The Cortex System, initially developed by Margaret Weis Productions and later evolved into Cortex Plus and Cortex Prime, is a versatile and modular tabletop role playing game (RPG) system known for its adaptability across genres and its focus on narrative-driven gameplay. With its roots in the Sovereign Stone system, Cortex has powered numerous licensed and original RPGs, offering mechanics that emphasize character development, story progression, and cinematic action. As online role playing games have grown in popularity, the Cortex System’s flexibility makes it an excellent choice for virtual tabletop platforms, where its lightweight rules and customizable mechanics can be easily adapted for digital play. This article provides a complete list of all Cortex System books, including Cortex Classic, Cortex Plus, and Cortex Prime iterations, relevant to online RPGs. The list focuses on core rulebooks, major supplements, and standalone games
Table of Contents
Cortex Classic Books
Cortex Classic, also known as the Cortex System, was the first iteration, debuting with the Serenity Role Playing Game in 2005. It uses a die step system where attributes, skills, and traits are assigned dice (d2 to d12), and players roll relevant dice to meet or exceed a target number. Plot Points allow players to influence outcomes, making it suitable for online play due to its straightforward mechanics and narrative flexibility.
- Serenity Role Playing Game (2005, Margaret Weis Productions)
- The first Cortex System game, based on Joss Whedon’s Firefly universe. It includes core rules, character creation, and setting details for the Verse. Ideal for online play due to its iconic setting and simple dice mechanics, easily tracked on virtual tabletops.
- ISBN: 978-1931567503
- Serenity: Out in the Black (2006, Margaret Weis Productions)
- A supplement for Serenity RPG, offering adventures, NPCs, and expanded setting details. Useful for online campaigns needing pre-made scenarios.
- ISBN: 978-1931567602
- Battlestar Galactica Role Playing Game (2007, Margaret Weis Productions)
- A licensed game based on the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series. It refines Cortex Classic rules with detailed combat and ship mechanics. Its structured rules suit online play, especially for groups enjoying tactical elements.
- ISBN: 978-1931567558
- Battlestar Galactica: Quickstart Guide (2007, Margaret Weis Productions)
- A free introductory PDF with simplified rules and a sample adventure. Perfect for online one-shots or introducing new players via digital platforms.
- Available as a free download.
- Supernatural Role Playing Game (2009, Margaret Weis Productions)
- Based on the Supernatural TV series, this game focuses on horror and investigation. Its lightweight rules and episodic structure make it excellent for online sessions, mimicking TV-style campaigns.
- ISBN: 978-1931567497
- Supernatural: Guide to the Hunted (2009, Margaret Weis Productions)
- A supplement with monster stats, lore, and campaign ideas. Useful for online GMs needing quick reference material for horror-themed games.
- ISBN: 978-1931567671
- Cortex System Role Playing Game (2008, Margaret Weis Productions)
- The standalone Cortex Classic core rulebook, presenting the system as a generic toolkit. It covers character creation, rules, and genre adaptations, making it highly adaptable for online homebrew campaigns.
- ISBN: 978-1931567794
- Demon Hunters Role Playing Game (2008, Margaret Weis Productions)
- A comedic horror game based on the Demon Hunters multimedia project. Its fast paced rules and humorous tone are great for lighthearted online sessions.
- ISBN: 978-1931567473
Cortex Plus Books
Cortex Plus, introduced in 2010, evolved from Cortex Classic with a roll and keep dice pool system, where players select dice from trait sets (e.g., attributes, skills, distinctions) and keep the two highest for their total. Its three flavours Action, Drama, and Heroic cater to different play styles, and its narrative driven mechanics shine in online environments where storytelling is key.
- Smallville Roleplaying Game (2010, Margaret Weis Productions)
- The first Cortex Plus game, using the Drama flavor to focus on relationships and character-driven stories in the Smallville universe. Its relationship map mechanic is ideal for online play, fostering collaborative storytelling.
- ISBN: 978-1931567855
- Leverage: The Roleplaying Game (2011, Margaret Weis Productions)
- An Action flavoured game based on the Leverage TV series, emphasizing heists and cons. Its flashback mechanics and role based gameplay make it engaging for online groups planning intricate missions.
- ISBN: 978-1931567725
- Marvel Heroic Roleplaying: Basic Game (2012, Margaret Weis Productions)
- A Heroic flavoured game set in the Marvel Universe, focusing on action and superheroics. Its large dice pools and flexible character creation are perfect for epic online campaigns.
- ISBN: 978-1936685004
- Marvel Heroic Roleplaying: Civil War (2012, Margaret Weis Productions)
- A supplement for Marvel Heroic Roleplaying, covering the Civil War storyline with events, characters, and scenarios. Great for online groups wanting structured superhero adventures.
