Cortex Game Interest Check

[WritesNaughtyStories]

From a technical standpoint, while I love the idea of pathways, relationship maps and interactive history tools, how are we bringing that to bear in a play by post environment?

There's been at least one Microscope game started here, but the nightmare of compiling each turn and formatting it kind of killed it. And relationship maps fit text formatting far worse.

This could be handled easily with a VTT, but that forces a synchronous game

[SataiRolePlayingGuy]

I’ve been skimming this a little, especially after seeing the 2 game thing and everyone possibly being included.  Have liked what I saw so far.  Though should take some more time to completely read it, after work tonight, maybe a little during work, if it is light enough.

Though yeah, interested to see the difference of exactly how this is played out compared to the sort of stuff I usually do.

[IsabellaRose]

1 hour ago, WritesNaughtyStories said:

From a technical standpoint, while I love the idea of pathways, relationship maps and interactive history tools, how are we bringing that to bear in a play by post environment?

There's been at least one Microscope game started here, but the nightmare of compiling each turn and formatting it kind of killed it. And relationship maps fit text formatting far worse.

This could be handled easily with a VTT, but that forces a synchronous game

For the map itself, I'll be using Miro. It functions as a collaborative whiteboard and I find the tools to be quite easy to use.

I setup a basic template for new Cortex games and used it to create the first EcchiCortex game on Miro. The link to the board for this game is below. You don't have to know/learn how to use it. I can add to it for everyone, or you can mess around with it and do it yourself. Just don't mess with my template 

https://miro.com/welcomeonboard/Nk01YWtwTXhmdnFodEk1Rlo4YnVlVjJhdlNzdmhTSUxHbzlvL0xHRTFOVGIvTHBkdzdVRjZZaksxWWhKa2JIYTlDQk1lNnh0NUhkZXZYbzNndWk0SVRNYlQ1bE55Z0NwdW1pSnhFSDNFQ1lRaFhJSlZJd2duRkgwOUUwaElEK01zVXVvMm53MW9OWFg5bkJoVXZxdFhRPT0hdjE=?share_link_id=818859235310

1 hour ago, SataiRolePlayingGuy said:

I’ve been skimming this a little, especially after seeing the 2 game thing and everyone possibly being included.  Have liked what I saw so far.  Though should take some more time to completely read it, after work tonight, maybe a little during work, if it is light enough.

Though yeah, interested to see the difference of exactly how this is played out compared to the sort of stuff I usually do.

Once I verify with my players from another site that they're cool with me using some of their writing, I can share a couple example scenes from another game along with what was rolled, how and why it was rolled, and commentary on the technical aspects behind the scene. I find that concrete examples make it all click a lot easier than any abstracted rules I can provide.

[WritesNaughtyStories]

Mira is apparently displeased that I use Tor, I think we've some to an understanding, but if they'd try to snoop less, Tor wouldn't be a problem for them.

Edited 14 hours ago by WritesNaughtyStories

[MagnificentBastard]

2 hours ago, IsabellaRose said:

For the map itself, I'll be using Miro. It functions as a collaborative whiteboard and I find the tools to be quite easy to use.

I setup a basic template for new Cortex games and used it to create the first EcchiCortex game on Miro. The link to the board for this game is below. You don't have to know/learn how to use it. I can add to it for everyone, or you can mess around with it and do it yourself. Just don't mess with my template 

https://miro.com/welcomeonboard/Nk01YWtwTXhmdnFodEk1Rlo4YnVlVjJhdlNzdmhTSUxHbzlvL0xHRTFOVGIvTHBkdzdVRjZZaksxWWhKa2JIYTlDQk1lNnh0NUhkZXZYbzNndWk0SVRNYlQ1bE55Z0NwdW1pSnhFSDNFQ1lRaFhJSlZJd2duRkgwOUUwaElEK01zVXVvMm53MW9OWFg5bkJoVXZxdFhRPT0hdjE=?share_link_id=818859235310

Once I verify with my players from another site that they're cool with me using some of their writing, I can share a couple example scenes from another game along with what was rolled, how and why it was rolled, and commentary on the technical aspects behind the scene. I find that concrete examples make it all click a lot easier than any abstracted rules I can provide.

