[Torg] Inspiration in the Possibility Wars (Core Earth World Laws 10 of 11)

[Jasyn Jones]

On Feb 23, 2010, at 11:46 PM, winstoninabox wrote:

(I wrote:)

>>>> Last, this World Law aids Storm Knights in appropriating and using the High Lords’ tools against them. Their innate understanding of other realities allows Storm Knights to select one skill normally not native to their reality, and learn and use it as if it were native. The use of this skill isn’t a contradiction for the Storm Knight anywhere in Core Earth or in the reality it is native to. In other cosms, it is considered a 1-case contradiction (as the character supports it, but the land doesn’t).
> 

(Jim wrote:)

>>> I like the idea but coming at it from a player's perspective I can see a complaint - so the CE magic user gets to play with Ayslish conjuration magic without contradiction and the CE fringe scientist gets to play with Weird Science without contradiction but the CE gun bunny gets nothing because Fire Combat is a CE skill so all those shiny NT and CP firearms remain contradictions for him.
>> 
>>> Similarly, I can see the CE magic user bitching that all the weird science the CE fringe scientist does isn't a contradiction because there's only one Weird Science skill but he still has to face contradictions with 75% of his magical abilities (ie, his other three magic skills aren't receiving the same benefit.)

(I wrote:)

>> I see what you're saying. What I want to implement is the notion that p-rateds from Earth can learn one foreign SFX system and use it without contradiction. Decking, Weird Science, Ayslish Magic, Aylish Honor/Corruption, Nile Mathematics, Nile Engineering, Keta Kalles, Akashan Psionics, Tech 26 guns, whatever. Not every system, but the bulk of ones available.

>  I think recently someone suggested another way to give CEs more affinity with other cosms was to give a reconnection bonus.

Chad did, in the original "genre and reality" thread.

> But I think you dismissed it. Maybe the reason was 'not enough color'?

Well, compared to being able to learn and use Cyberdecking or Weird Science or the Occult, it is less colorful. But, there is a bonus to reconnection in the WL: the +1 extra reality add CE Storm Knights get.

> A completely new rule involving cross-cosm skill learning may introduce far-reaching problems

Well, the change means:

Before: CE character using Weird Science is a 4-case contradiction everywhere but Nile and Earth, where it's a 1-case.
After: CE character using Weird Science is a 1-case contradiction everywhere but Nile and Earth, where it's a 0-case.

That's not a lot of difference. Enough for the character to benefit, not so much as to unbalance the game (disconnection isn't a balancing mechanism anyway.)

It's also a cool bit of color: "Hey, I can use and build Gadgets? Cool!"

YMMV

> (or god forbid new metaphysical arguments ;))


I have the incredible good fortune to be writing realities in the wake of Orrorsh, the Ravagons, and the Space Gods. Next to the metaphysical migraines those caused, mine seem tame.

World Laws give reality bubbles? See ravagons.

World Law "Powers"? Orrorsh did it first.

"Mixed realms" without storms? Space Gods and reality trees.

I've tried not to do these things in a lazy way, tried to give good, solid reasons. Nothing's perfect, but I've invested a lot of effort to make sure things fit and make sense.
--
Jasyn Jones
jasynj (at) gmail (dot) com

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

Check out my Torg webpage, Storm Knights:
web.me.com/stormknights/