- ISBN: 978-1936685028
- Marvel Heroic Roleplaying: Annihilation (2012, Margaret Weis Productions)
- Another supplement, focusing on cosmic Marvel events. Its large-scale conflicts suit online play for groups enjoying space opera.
- ISBN: 978-1936685066
- Cortex Plus Hacker’s Guide (2013, Margaret Weis Productions)
- A toolkit for hacking Cortex Plus, detailing Action, Drama, and Heroic flavors. Essential for online GMs creating custom systems, with modular rules easily shared digitally.
- ISBN: 978-1936685295
- Firefly Role Playing Game (2014, Margaret Weis Productions)
- A standalone game using a variant of the Action flavor, set in the Firefly universe. Its episodic structure and simple mechanics are ideal for online campaigns, especially for fans of the series.
- ISBN: 978-1936685325
- Firefly: Echoes of War (2014, Margaret Weis Productions)
- A supplement with adventures and rules expansions for Firefly RPG. Its pre made scenarios are perfect for online sessions needing quick content.
- ISBN: 978-1936685332
Cortex Prime Books
Cortex Prime, released in 2020, is the latest iteration, unifying Classic and Plus into a modular system. Designed by Cam Banks and published by Fandom Tabletop (later acquired by Dire Wolf Digital), it offers extensive customization, making it a top choice for online RPGs where GMs can tailor rules and share them via digital tools.
- Cortex Prime: Game Handbook (2020, Fandom Tabletop)
- The core Cortex Prime rulebook, providing a toolkit for building custom RPGs. Its modular mechanics and digital friendly design (including a PDF code) make it a staple for online game creation.
- ISBN: 978-1936685684
- Hammerheads (2020, Fandom Tabletop)
- A free spotlight setting included in the Cortex Prime: Game Handbook and available separately as a PDF. It features elite disaster responders, ideal for online one shots or short campaigns.
- Available as a free download.
- Eidolon Alpha (2020, Fandom Tabletop)
- A spotlight setting in the Cortex Prime: Game Handbook, focusing on heroic fantasy in a classical Greek inspired world. Its structured mechanics suit online play for fantasy enthusiasts.
- Included in the Cortex Prime: Game Handbook.
- Trace 2.0 (2020, Fandom Tabletop)
- A spotlight setting in the Cortex Prime: Game Handbook, centered on near future police investigations. Its investigative focus is great for online mystery campaigns.
- Included in the Cortex Prime: Game Handbook.
- Tales of Xadia: The Dragon Prince Roleplaying Game (2022, Fandom Tabletop)
- A licensed game based on The Dragon Prince series, using Cortex Prime. Its vibrant setting and narrative mechanics are excellent for online play, especially for fans of fantasy animation.
- ISBN: 978-1636918648
Notes on Online Play and Availability
The Cortex System’s lightweight rules and narrative focus make it particularly suited for online RPGs. Platforms like Roll20 support dice rolling macros for Cortex’s die step and dice pool mechanics, while Discord can host text-based sessions with bots for dice rolls. The inclusion of PDF codes with many Cortex books (e.g., Cortex System Role Playing Game, Cortex Prime: Game Handbook) enhances accessibility for online groups, allowing easy sharing of rules. However, some books, particularly older Cortex Classic titles, are out of print and command high prices on secondary markets (e.g., Serenity RPG copies have been listed for hundreds of dollars). Digital versions or free PDFs, like the Battlestar Galactica Quickstart Guide or Hammerheads, are valuable for online play due to their accessibility.
The list above covers all known Cortex System books published as of May 2025, based on records from publishers, retailers, and RPG databases. Some Cortex Plus games, like Marvel Heroic Roleplaying, went out of print after license expirations, but their mechanics remain influential in Cortex Prime. Cortex Prime’s modular design and digital support (e.g., via Dire Wolf Digital’s website) make it the most future proof for online RPGs, with community forums and Discord servers offering additional resources.
Conclusion
The Cortex System spans over 20 books across its Classic, Plus, and Prime iterations, offering a rich library for online role playing games. From the gritty sci-fi of Serenity to the superheroic action of Marvel Heroic Roleplaying and the customizable toolkit of Cortex Prime, these books provide diverse options for virtual campaigns. Their narrative driven mechanics, modular designs, and digital accessibility make them ideal for online platforms, catering to both new and experienced players. This list serves as a foundation for exploring the Cortex System’s offerings, with further details on each book’s mechanics, settings, and online applications to follow in subsequent discussions.