Am I understandimg correctly will Miro handle the rolling too? If not how are we handling it?

[AsBloodTurnsEverCold]

Miro looks like a pretty neat way to keep track of things or build it out. I've never used it before but it looks like a good way to reference things. 

I am curious how the rolling will be handled myself but I imagine the players will need to make sure to keep track of any changes as a group effort. Cortex, at least in the ones I played, did rely on constant communication which I'm good with. Kept notes and all that.
 

[WritesNaughtyStories]

We use a trust model. Since Miro doesn't offer a die roller that I can see, I suspect @IsabellaRose will have us roll it how we want. Use random.org, a die roller from another site or your phone - hell, get your dice bag out and rattle the bones on the kitchen table. Cortex is fiction forward, it's about creating drama, so the "price of failure" is someone else decides what cool shit happens. But cool shit always happens. Sometimes it's just as much fun to be Tom as Jerry...

 

Edited 11 hours ago by WritesNaughtyStories
Clarity

[Warning]

So how many max people can join? I still have that spiritist character I wanted to use somewhere and it seems like the old board game attempt I tried to do didn't go further than just a few posts. As I mentioned in another club I think, I'd still be interested to see how and where this is going for the sake of the experience, I suppose? Plus Spiritist. She's anxiously waiting for a spot.

Edited 12 hours ago by Warning

[SataiRolePlayingGuy]

Based on the 3-5 Isabella originally suggested, I think we are getting around the max for 2 games, but maybe a little more.  See what she thinks.  Will have to see too if everyone is still committed by the time all the information is given and set up is done, then figure out how to split people up (I have several people I would like to be with, but that is something for Isabella and the group to figure out).

[WritesNaughtyStories]

I'm able to bow out and spectate if need be or, if @IsabellaRose wants, I can be GM's assistant to keep it to the 8-10 player count.

[IsabellaRose]

3 hours ago, MagnificentBastard said:

Am I understandimg correctly will Miro handle the rolling too? If not how are we handling it?

I haven't figure out how to do rolling yet. I'll find a site that will work for Cortex dice, or maybe I'll build my own 

2 hours ago, WritesNaughtyStories said:

We use a trust model. Since Miro doesn't offer a die roller that I can see, I suspect @IsabellaRose will have us roll it how we want. Use random.org, a die roller from another site or your phone - hell, get your dice bag out and rattle the bones on the kitchen table. Cortex is fiction forward, it's about creating drama, so the "price of failure" is someone else decides what cool shit happens. But cool shit always happens. Sometimes it's just as much fun to be Tom as Jerry...

 

Or we could do that, which I might opt for because the only price of failure is giving yourself more ability to advance in the future.

[AsBloodTurnsEverCold]

https://www.donbisdorf.com/cortex/players/ListenYokelBreath/
Found this on a basic search but don't know how specific you might need it but it can set up a room and we can see other rolls. 

[IsabellaRose]

2 hours ago, Warning said:

So how many max people can join? I still have that spiritist character I wanted to use somewhere and it seems like the old board game attempt I tried to do didn't go further than just a few posts. As I mentioned in another club I think, I'd still be interested to see how and where this is going for the sake of the experience, I suppose? Plus Spiritist. She's anxiously waiting for a spot.

I would caution using pre-existing characters. While we go through Pathways, other players have a bit of leeway over connecting your character to locations, items, NPCs, etc or connecting them to you. So too detailed of an existing character might be problematic, but just general concepts might work, as long as you don't mind adapting it to the world/game we create.

Oh, and I have no idea what the max is. I'm going to give it a few more days to make sure anyone interested has a chance, then we'll see what shakes out.

[SataiRolePlayingGuy]

10 minutes ago, IsabellaRose said:

I would caution using pre-existing characters. While we go through Pathways, other players have a bit of leeway over connecting your character to locations, items, NPCs, etc or connecting them to you. So too detailed of an existing character might be problematic, but just general concepts might work, as long as you don't mind adapting it to the world/game we create.

