New Game Release: Cortex Plus Hacker’s Guide

Cortex Plus Hacker's Guide

Today’s new release is the Cortex Plus Hacker’s Guide. Here’s some information about this project:

We asked creators, amateurs, and professionals alike to share new mechanics, settings, and entirely new games based on our popular Cortex Plus roleplaying games: LEVERAGE, SMALLVILLE, and MARVEL HEROIC ROLEPLAYING. An army of authors contributed their own ideas to the project, which we dubbed the Cortex Plus Hacker’s Guide. Emboldened by a highly successful Kickstarter project and the investment of over a thousand backers, the Guide has blossomed into a fully featured sourcebook for all things Cortex Plus!



My essay is about role-playing like you’re starring in your own television show. It had two parts. First, I wanted to have a section where I addressed thematic issues about this style of game. Second, I took the Cortex Classic character sheet and modified its contents to put more emphasis on roles and relationships. Combined, the essay will likely be more helpful for newer Cortex Plus fans who have roots in Classic than those who’ve played through this system since the very beginning.

Enjoy the book! There’s a lot of great material here!

July 30, 2013
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Edgar the Dying Tomato and Zombie Oregano

Yuna Final Fantasy X-2

In “adventures in container gardening” land, I have a container of: “I have no idea what this is, other than they’re wildflowers and they look cool.”

Wildflowers

Then, there is Edgar. My cherry tomato. Oh, how the mighty have risen and fallen.

Emo Edgar

This little sprout rose from the ashes of an entire dead pot of italian oregano. I’m worried about my brains and what’ll happen as it continues to grow.

Zombie Oregano

Marigolds are amazing natural pest repellants. Or so I hear.

Marigolds

Then there are the jalapenos. Doing well. As they do in this type of weather.

Jalapenos

I have bebeh roses, too. These were mostly dead when I got them, but they’ve been revived due to plant vitamins. They attract the bees.

Baby Roses

Spearmint, peppermint, lavender, and lemon balm are some of the other herbs I have planted. (I should learn how to dry them, eh?) The lavender, if it blooms, won’t until the fall. But, the peppermint is growing mighty nice. Still have to replant the other one.

Peppermint

    Mood: At one with the world.
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: HAH! Yeah…
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Shooooooooooooot.
    In My Ears: Residual background noise.
    Game Last Played: *coughs* Candy Crush. Still. Crap.
    Book Last Read: The Magicians Re-read
    Movie Last Viewed: Red 2
    Latest Artistic Project: *Still* *still* *still* need to take pictures… It’s on the list!
    Latest Fiction Release: “The Button” We Are Dust anthology
    Latest Game Release: Wedding Planners Classic Set
    What I’m Working On: July 2013’s Progress Report


July 27, 2013
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Fulling a Firefly Fan Promise

As the brand manager/lead writer for the Firefly RPG, there is nothing that makes me feel happier than being able to make good on a promise. We said we were going to offer the Wedding Planners Cortex Classic Set in July, ahead of the Gaming In The ‘Verse: GenCon 2013 Exclusive, and?

Today is that day.

A Letter From Margaret Weis

My fellow Browncoats:

It’s hard for me to imagine how much time has passed since my company first started in 2005. I remember standing at GenCon with stacks of freshly-printed books talking to hundreds of gamers about the movie Serenity and, of course, Firefly. It’s no secret I’m a big fan of the ‘Verse and have loved the series since it first debuted. I know many of you feel the same way, too.

Some of you may remember that the history of Margaret Weis Productions is closely tied to Firefly and other, popular science fiction shows and movies. Those games used a system we now refer to as Cortex Classic and were published over eight years ago. Since that time, we’ve revised and updated the game mechanics to a more streamlined system we now refer to as “Cortex Plus.”

That’s why I am thrilled to present the first Echoes of War adventure for the FIREFLY RPG. But, more than that, I’m excited that we’re offering my adventure in two systems for our fans: Cortex Classic and Cortex Plus.

This edition of Wedding Planners uses the Cortex Classic stats from our original game system and complements the Serenity Crew in Cortex Classic and the CORTEX CLASSIC SYSTEM ROLE PLAYING GAME included with this release. We are offering this option to fans of our original game mechanics as a way of saying “Thank You!” for being such an important part of my company. We have not forgotten about you!

The Cortex Plus version, which will employ our shiny new FIREFLY RPG game mechanics, will be released separately and will be clearly marked as such.

Regardless of what system you love, I hope you have fun with Wedding Planners and are excited as I am to play in the ‘Verse!

Margaret Weis
July 2013

The above text is republished from a letter that appears in the Wedding Planners Cortex Classic adventure. A PDF version of this letter is available here.

July 24, 2013
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This Is Not Ephemera

You're An Idiot, Starscream

This song is “Nothing to Prove” by the Doubleclicks and shows a few, familiar faces with a message about “fake geek girls.” Here’s the thing: if you want to know what Speak Out With Your Geek Out was all about, this was it.

If you watch the video, there are cultural aspects to comments made. It’s not “just” about Superman versus Batman or who likes what more. Getting negative comments isn’t about “you” persay, but how you “fit” into a stereotype that other people use to define you based on their definition of who you should be. Quite frankly, that’s total nonsense. Let your geek flag fly! After all, isn’t the entire point of geekdom to have fun doing what you love?

    Mood: BOO-YAH
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Tiny bubbles…
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: There was fresh air. I think I coughed.
    In My Ears: White noise, courtesy of my fans. Not the real ones, the electric kind.
    Game Last Played: *coughs* Candy Crush. Otherwise known as the time-sucker. Have to stop now.
    Book Last Read: Weird Words: A Lovecraftian Lexicon
    Movie Last Viewed: Arietty
    Latest Artistic Project: *Still* *still* *still* need to take pictures… It’s on the list!
    Latest Fiction Release: “The Button” We Are Dust anthology
    Latest Game Release: A fun Scion: Extras (Supplemental Yet Can Be Somewhat Useful On Occasion Scions)
    What I’m Working On: July 2013’s Progress Report


July 23, 2013
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Tomato, Tamale

hobbes avatar

Yes, this is a picture of a tomato. But not just ANY tomato. My first one! Er… Well, it’s the only one right now. I have four varieties of tomatoes growing. Truth be told, I can’t stand them fresh. Mash ’em up into salsas and sauces just fine, but eating them raw and wriggling? Not a fan. I could be convinced to eat them in a BLT, though! But yes, right now this is the lone tomato. It is solitary. It is red. It is the singular fruit of my labor.

The Lone Tomato

I also have to figure out what to do with lemon balm. My oregano died a thousand deaths, but it’s now a zombie oregano. There is a little bit that’s coming back. Both mints are doing quite well and so are, much to my surprise, my mini rosebush.

Um, don’t ask me about the carrots. That’s just embarrassing.

    Mood: It’s hot and I’m on deadline. Ergo, I’m whiny.
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Sweet, sweet legalized drug.
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: I’m ashamed to admit there was none.
    In My Ears: White noise, courtesy of my fans. Not the real ones, the electric kind.
    Game Last Played: *coughs* Candy Crush. Otherwise known as the time-sucker.
    Book Last Read: Weird Words: A Lovecraftian Lexicon
    Movie Last Viewed: Arietty
    Latest Artistic Project: *Still* *still* *still* need to take pictures… It’s on the list!
    Latest Fiction Release: “The Button” We Are Dust anthology
    Latest Game Release: A fun Scion: Extras (Supplemental Yet Can Be Somewhat Useful On Occasion Scions)
    What I’m Working On: July 2013’s Progress Report


July 18, 2013
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