It's a Blowout!
almost 7 years ago – Wed, Jun 28, 2017 at 10:17:47 AM

Ahoy ahoy, Cortex-Philes!

YOU DID IT!

Not only did we exceed all of my expectations but thanks to your tremendous generosity and enthusiasm over the past month, CORTEX PRIME is a reality and the Prime Spotlight team is completely funded as well!

This is a momentous milestone for me, and I have all of you to thank for it. I especially want to thank Margaret Weis herself for extending me the opportunity to make this project happen to begin with. I am honored to keep the tradition of ALL Cortex gaming alive with this new modular toolkit edition of the rules and I can't wait to show you all what comes of your sponsorship.

For now, I'm going to go celebrate this occasion and then get to the hard work of finalizing budgets, preparing contracts, and returning to the personal joy that is designing for Cortex. Over the coming weeks I'll post more news and updates, of course, and over the summer you can expect to see interviews and other articles about the Prime Spotlights and the Cortex Prime production process before we hit the gas in the fall!

THANK YOU.

Peace,
Cam

Kickstarters from Prime Allies!
almost 7 years ago – Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 12:22:37 PM

Ahoy Cortex-Philes,

As the feeling has slowly begun returning to my limbs after that astonishing campaign, I'm working on a new draft of the SRD and pulling the budget together. But I wanted to take a moment to bring your attention to some worthy Kickstarter projects you might not be aware of.

The first is Niobe: She is Life (and the sequel series, She is Death), a graphic novel series co-written by Amandla Stenberg (Rue from Hunger Games) and Seb Jones. It's a coming of age story set in an original fantasy world about a bad-ass black feminist warrior who is half-human and half-elf. A portion of the proceeds of this Kickstarter go to the Innocence Project, and it looks really freaking awesome. I get a million ideas for a Cortex Prime campaign just from looking at that gorgeous art.

The second is Cthulhu Dark, a whole new take on the Mythos in RPGs by Graham Walmsley. With a trim, unobtrusive set of rules and a huge amount of really excellent GM and player guidance, this game is perfect if you're looking to immerse yourself into that Lovecraftian-esque narrative without a specific investigative bent. Graham knows how to freak people out, so this game's intense and not for the faint of heart.

Finally I'd like to give a shout out to a Kickstarter that is already blowing through the roof, but which you might not have heard about: Torg Eternity. As you can see if you follow the link, it's already raised six figures in funding, but one of the designers (Dean Gilbert) is a Cortex alum from the days of Marvel Heroic Roleplaying and Firefly. If you like your gaming full of gonzo, multi-dimensional craziness with a medium amount of crunch, you can't go wrong with Torg.

Until next time folks, take care and love gaming!
--Cam

Last Twenty-Four Hours!
almost 7 years ago – Tue, May 30, 2017 at 04:11:05 PM

Ahoy, Cortex-Philes and Prime Backers!

I can't believe it's only been three days since I posted the update announcing the fourth stretch goal was about to clear, and here we are almost at the fifth and final goal. A lot of folks have been asking for more details about the future of the project:

• Final estimates on shipping costs? (it's still looking like $5 domestic and $20 international, collected late 2017 or early in 2018 once I send out the BackerKit surveys)
• How's the Cortex Creator Studio going to work? (same as before, only you get access to a much bigger toolkit)
• When's the final SRD going to arrive in the hands of those creators? (hopefully at the end of summer!)
• And is the game going to work with Hero Lab and Roll20? (I'm really hoping to make that happen!)

But one thing a lot of people have reached out to me asking is, can Cortex Prime really do what I say it can do? The answer is: I really think it can!

The Cortex Prime Game Handbook is going to include complete rules and dozens of optional tools to create a game at the table or online for you and your friends, generating characters you love to play, and drawing on the experience of a decade and change of Cortex system development. It's going to feature the following:

• Backwards compatibility with Classic Cortex and Cortex Plus games
• The option to switch out character traits, conflict resolution, equipment rules, scene and story narratives, genre-appropriate backgrounds, and GM tools
• Rules for making new powers, distinctions, archetypes, Pathways maps, vehicles, worlds, creatures, and advancement systems
• Lots of game master advice specifically tailored to the Cortex experience
• Three ready-to-play settings that showcase how different genres and worlds can be built using Cortex Prime, all written & designed by Cam

The System Reference has all of the game rules including in the Game Handbook but presented in a functional, straightforward reference style without a lot of additional fluff or discussion, perfect for use as your baseline toolkit for creating your own Cortex Prime products or to have at hand when you're running the game or playing your own characters. Now with a softcover print option at the Prime Softcover Plus level and above!