Oh, and I have no idea what the max is. I'm going to give it a few more days to make sure anyone interested has a chance, then we'll see what shakes out.

That is one of the more interesting points, I still have to read more on.  Keep me from thinking too much about a character ahead of time.  Figure out if there is anything that I should consider before that whole process begins, but keep it to the little bit that might be encouraged to pre-decide.

[IsabellaRose]

By all means, come up with a concept that fits the original short description. Just keep it vague and... concept-y. You could end up connected to a weird organization, or your father could be the big bad guy, or it might work out that another PC fits as your sibling... The best thing to do for this is to embrace the #1 improv rule: "Yes, and..." meaning when someone says, "what if your character is my characters' brother?", instead of saying, "nah," try saying, "Yes, and... our father is the maniac turning people into zombies!" or something like that. "Yes, and..." is super powerful for improv, makes everyone's contributions integral parts of the whole, and lets you keep building atop each other instead of shooting each other down.

Obviously, if someone tries to impose an element that's just way outside of what you imagined for your character, then nix it. But I find that it's a lot more fun and forces more creativity to "yes, and..." most ideas.

[SataiRolePlayingGuy]

I might do a degree of that.  But it will also at least somewhat depend on who I’m playing with and what they do (especially whether it is a man or woman.  I’m open to playing both, but it could be influenced by who I am with and their characters).

[inkylore]

i'd like to pull myself out of the game, i already started a diffrent game with some diffrent people and i don't want to enivtable overwhelm myself by taking on more games then i can handle long term.

[IsabellaRose]

14 minutes ago, inkylore said:

i'd like to pull myself out of the game, i already started a diffrent game with some diffrent people and i don't want to enivtable overwhelm myself by taking on more games then i can handle long term.

Thanks for being letting me know. Enjoy the other game!

[Warning]

6 hours ago, IsabellaRose said:

I would caution using pre-existing characters. While we go through Pathways, other players have a bit of leeway over connecting your character to locations, items, NPCs, etc or connecting them to you. So too detailed of an existing character might be problematic, but just general concepts might work, as long as you don't mind adapting it to the world/game we create.

Oh, and I have no idea what the max is. I'm going to give it a few more days to make sure anyone interested has a chance, then we'll see what shakes out.

Just so we are clear, you can check my spiritist in my albums. She is a sort of tabletop "class" character with a name so she doesn't have any real details to her except, well, the class she has and what specialty she can use. She is basically like choosing a DND class and making a character out of it. I made a character out of her. THAT IS, as long as it fits the fantasy setting. If the setting is something else, I'll switch. I wasn't exactly thinking about the setting when I made that comment, just a wish to do something with her. I didn't exactly take a look or made myself aware of what setting you're going for.

Edit: After reading the main post, yeah, I think she might not fit that setting. I don't think I have a single character that does either. The mix between the themes shown might not fit any possible character I might make.  Although, the mix of wild west/steampunk/weird science would basically be Wild Arms for me. Cowboys and ancient machines, etc. Reading the rest of the post doesn't do better to tell me what kind of character should exist in such world except for a possible Bioshock themed character. But yeah, never really delved in that kind of thing before. It's my bad for not reading well.

Edited 3 hours ago by Warning

[IsabellaRose]

1 hour ago, Warning said:

The mix between the themes shown might not fit any possible character I might make.  Although, the mix of wild west/steampunk/weird science would basically be Wild Arms for me. Cowboys and ancient machines, etc. Reading the rest of the post doesn't do better to tell me what kind of character should exist in such world except for a possible Bioshock themed character. But yeah, never really delved in that kind of thing before. It's my bad for not reading well.

I can provide a sort of tropey character list for the genres. Keep in mind, this list is not exhaustive. A mashup of two or more is always fun, too. Also keep in mind this isn't a traditional d20 tracking hit points fighting things trying to survive kind of game. A schoolmarm is just as valid as a Sky Pirate, and will have just as much mechanical impact on the story.

