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Read through: Cortex Role Playing Game System
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One of the reasons I've put off reviewing Cortex (and the products that use the system, such as the Serenity and Supernatural RPGs) for so long is because it's incredibly similar to Savage Worlds. It's not a matter of game designers ripping each other off, or even being influenced by one another; it's simply a case of parallel development, where people came up with very similar ideas at the same time, and executed them slightly differently. Because I'm a Savage Worlds fan, and have played in and run many Savage Worlds games, I was worried that I would be biased against Cortex because there's no possible way for me to review the system without comparing it. A smaller worry was that i might actually like Cortex better, which would make me feel like a traitor to my friends in the Savage community.
Fortunately, while comparisons are inevitable, cortex has enough going for it to stand out on its own and provide me plenty to comment on. this review is based on a read-through of the PDF version, which was provided to me by Cam Banks of Margaret Weis Productions specifically for review purposes. It's a fairly small system, 165 pages in PDF, with nice layout and minimal art.
Cortex has three character power levels, Novice, Veteran, and Elite. This reflects the number of points you get to build a character with, so depending upon the setting or campaign you don't have to be a starting character. There are separate pools of points to spend on attributes, skills, and traits. you spend points to buy polyhedral die types to assign to those abilities. Dice cost the expected amount of points; a d4 costs 4 points, a d10 costs 10 points, a d12+2 costs 14 points.
There are six attributes: agility, strength, vitality, alertness, intelligence, and willpower. A d6 is considered competent in each of these, and more is always better.
So far, we're pretty similar to Savage Worlds in theory if not execution. The major differences are the character levels, which are less granular, the point-buy system, and the fact that Cortex has the option to have skills at d2.
There are derived attributes: life points, initiative, endurance, andresistance. Yup, Cortex uses a hit point system. I really prefer the Savage Worlds method of damage saves, for the same reason I prefer the Mutants & Masterminds/True20 damage saves over D20 hit points, but as hit point systems go the Cortex version works. At least, it feels like it works on a read through. Actual mileage may vary upon actual play.
Task difficulty is starts at 3 for something easy, and by increments of 4 (7, 11, 15, etc). You roll an attribute die and a skill die and add the results together, and hope to beat the target number.
There are two kinds of skills, general and specialty. General skills are broad, but not deep; they're cheap, but the most you can get is a d6. Specialty skills are deep but narrow, and start at a d8. Specialty skills aren't expensive -- 2 points for a d8 -- but they're unitaskers. The example given is Guns is a General skill, Pistols is a specialty skill. You have to have the General skill before you can buy the specialty skill. It's a little more crunchy than Savage Worlds.
Traits are assets and complications. My mind goes immediately to edges and hindrances in Savage Worlds, and it's not far off. Of course, to be fair, those concepts have been used in other systems. the first time I encountered advantages and disadvantages was in the HERO system back in the early 1980s, so it's pretty standard for generic, universal systems. Assets and edges both seem to owe a lot to D20 Feats as well. Unlike Savage edges and hindrances, traits have die types assigned to them. Sometimes that's just a function of determining what the trait costs. Some have different functions depending upon how high you spend, equivalant to improved edges in Savage Worlds. Sometimes it indicates a die you roll.
Plot points are a standard poker chip/dramatic editing mechanic that's become popular in the past decade. They have a broader use than bennies, reducing damage, story editing, things you need edges for in Savage Worlds.
Characters are rewarded with Advancement Points, the standard point-buy experience mechanic that allows players to spend points to add and increase abilities.
Honestly, if I'd found Cortex before Savage Worlds I might like it better. it's a little more crunchy and detailed, so it's better suited to certain types of settings, campaigns, and styles of play than Savage Worlds. Without playing it, which will happen very soon, I may like them about equally. Different tools for different jobs. If you think Savage Worlds is too 'lite" and you want some more crunchy fiddly bits, give Cortex a try. If you've been weighing Savage Worlds but prefer things crunchier and like hit points, go with Cortex. If you've tried Savage Worlds and found it to be too "pulpy", try Cortex.
With luck I am going to be playing in and running a Serenity RPG game (which uses Cortex) in the near future and can provide some actual play feedback. The fact that I'm not converting it over to Savage Worlds should speak to my respect for Cortex.
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