Monday Musings🤔
Thoughts on Cortex Prime wrangling, Wizard Time! Returning to Jorune and budgets.
Cortex Prime Trials
I’ve been putting Cortex Prime through some trials as we construct Lifted: Indomitable. It is all too easy to just grab the Marvel Heroic RPG Traits sets and call it good --but I believe we can do better and experience better with some leg work. Cortex Prime asks: what do you want to play? and showcases different traits sets for developing the play experience you’re looking for.
Some different things I’ve tried and you should too:
Don’t use Plot points.
Play with starved Plot points. Only Distinctions can generate them.
Two Core trait sets, and No effect dice let the margin of success step up effect size.
Trait sets matter. Which ones you pick, and how many you pick. It matters to the play space.
Even character growth options will impact how your play experience unfolds. There’s the simplicity and broad use of session records vs. the directness of milestones and XP.
At the moment, I’m working out how compact I can get with trait sets and still have fun for open-table games and for longer-term play. I’m looking for sure at a bespoke Cortex West Marches experience, something sci-fi-ish. And a simple Cortex dice web app.
Experimenting with magic
I’ve been playing around with some SDL2 and game programming. A thing I’ve nicknamed Wizard Time! I’ve been mostly playing with how to render images to the screen and move stuff around interactivity. I’m using DragonRuby at the moment. It’s the easiest tool for me to be productive with; I use Ruby/Rails for software development. I plan to try out a few other game libraries and frameworks (but not engines!).
What would a CRPG based on PBTA look like?
What’s a CRPG where you play a wizard, and it leans in hard on Vancian-like magic mechanics?
What if it’s also a bit of an auto-battler?
Is it fun?
These are the things I’m playing around with in code to answer. I’ve been super inspired by the Dread Empire series by Glen Cook, which I’m currently re-reading. And I am fascinated with Vancian magic; I think there is much unexplored game there.
Zero-budget YNAB app
I have been working on an app for me for automating my zero-budget spreadsheet. I’ve been managing my software company and personal money with the zero budget concept for a decade now. I once used a desktop app called YNAB until they moved to online only. I relied on seeing a quarter (or 3 months) at a time for budgeting. The online version only lets you see one, and I don’t like it. I reverted to a spreadsheet. I’m a dumbass because I could have built myself a solution years ago!! But it’s good to get my hands back into some code for myself.
Champions Next?
I’ve run a TON of Champions Now supers, and I want to see it play in a fantasy setting now. The game uses comic book concepts and soft modeling; Conan was a comic book; ergo -we can run fantasy games in Champions Now!! The Baalgor Wastelands, a Palladium setting book, have ALWAYS captivated me -several adventures to be had in that setting. And I wouldn’t be opposed to playing it in Palladium, either!
Return to Jorune
I’ve got lots of words written about The Skyrealms of Jorune. I’ll begin the editing process and release these shortly for subscribers. What Journe was, is. How’d I approach it today, and with what system/s. And why you might return to it also!
Loot Links
Some Twilight: 2000 wisdom I posted on Twitter.
My friend Judd is on a Traveller LBB bender! Check out his Traveller support links!
I’ve run a fair share of Sorcerer RPG, and Sorcerer Unbound from Bloodthorn Press was very useful to read!
Dude, Cortex this, Cortex that. Why don't you MARRY it?
Vance magic has fallen out of favor, but I would love to see new iterations of it.
YNAB moved me from "Well, I have all this money in my checking and savings account, so I'm good!" to "Now I know how far this money will get me into the future." It changed my brain about money and has helped me stay afloat in freelancing the past three years.
I bought a used copy of Jorune SPECIFICALLY because you talked it up. And the mythos and the game mechanic (why you're adventuring) are amazingly awesome. Normally, I poop on RPGs that clearly ALSO want to tell a STORY (the RPG world is littered with failed novelists), but its color is absolutely unique. If you ever figure out how you want to run the mechanics, I am so excited to see what it looks like!