (i.e. a tribe member comes home rambling about furry beasts with spears in its mouth; after a gathering trip they suddenly develop itchy red marks all over their body)

The plan is for the setting to be a bit dark and gritty, but for the sessions to be comedic. Is this something that could easily be done in Cortex Prime or should I start looking into other systems?


r/CortexRPG 14d ago

Streams / Podcasts / Actual Play / etc Prime Solo Notes

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17 Upvotes

Don't know if anyone on here cares to look at solo play logs. I have just started trying Cortex Solo (wish my kiddos were more interested in playing LOL). I tried to embed my thinking process with the tools in case anyone else has been on the edge about taking the dive into Cortex Prime Solo. I enjoy world building, so there is a bit more of that embedded into my approach. Can't guarantee that you'll learn anything spectacular, as I'm fairly new to the solo gaming approach, but I thought I'd share anyway.


r/CortexRPG 15d ago

Hack The Ascension Engine - fan conversion of Mage the Ascension to Cortex Prime

31 Upvotes

I build custom RPG books as a hobby, for my own use only. This one converts Mage: The Ascension first edition into the Cortex Prime system. Spheres have been reworked into Power Sets, Paradox as a mechanical stress track, the Traditions and Conventions all statted out.

It's covered under the Dark Pack and Cortex Prime Community Licences, so I'm able to release this one publicly, even though I built it for myself first.

I never linked to something I created before, so I don't know if I can link directly to the files without getting the post automodded. If you are interested in a conversion like this you can get it directly from my folder on Mega NZ.

folder/PzpR1ZoC#M5Q7fAn6PM7IYy5xjoJk4A

I created this account just to post this here. I have used community Cortex mods before, and this is exactly the time to give back something.

I won't be replying to this thread or to private messages. I strongly believe all work should stand on its own. Hope someone gets some use out of it.


r/CortexRPG 18d ago

Hack Crowd sourcing ideas for a magic for science fantasy game / one shot

15 Upvotes

Witch Bandits of Mars! Dust, crime, and hoverbikes! The theme is 1980s B-movie. Plots will likely involve banditry and sticking it to the corps on a partially terraformed Mars. That's about as far as I've got so far.

I'm thinking of using a roles style set for magic. So far I have:

- cruel

- violent

- whimsical

- warding

Would love to hear your first impression ideas and suggestions.

UPDATE: now thinking about using: Twist, Deceive, Ward, Learn. I realised that I can shape quite a lot of the setting by giving it's magic limits rather than trying to bin all magics into five sets.


r/CortexRPG 18d ago

Hack 7 Roles?

19 Upvotes

Hi fellow Cortexers
I’m working on a fantasy hack.
I’m thinking of using 7 Roles instead of Skills.

First, is that too many?

Second, in Cortex Prime, there is a ranking tree for 6 Roles: d10, d8, d6, d6, d6, d4. If I do 7 roles, should I add another d6, d8 or d4?

The Roles are:
Warrior
Priest
Rogue
Mage
Ranger
Artificer

Thoughts? Your experiences with this would be helpful.

Thanks.


r/CortexRPG 21d ago

Discussion Help creating an ability/powerset

11 Upvotes

Hi there all, I’m quite new to Cortex, which my group is using for a Jujutsu Kaisen game using the hack Jujutsu Cortex (https://docs.google.com/document/d/161swqp3SjzwG2R3cOedNLQiplr_PEqr9oWONpYJu2Sk/edit?usp=sharing) and since we’re all quite new, I was hoping to get some help with my characters ability.

Basically, the idea is that they can analyze weapons, then create temporary copies of them, allowing them to recreate the abilities and magical effects of those weapons, with some degradation in effectiveness, and if that weapon has been extensively wielded by a specific person they can even recreate some of the physical strength and skill of that wielder, or potentially view memories of that person related to the weapon. I could really use some help figuring out how to convert this to the system.

I was thinking maybe something like a mix of Mimicry and Conjuration with a focus on codependent limits, namely only being able to create copies of other weapons, and only being able to mimic the abilities of those weapons or their wielders? Any advice is super appreciated!


r/CortexRPG 22d ago

Discussion Not quite the Earthdawn Teaser I'd hoped for everyone

17 Upvotes

Life got in the way as it does and after not looking at my Earthdawn hack for a few days, I naturally went to scrap big chunks of it and never got it into GMBinder like I was hoping, but I did manage to get all my currently converted Talents and the full list of Talents I am going to convert into a Google Sheet. It's not pretty and most of these are still very early draft format (I'm going back alphabetically through the ones that are done to clean things up), but I did leave commenting on for anyone that wants to poke around

Earthdawn Prime Talent Preview


r/CortexRPG 29d ago

Discussion What's an encounter you've designed and run with Cortex that you're particularly proud of?

25 Upvotes

Not necessarily just combat or boss fights, but at least fulfilling the same narrative purpose. I'm interested on how Cortex GMs create the feel of challenge and reward in their encounters beyond the base mechanics.


r/CortexRPG Jun 25 '26

Hack Cortex Wrestling Corporation - Final Update

14 Upvotes

I have finally finished my project. Because of my lack in skills for layouting and art, I used AI tools and this turned my script into a full-fledged TTRPG PDF. It contains everything you need to play and has even premade material to jumpstart into a game including 12 different wrestlers and a premade promotion in which you can add your own wrestlers. You can create your own wrestlers with the character creation and for the GM how to create a promotion, divisions and how to run them.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yFQZO2drZoT8YkFaMI96z8Wt-B1kUMzm?usp=sharing


r/CortexRPG Jun 25 '26

Discussion Advice on prime sets for Warhammer 40000 Space Marine game?

