[Torg] Hi all

[Jasyn Jones]

On Nov 5, 2007, at 8:07 AM, Phil Dack wrote:

> --- Benjamin Grant <benn at 4efix.com> wrote:

>> The fact of the matter is, that TORG is (IMO) the
>> premier RPG system to run any cinematic game in at all!
>
> I used to agree with this, but from extensive playing with my
> group I changed my mind.

Ditto. Torg has a great core, but a lot of cruft* (unnecessary and  
confusing crunch). Crunch isn't in and of itself bad, but cruft always  
is.

> I also ultimately found that while the level of detail involved
> in the Values & Measures was mathematically beautiful, it just
> wasn't needed for my style of cinematic game.

I think that a solution to this is: Use the V&M chart where absolutely  
necessary, and nowhere else.

> If I was to play Torg again, I think I'd tweak a rules-lite
> version that eliminates a lot of the detail but retains some
> card play (which I think is one of the really innovative and
> cinematic mechanics).

I'm working on a simpler system for Torg, one that eliminates the need  
for the many disparate "Result" Charts. So, instead of separate charts  
for Combat Interactions, General Result, Charm and Persuasion, Speed  
Pushes, Power Pushes, Damage, etc., there's just one system that gets  
translated into results.

It seems to work really well, but requires a couple of fundamental  
changes to mechanics (how damage works, for example). I'd've posted  
bits of it before now, but I've been way too sick recently.

Having a streamlined mechanic clarifies a lot of the options, and  
removes lots of cruft .

I guess I could post some of it, to see what people think.

> Its just
> that my tastes have changed from crunchy to rules-lite in recent
> years,

So has, apparently, the tastes of the general RPG market.

*Wikipedia: In hacker jargon, cruft describes areas of something which  
are badly designed, poorly implemented, or redundant.
---
Jasyn Jones
jasynj (at) gmail (dot) com

Check out Storm Knights, my Torg website:
http://darleyconsulting.com/games/stormknights/

"To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
Ulysses, Alfred Lord Tennyson