[Torg] YouTube Torg Video

[Chad Dickhaut]

--- On Sat, 1/3/09, Kansas Jim <ksjim at sdc.org> wrote:
> Dave wrote:
> 
> > I have to ask, because the video made me think of it,
> how badly is the Living Land hated?
> 
> I think it may be less hatred and that the Living Land is
> an easy
> target. 

I have to agree with you there.  The Living Land had so much potential, but it was grossly underdeveloped.  There was nothing built in to allow for easy differentiation of tribes (e.g. a variety of totem spirits with which to identify, writeups for major tribal leaders), so every tribe ended up being the same.  Also, after the initial trilogy of novels and the sourcebook much of savagery the Living Landers were capable of kind of got lost.  Yes, I understand they were trying to get the idea across that most of the Jakkats were duped and Kaah was the real bad guy, but what they ended up with was too much "shiny happy lizards" and not enough thrill-seeking fanatics struggling to survive.  That's my opinion, anyhow.

> I've always kind
> of wondered if
> it would have ended up more popular if it had benefited
> from more
> initial development by being like the third or fourth
> sourcebook
> instead of the underdeveloped first one.

I'd like to think so.  The Living Land was one of Torg's more unique settings, and one of my favorites (in part due to its underdog status).

Chad