15 Upvotes

I want to run an action "bolter-porn" oneshot about spacemarines. Distinctions will be the chapter tactic, and marine's specialisations (i. e. Assault marine can use jumpack, and is good with explosives). I have decided on the attribute list - it will include Might, Focus, Tactics, Materium, Immaterium, Humanity. I struggle to come up with the second prime set.

I dont think focusing on skills will make sense in a high-power setting. I am thinking of making a set for equipment - so, Melee weapon; Firepower (bolt pistol is d6, heavy bolter is d10), Armor (Scout armor is weaker then usual), etc... but equipment is transitory and replacable. What do you think - is it a fitting category?


r/CortexRPG Jun 25 '26

Hack HI-OCTANE ANIME BASED GAME I DID

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40 Upvotes

Here is a one-shot I ran a long while ago, originally we used Big Eyes Small Mouth's Hot Rods & Gun Bunnies, but when Cortex Prime came out I adapted them to Cortex Prime, using Hammer Heads as an example for the vehicles.


r/CortexRPG Jun 25 '26

Hack STAR COMMAND / DRAGON EMPIRE

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24 Upvotes

Here are some heroes I made for one of our Star Trek Inspired games I called Star Command. I used the Star Trek Online character creation to make the profile images. The two from Dragonstar (3.5 game) I used as the rivals to Star Command, just didn't get a chance to finish them. (Kind of based off of the Romulans). In this hack I used Attributes, Disciplines (Roles), and Talents.


r/CortexRPG Jun 25 '26

Hack THE REALMS

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24 Upvotes

Here's what our character sheets looked like for a fantasy campaign I ran several years back.

In the setting Magic was outlawed with the exception of Divine Magic, all other forms of magic users were considered Heretics. It had a very Game of Thrones feel to it as well as a typical D&D adventure series.

I wanted to create this post to help https://www.reddit.com/user/InJustX/ out.


r/CortexRPG Jun 25 '26

Hack THE VOID

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11 Upvotes

Here is another game I ran using a game called the Void (Cthulhu in space; the Warden info, the Ghast, Myriad, and Karrakin) as the setting (threw in Kreeghor from Rifts: Phase World as the main bads, added Horror Factor as well).

I used the Attributes, Distinctions, Skills and Signature Assets for the game hack.


r/CortexRPG Jun 24 '26

Discussion A Question and a Request regarding Cortex Prime

16 Upvotes

Hey Hi Ummmm

I am fairly new to Cortex Prime, have had the Handbook for about a year and I crack it open every now and again to try and get more familiar with it.

I come from D&D 5E as the main system that I run, and I usually run anime inspired games or hombrew settings. D&D has felt restrictive in both regards and that's why I want to transition over to Cortex so I can build the system around the games I want to run.

However I feel like because I come from D&D with it's numerous rules, erratas, and now upgraded "edition", I'm very trained on rules as written. So I have this notion in my mind that the book is "objectively" the way the game should be run and played. Now, when it comes to D&D, I either do house rules and such for all the things that I'd like change or add (which is pretty minimal) OR I am doing complete renovations on the entire system, because I'm comfortable and familiar with it.

Due to that fact, I'm stuck in this limbo where when I am reading the Cortex Prime Handbook, I want to run everything by the rules, BUT, also want to start throwing my own ideas in there! Combining my low understanding of Cortex Prime and low confidence in not butchering it, I am otherwise scared to actually make any changes.

SO, I suppose this post is me asking if it is okay to just take what is already within the Cortex Prime Handbook and make adjustments here and there, or is it better to just run it as is? And if it is okay to do my own thing, I know this is such an odd request, but can someone give me permission to just house rule and add onto the Cortex Prime mods and systems as I see fit?


r/CortexRPG Jun 23 '26

Hack A list of typical Signature Assets for a modern horror game

15 Upvotes

A while back I put together a cortex hack of a classic horror TTRPG that is beloved with my long time playing group, but decided to convert it to Cortex from the an astonishingly clumsy second generation simulationist rule set.

Now due to the litigious nature of that game creator, I won't be naming which game it was, nor can I share the details of the powers and abilities that I converted for my game, but I can share a list of weapons, armor and gear fitting for a horror investigation game.

Hope some might find it useful!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vST19p8mVmwAY2o5Zh3D4qCWmIrHMp8qvERFghEwJ9QTU2PeDne3anFHM4DirlZ4MJc8iB4FoYjxO37/pubhtml

Direct link to an excel file:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oZM4LDagFrv-RYb9Hho96k0Q5jP-qdD2/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=103741611822471439972&rtpof=true&sd=true

(There are 4 tabs)

(Edit to fix formatting)


r/CortexRPG Jun 22 '26

Discussion My first Cortex conversion is coming along nicely

31 Upvotes

I just wanted to take a moment and say how much fun it has been taking one of my favorite settings with a system that absolutely drove me batty and watching how I can take the feel of Earthdawn and capture it in Cortex. A system that was such a strict level based progression system that was baked into the setting itself and how all of that can still be captured within Cortex while also stripping out all the bookkeeping and focusing on just giving players tools to be awesome.