[Torg] Reality Storms

[Travis James Hall]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: torg-bounces at justintimeadventures.com 
> [mailto:torg-bounces at justintimeadventures.com] On Behalf Of Steve Crow
> Sent: Sunday, 15 March 2009 9:09 AM
> To: torgmail
> Subject: RE: [Torg] Reality Storms
> 
> From the R&E, pg. 162:
> 
> "The reality storm seals off the combatants from all other 
> beings, objects, or ENERGY; the Everlaw of One does this to 
> minimize the number of variables that can affect the contest. 
> NOTHING affects the contestants other than themselves and 
> their own resolve and believe in the superiority of their own 
> reality, until the storm is over." (my emphasis)
> 
> However, the rule that allows that once a Maelstrom begins, 
> players can "grab" possibilities from the environment (or the 
> storm created within the environment, which seems to be the 
> same thing), seems like a contradiction to the text above.

I think you're reading too much into that. I believe it is simply meant to
convey that the combatants are on their own in this fight. They still get
the benefit of their own actions, and of anything that is part of them or
carried with them. (However, note that they can't invoke most items and
abilities. Since all you can do is attack and defend using reality, you
can't invoke a miracle, cast a spell, or use your gun to shoot your
opponent.)

> So in a Maelstrom, the reality storm and the Everlaw of One 
> stops everything that can affect the contest (and thousands 
> of things that can't)... except the one type of energy that 
> is most likely to change the outcome of the reality storm and 
> make it as variable as possible. ;)

Without Possibility Energy, there is no contest. Of course that's not
removed.

> That's what seems kind of odds. I agree with the text, but 
> the Maelstrom rule seems to contradict it.

The paragraph goes on to provide hard-and-fast game mechanical meaning to
the rule.

> (As an aside, if a Ayslish Elf takes bonus to Spirit as part 
> of an attribute package, do they gain the extra Spirit during 
> a reality storm? What about someone with Reality at +3 due to 
> the Law of Prodigy?)

I would say yes. These things are both part of the characters. Shifting your
emphasis, "Nothing affects the contestants OTHER THAN THEMSELVES[...]" And
that's in line with the rest of the paragraph.

Travis Hall