Marvel Heroic Roleplay. (less review, more rant)

Some time ago I posted my excitement about this game coming out. And how I really liked the progression of the Cortex system.

Then the game came out. And I really didn't like the feel of it. With Marvel cortex took another leap towards story gaming. Something I really have mixed feelings about in a superhero game. While the system seemed fast and fun I really had trouble applying that style of game to supers.

I for one don't believe in telling others how to have fun. And see no use in writing anything that would resemble a negative review. So I just backed off and ignored it despite my disappointment over a product I was really hoping to love. Although I see a lot of people really enjoying it. This little rant here is more of an explanation and to see if I can work through the issues I have with the game. Since my own feelings towards the game are simply and opinion and not something broken about the game its self.

I saw a while back that a few people were working on hacks for the system. Other settings and other games to play with this iteration of Cortex+. And they look great. I helped me pin point why the system seems so wonky to me for supers. Its the scale of the game. While next to a human I could see an Elf having d8 reflexes. Since they are greater than that of a human. But trying to draw a distinction of The hulks strength with a d12 or something just doesn't scale well to me.

In a setting with human as the average character who might have a characteristic of a d6, a d8 is an improvement. And a d10 is even more improved. But when you deal with character with strength like the hulk or other super human traits I just feel the system scales very poorly to represent this.

And yes I do understand its a storytelling game and not written to scale in the same way other games do as far as attributes do. But I guess its the comic nerd in me that just doesn't care for it.

I really do find the system to be fun though. And a great storytelling system. I think I may even work on my own hack of the system. And maybe try running a game with just street level heroes. See if I can get over this attitude towards the system. Otherwise it looks like hacks will be my main source of Cortex+ gaming.

I will do my best to remember to post more about this as I go. See if the system for a supers game grows on me or not. Call it an experiment.