As they do so, they draw a web diagram, resulting in a tangible, visual model of the characters, their traits and connections. Characters take turns, sharing their choices for traits and making connections to the world. During this phase of the game, players create their characters, either from provided archetypes (like PbtA games) or from scratch (like D&D).

Similar to many PbtA games, Cortex Prime also incorporates a powerful, generative rule called Pathways, which the handbook recommends tables use for character creation. Instead of shoe-horning a story-type into an existing ruleset, Cortex Prime provides tools to tell the desired story. This can be done through adding Relationships, Values or Bond Traits to character files that mechanically support entirely different stories. GMs can add hit points and level-based advancement or assemble a system that's more narrative-based and not even designed for combat. The modularity is so deep that players can even replicate 5e-style turn-based combat, bringing action-oriented crunch to the table.

Cortex prime game handbook