And with four (and, spirits willing, five) Prime Spotlight volumes of original campaign settings, toolkit worlds, and sourcebooks in the pipeline that truly display the dizzying array of creative talent in the hobby today as well as the possibilities inherent within Cortex Prime — available as softcover print books as well as PDFs — you've got hundreds of hours worth of gaming coming your way as supporters of this project!

Remember: The Game Handbook is scheduled for release as a softcover book throughout distribution channels, but a limited edition premium hardcover book is also on offer to backers beginning at the $35 Prime Hardcover pledge level. While I may in the future offer the Game Handbook for sale as a hardcover print on demand option, I'm likely to change the cover just to make it clear.

And now... back to answering emails and your questions and otherwise enjoying this Memorial Day weekend. Thank you, all of you, for coming out in support of Cortex Prime and the many creative talents getting ready to work on their Spotlight gigs. I know I can speak for all of them when I say how much we appreciate your generosity and interest!

Cheers,
Cam

Day Twenty-Eight: New Pledge Level Added
almost 7 years ago – Mon, May 29, 2017 at 12:39:46 PM

Ahoy, Cortex-Philes!

I'm taking a moment over my lunch break to post a quick update. We're closing in on unlocking Prime Spotlight number four, which is when all of your pledges to get Spotlight volumes instantly get more valuable (and everyone gets more content in their digital rewards, too). With four days left to go, I'm still optimistic that we'll reach that fifth goal at $75,000!

In answer to some feedback I've been getting from some backers, I've opened up a new $300 pledge level that is entirely about creative patronage. I really love to help people get their own stuff out there, and this is a way for a small number of you to not only get two hour-long one-on-one consultation sessions with me, but also access to the behind-the-scenes Spotlight designer creative circle that I'm setting up for the Prime Spotlight designers. There you'll get feedback not just from me but from other designers, and productive encouragement to get your project ready for prime time.

Eventually it's my goal that in 2018 as more and more of you run games at home for your friends, share ideas and settings online, and seek to publish your own work, the Spotlight community will open up and become a full-on creative forum!

Also, a side note about the $250 Prime Art Director level. This now includes the Prime Spotlight volumes that everyone who backs at the $80 level also get. I just can't go back into the pledge reward and update it, but those are part of it.

Thanks once again to all of you who have shared the links to the project, blogged about it, and encourage me through comments and messages. You are truly a wonderful chorus of support and I can't wait to share more Cortex Prime goodies with you.

Cheers,
Cam

Day Twenty-Two: U-CON in November
almost 7 years ago – Sun, May 28, 2017 at 08:50:30 PM

As we head into the final week, there's a lot of wheels now turning as a result of the success of this Kickstarter. From Prime Spotlights to quickstarts, I've got a whole lot of exciting work ahead of me as I develop Cortex Prime and write the Game Handbook.

U-CON 2017

One of the newer spinning wheels is that the good folks at U-CON in Ann Arbor have invited me to attend their convention in November as a guest of honor. Specifically, I'm going to head to the show with Cortex Prime events and seminars planned. If you're the sort who lives in the Midwest or likes to travel to conventions, know that I'm going to have at least one if not more special backer-only events at U-CON that you are cordially invited to take part in!

I won't have much more news about this until later this year, but for now here's the announcement. As backers, I'm going to keep you posted on this and any other special events. I can't wait to get Cortex Prime games spinning up and running!

More Interviews!

I've been talking to a few folks about Cortex Prime and those conversations should start showing up in social media and on blogs, but I'm thrilled to reveal that Brie Sheldon has graciously offered to turn his FIVE QUESTIONS style interview approach to the Prime Spotlight writers! That's right, every designer we've unlocked as part of the Cortex Prime stretch goal lineup gets their very own interview with Brie throughout the coming months as the gigs come together. I can't think of a better way to get these voices out there!

(And for those wondering, Brie's partner John Sheldon's going to interview him because he's a Prime Spotlight writer himself. Which reminds me, I need to have a conversation with John about a logo...)

Until our next awesome stretch goal, thanks to all of you for your ongoing support. Keep sharing those Kickstarter links! 

Cheers
Cam