Steampunk Character Tropes

• the Mad Scientist/Inventor, often eccentric and responsible for technological breakthroughs
• the Gentleman/Lady Adventurer, bored with society and eager to explore
• the Sky Pirate, a roguish individual who travels the skies
• the Automaton, a steam-powered mechanical being that can question human nature
• the Dandy/Femme Fatale, charming individuals who use their wit and looks to achieve goals
• the Engineer or "Wrench Wench", a capable mechanic or engineer.
• the Explorer, driven by a desire to discover new lands and experiences, they embody the spirit of exploration
• the Gadeteer Genius, they specialize in creating a vast array of intricate and often anachronistic gadgets
• the Gentleman Thief, a sophisticated criminal, often from the upper class, who uses his cunning and refined manners to commit daring heists
• the Spirited Young Lady, an independent and strong-willed female character who defies societal norms and often takes on roles or adventures not typical for women of the era
• the Gear-Ranger, a rough gunman equipped with steam-powered technology and bulletproof armor, representing a blend of frontier and mechanical elements
• the Street Preacher, a character who spreads a message, often related to the discovery of new technology or a unique interpretation of faith in the new mechanical world

Western/Wild West Character Tropes

• the Lone Gunfighter/Drifter, a wandering hero, often a gunslinger or reluctant lawman, who lives by a personal code
• the Lawman, a character who upholds justice, either as a corrupt official or a righteous figure 
• the Cowboy, a central figure defined by rugged individualism and self-reliance on the vast frontier 
• the Prospector/Forty-Niner, a classic "old coot" searching for gold, often portrayed as a miner 
• the Hanging Judge, an imposing and authoritative figure who presides over frontier justice
• the Bounty Hunter, a mercenary who hunts outlaws for a reward 
• the Snake Oil Salesman, a charlatan or peddler of fake remedies
• the Hooker with a Heart of Gold, a saloon prostitute who reveals an inner goodness
• the Schoolmarm, a gentle, virtuous teacher often present in frontier towns
• the Preacher Man, a religious figure who brings spiritual guidance to the lawless West
• the Trapper/Mountain Man, a skilled outdoorsman and solitary figure of the untamed wilderness 
• the Chinese Laborer/Launderer, represents the diverse immigrant communities that helped build the West
• the Noble Savage, a stereotypical image of a wise and dignified Native American
• the Savage Indian, an archetype of the barbaric, uncivilized Native American
• the Magical Native American, a mystical Native American character who serves as a guide or imparts wisdom.
• the Outlaw, maybe a cattle rustler, train robber, or bandito, the outlaw lives by taking from others
• the Arms Dealer, a wealthy man who sells guns to whoever can afford it
• the Cattle Baron or Railroad Baron, a wealthy figure who has made money by buying up all the land and now owns all grazing land, or by being a owner/president or majority stockholder in a large successful railroad
• the Professional Gambler, who makes their money playing cards or games of chance, often seen as a cheat
• the Army Scout / Cavalry Officer / Remnant Soldier, often a scout for hire, or an active duty officer in the military. Remnant soldiers are former confederate soldiers trying to survive on the frontier  

 

[Warning]

So a Wild Arms type character would work. Minus the magic I suppose, assuming these stories are based on realistic rules. I have a few engineers as well, for some reason. One of the rare times I may have to pick a human if I decided to roleplay, at least as far as I understood this. But yeah, according to what I've seen of some games and movies, I can tell on that side what you're really going for with this.

[IsabellaRose]

2 minutes ago, Warning said:

So a Wild Arms type character would work. Minus the magic I suppose, assuming these stories are based on realistic rules. I have a few engineers as well, for some reason. One of the rare times I may have to pick a human if I decided to roleplay, at least as far as I understood this. But yeah, according to what I've seen of some games and movies, I can tell on that side what you're really going for with this.

We play in whatever world we decide when we start setting up the game. There may or may not be magic. I'd lean away from typical gamified fantasy magic, but really it's up to everyone playing to decide together.

