## What is this? A simple build out of Cortex Prime for "regular" horror games with human protagonists in unfortunate scenarios. Ideal for one shots. ## Prime Sets ### Distinctions These tell us who you are. What your career is, your background, your passions? Who are you? The more specific you are, the more mileage you might get. You should always be able to excuse using one in a roll. To add variety. It's recommended to tie them to different aspects of your character. For example your upbringing, career, hobbies, ideals, etc. Each starts at a d8. *Examples* * Paranormal Investigator trying to make the big time. * Instagram Influencer trying to increase their follower count. * Scientist out to disprove the paranormal. * Delivery driver already way in over their head. * Devoted parent that will do anything to protect their children. * Student that is perfectly content to get by with the bare minimum. * Borderline sociopath that just wants to blend in. **Hinder**: Gain a PP when you swap out a distinction's d8 for a d4. ## Attributes This is what part of yourself you rely on when trying to do something. . . with one exception. Luck is here as well. Luck is special. Luck can be added to any other roll. This can be done after rolling, and permits you to include an *additional* die in your total. (Similar to spending 2PP in a single roll!) However its rating will go down a step each time you do this. If your Luck becomes a d4, you must *always* include it in your rolls, with no additional die inclusions. By default, each attribute starts as a d8. You can raise one a step by lowering another one a step. * Strength * Agility * Intelligence * Willpower * Luck ## Skills This is the knowledge you bring to your actions. Each skill starts at a d4 rating. You have 12 points to spend on skills. Each point raises a skill one step. * Athletics * Discipline * Fight * Medicine * Observation * Occult * Science * Socialize * Stealth * Survival ## Guidelines Engage your PCs, let them share their fears and hopes, so that they can be made manifest or taken away. Bosses are scary. A major threat should be built as a Boss GMPC and include boss dice. A pool of d8s is recommended as a baseline. Bosses do not fumble easily. Ignore their first hitch each roll. ## Credits This can't exist without the folks behind Cortex Prime. I'm not providing the rules content from the book here, however you can easily purchase a copy from the [official website](https://www.cortexrpg.com). The build out here is my work, Targrus. You can find me online on the handle on a few social media platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky. Though really the only original mechanic here is how Luck is being handled. Feel free to borrow that for your own games if you like it.