>>98062083
Never heard of it until seeing your thread so that might be a bad sign.
Universal ttrpg systems don’t seem that popular in general to me as it seems most just want to use dnd or alternatives to dnd all the time instead of universal systems.
Then GURPS seems to hog the spotlight like a meme or at least seems to be the “install gentoo” /g/ answer meme recommendation of /tg/ meme.

>>98062099
Cortex System has been the thing since early 2000s, it was used in plenty of licensed games by Margaret Weis Productions like their Firefly, Smallville and Batltestar Galactica games, as well as in Marvel Heroic Roleplaying. The universal Cortex Prime incarnation has existed since 2016 but it has been absurdly mismanaged and has changed owners multiple times.

How does Cortex Prime play?

>>98062707
It is a step-dice system where characters have traits which dictate the dice they roll, and need to overcome GMs's opposed rolls.

https://www.cortexrpg.com/compendium/explore-the-rules/what-is-cortex-prime#TheCoreofCortex

File: Nikingply 4.jpg (1.38 MB, 1920x1357)

1.38 MB JPG

>>98062083
since it seems to be about narrative play, what's the combat system like?

>>98062083
What does it do right that dnd 5e/5.5e doesn’t?
I’m looking for a lot of universal systems.

>>98062083
Too abstract for most people.

>>98069079
Very narrative. I'm not a Cortex Prime player but in case it's like the days of Marvel Heroic RPG Cortex Plus combat was usually an action/reaction mechanic. You make a dice pool based on things including:
>Solo/buddy/team
>Distinctions
Personality traits like Captain America "leads by example" and Wolverine says "I'm the best there is at what I do"
>A power
Enhanced reflexes, durable shield, animal senses, claws
>Specialty
Acrobat, combat master, crime expert
>Some asset in the environment
>Your opponent is already stressed
>You invent a complication

Roll your pool. Choose two dice, probably the highest rolls. Choose a third die which will be for stress damage, use the one with the most sides. You can't choose 1s.

Then opponent makes pool and rolls to defend.

If your total is less your action fails but nothing bad happens. Otherwise, your opponent suffers stress based on the damage dice you both chose.

Stress is physical, mental or emotional. There are six levels for each: none, d4, d6, d8, d10, d12. Some powers allow healing or assisting others to reduce stress. If your stress should be bumped past d12 you stress out and suffer a trauma. Stressed out characters can't take any actions for the rest of the scene unless an ally helps them recover. They can still react (if attacked they roll to defend). Trauma starts at d6 then goes up in the same steps as stress.

Stress will drop by one step between scenes but trauma takes longer to heal. It trauma goes past d12, your character dies.

Fights are often as fast and brutal and not much different in essence to any other rpg.

Because stress tracks are mental and emotional as well as physical, arguing with people can be an action/reaction conflict that causes stress. You can convert stress damage to other types but it is theoretically possible in this game to be nagged to death (yes irl stress leads to ill health too). Despite that, MHR is actually a fun game, really good for comic book superheroes.