[Warning]

I see. So it's left to be seen still what the setting will actually be. I will be watching for the time being. I still like the idea of a Wild Arms theme (I mean, cow girls with fancy gun skills). I didn't have many but I could probably find something fun with this. But for now, yeah. I will be checking to see what is really decided. A lot of this is pretty new to me and the kind of character I might be allowed to use might differ. :)

Edited 1 hour ago by Warning

[AsBloodTurnsEverCold]

Magic is actually pretty common in any sort of "Pulp" genre like Steampunk and westerns just more lowkey. Witches with mysterious works, magical societies, mystic power sources, the obvious inhumans and the like. Could fit in easy but plans and group decisions. 

I'm so excited for the possibility of this that I'm just de-facto building up my image choices for any sort of character that might fit in. 

[MagnificentBastard]

45 minutes ago, IsabellaRose said:

I can provide a sort of tropey character list for the genres. Keep in mind, this list is not exhaustive. A mashup of two or more is always fun, too. Also keep in mind this isn't a traditional d20 tracking hit points fighting things trying to survive kind of game. A schoolmarm is just as valid as a Sky Pirate, and will have just as much mechanical impact on the story.

Steampunk Character Tropes

• the Mad Scientist/Inventor, often eccentric and responsible for technological breakthroughs
• the Gentleman/Lady Adventurer, bored with society and eager to explore
• the Sky Pirate, a roguish individual who travels the skies
• the Automaton, a steam-powered mechanical being that can question human nature
• the Dandy/Femme Fatale, charming individuals who use their wit and looks to achieve goals
• the Engineer or "Wrench Wench", a capable mechanic or engineer.
• the Explorer, driven by a desire to discover new lands and experiences, they embody the spirit of exploration
• the Gadeteer Genius, they specialize in creating a vast array of intricate and often anachronistic gadgets
• the Gentleman Thief, a sophisticated criminal, often from the upper class, who uses his cunning and refined manners to commit daring heists
• the Spirited Young Lady, an independent and strong-willed female character who defies societal norms and often takes on roles or adventures not typical for women of the era
• the Gear-Ranger, a rough gunman equipped with steam-powered technology and bulletproof armor, representing a blend of frontier and mechanical elements
• the Street Preacher, a character who spreads a message, often related to the discovery of new technology or a unique interpretation of faith in the new mechanical world

Western/Wild West Character Tropes

• the Lone Gunfighter/Drifter, a wandering hero, often a gunslinger or reluctant lawman, who lives by a personal code
• the Lawman, a character who upholds justice, either as a corrupt official or a righteous figure 
• the Cowboy, a central figure defined by rugged individualism and self-reliance on the vast frontier 
• the Prospector/Forty-Niner, a classic "old coot" searching for gold, often portrayed as a miner 
• the Hanging Judge, an imposing and authoritative figure who presides over frontier justice
• the Bounty Hunter, a mercenary who hunts outlaws for a reward 
• the Snake Oil Salesman, a charlatan or peddler of fake remedies
• the Hooker with a Heart of Gold, a saloon prostitute who reveals an inner goodness
• the Schoolmarm, a gentle, virtuous teacher often present in frontier towns
• the Preacher Man, a religious figure who brings spiritual guidance to the lawless West
• the Trapper/Mountain Man, a skilled outdoorsman and solitary figure of the untamed wilderness 
• the Chinese Laborer/Launderer, represents the diverse immigrant communities that helped build the West
• the Noble Savage, a stereotypical image of a wise and dignified Native American
• the Savage Indian, an archetype of the barbaric, uncivilized Native American
• the Magical Native American, a mystical Native American character who serves as a guide or imparts wisdom.
• the Outlaw, maybe a cattle rustler, train robber, or bandito, the outlaw lives by taking from others
• the Arms Dealer, a wealthy man who sells guns to whoever can afford it
• the Cattle Baron or Railroad Baron, a wealthy figure who has made money by buying up all the land and now owns all grazing land, or by being a owner/president or majority stockholder in a large successful railroad
• the Professional Gambler, who makes their money playing cards or games of chance, often seen as a cheat
• the Army Scout / Cavalry Officer / Remnant Soldier, often a scout for hire, or an active duty officer in the military. Remnant soldiers are former confederate soldiers trying to survive on the frontier  

 

This is a good list.