Cortex for Marvel? (or Why BASH Rocks!)

Evil-Genius · Post by **Evil-Genius** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 4:37 am

It's horses for courses really, isn't it? CORTEX does narrative well and conflict resolution well enough. Earlier versions had quite a bit of variation and randomness in the die rolls - I've not seen the latest version, so I can't comment.

Really, it depends on how much math you want in your simulation or how much you'd just like to describe your outcomes. I personally like a balance somewhere between the two poles of narrative and dice roll.

I've heard (and I don't know how true this is - if at all) that you will only be able to play the game using pre-gen Marvel characters - the game won't have a generation system. That in it's self would put me off.

MrJupiter · Post by **MrJupiter** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 11:51 am

I think I read on one of the RPG.Net forum discussions for this that the core book will allow you to build any hero but that the Event books are specifically geared for certain characters.

kroh · Post by **kroh** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 5:10 pm

http://vigilancepress.podbean.com/2011/ ... -and-more/

enjoy

MrJupiter · Post by **MrJupiter** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:12 am

Thanks for the link kroh.

I quickly skimmed through the podcast but never directly heard confirmation in the interview about the issue of the Marvel Cortex game and original hero /villain creation rules so I emailed MWP and got a reply directly from Cam Banks confirming that the rules will indeed be open to non-Marvel supers. Yay!

kroh · Post by **kroh** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:15 am

I'm going to stick with Bash for supers for the moment. If I wanted a fun system that does supers well in that style I would stay with Savage Worlds

MrJupiter · Post by **MrJupiter** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:20 am

kroh wrote:I'm going to stick with Bash for supers for the moment. If I wanted a fun system that does supers well in that style I would stay with Savage Worlds

Me too, but I'm going to buy the basic rules for curiosity, for cool reading material and for the sake of Marvel nostalgia.

urbwar · Post by **urbwar** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 4:08 pm

I played a demo today at a FLGS in Manhattan. The GM's running the game had run the game only once before, and there were four groups playing at one time.

While there were some kinks trying to figure out some things characters could do (nothing major, just wording of abilities on character sheets), I actually found the game a lot of fun to play, and would definitely play it again (as well as likely run it some time).

I don't settle down with just one system, because different games offer different ways of fun for me. So it just joins a short list of superhero games I like to play/run, but as always, it's not my favorite, as none really are.

Baelor · Post by **Baelor** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 5:42 pm

The part that bothers me is the mere barest of nods toward creating your own character using this system. Personally, I don't want to play as Wolverine or Thor or Spidey, as awesome as those characters are. I WOULD enjoy the ability to make my owncharacter and play in the same world as those Icons though, even interact with them or have rivalries, etc.

But the book has almost no support for that sort of play, and what there is is actually just geared toward people who want to build a character that is not represented, or a different version of one that is.

I haven't had a chance to go over the game yet. but a buddy is running a session for our group on the 17th, so I will get a chance to play it then. I am still very happy with BASH, though there may be some loot-able ideas from Marvel.

kroh · Post by **kroh** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 6:02 pm

The system for creating characters of your own is based on the Modeling of characters from the old FASERIP system from the 80's. It is not really so much bare bones as it is there is not a lot to it. create the character you want in your head and assign traits and other fiddly bits (solo, buddy, team).

I played in an online playtest

That being said...although I had a great time at the playtest as well as would probably use this for a pick up game, I think I would stick with BASH for my Superhero role playing game needs. As has been said in an interview, this is not a great Superhero RPG, it is an RPG that is great at recreating the flavor of Marvel Comics.

Good time to be a fan of supers...
Regards,
Walt

doktorelektron · Post by **doktorelektron** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 3:07 am

Marvel Heroic Roleplaying is sure getting some big love over on rpg.net. It's clearly their current darling.

Personally I think that it's kind of a shame that such a sheep-like let's-all-follow-the-latest-fad mentality seems so prevalent in that particular corner of the gaming hobby.

I guess at least it means that the supers genre in general is 'in' this month.

capmarvel · Post by **capmarvel** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 9:13 am

Here's a thorough review of the game (spoiler: he hates it):

http://diehardgamefan.com/2012/02/28/ta ... asic-game/

urbwar · Post by **urbwar** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:13 pm

capmarvel wrote:Here's a thorough review of the game (spoiler: he hates it):

http://diehardgamefan.com/2012/02/28/ta ... asic-game/

That review is pretty biased though, and not entirely accurate.

A better one is Tommy Brownell's, which does a better job of pointing out both good and bad: http://mostunreadblogever.blogspot.com/ ... eroic.html

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:40 pm

doktorelektron wrote:Marvel Heroic Roleplaying is sure getting some big love over on rpg.net. It's clearly their current darling.

Personally I think that it's kind of a shame that such a sheep-like let's-all-follow-the-latest-fad mentality seems so prevalent in that particular corner of the gaming hobby.

I guess at least it means that the supers genre in general is 'in' this month.

I've long ago realized that RPG.net is basically 4chan for gamers, and treat it with corresponding low expectations.

That said, having had the chance to read through the book and play in a demo session, it's a decent RPG for doing superhero action. Some elements may not sit well with certain gamer types, but the core system is extensible enough (a key feature of Cortex+) to provide a rewarding experience.

doktorelektron · Post by **doktorelektron** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 2:01 pm

Nestor wrote:That said, having had the chance to read through the book and play in a demo session, it's a decent RPG for doing superhero action. Some elements may not sit well with certain gamer types, but the core system is extensible enough (a key feature of Cortex+) to provide a rewarding experience.

I feel that I've read enough about MHR to make an informed decision to pass on it. I prefer more of a toolbox approach and that's clearly not what this is offering. Which is fine - it isn't selling itself as a generic supers game, it's plug and play Marvel.

capmarvel · Post by **capmarvel** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 5:00 pm

I've looked through it...and any game that spends just 4 vague pages explaining how to make an original character is a game that doesn't want me to play an original character.