[Torg] 21-Axiom Rules Changes (was: Why 0-21? Or why not?)

[Jasyn Jones]

On Feb 24, 2010, at 2:26 AM, Phil Dack wrote:

> I'll be honest, I haven't been fully following these threads. Too much information!!

And, at its core, its a repeat of an argument the List held in 2006 or 2007.

>  Jasyn, what might be helpful is if you provide your suggested alternative rules for Disconnection DNs, Divine Intervention and any other axiom-based rules that currently exist.

So far as I know, there are only 3 rules that are linked to the arithmetical values of the Axiom charts: Permanent Magic, Reco DN's, and Invocations.

Spell permanency needs to be done differently, for lots of reasons. My original solution, cribbed from Bloodshadows, was wrong and I came up with a better one.

As regards invocations, the rules for them are badly misdesigned. (A community rating for a Focus total, when nearly all the faithful after Spirit 5- the first Spirit rating invocations become possible- won't have focus?) I proposed some changes to these back in '08 (which Jim commented on and helped refine) and rethinking the Spirit chart will involve changing them for other reasons.

The reconnection DN rules are metaphysically and practically questionable. I have one solution on my site: http://web.me.com/stormknights/rulesblog/reconnection.html This was previously posted to the List and reactions were… less than enthusiastic.  Given the (still extant) metaphysical and practical problems, something needs to be done. I'm not saying my solution is the Absolute and Total Best, but it works, metaphysically and practically.

Problems with Reconnection DN's

The current reconnection rules are troublesome in a couple of ways. The formula to produce them (presented in Infiniverse Update 1) is cumbersome, the in-game theory behind the formula is a bit dodgy, and the size of the tables produced is problematic.

The formula is: For character A in cosm B, take the largest Axiom A over B. This is the Base DN. Add +1 for each additional axiom A exceeds B by. Add in an additional fudge factor, and adjust for World Laws. Though this has to be done only once, assuming it is recorded in a table, it is long and cumbersome.

More, the table itself increases by squares: each new reality adds both a column and a row of numbers. A 2 reality Torg would have a 4 entry table, a 3 reality Torg has 9 entries, a 4 reality table has 16 entries.

This was acceptable, when Torg had 7 realities and only 49 entries on the table. But we added the Land Below, and that increased to 64. After the Space Gods landed, the chart had 91 entries. Once Tharkold came around, 100. Avalon, 121. The Aztec Empire, 144. Atlantis, 169. If a gamemaster added in Pulse (196), or Gehenna (225), or Lereholm (256), then the chart just got too unwieldy to consider. And those are just the official realities. If they had their own home-brewed realities…

How many realities are in the Catalogue? 100? More? What's the virtue of a 10,000 entry chart?

According to statements by West End Games, Torg 2 would have had as many as 40 official realities, from which gamemasters may select among to design their own campaigns. This would give an official chart 1600 (sixteen hundred) entries.

Clearly, something needs to be done.

Metaphysics: If I'm an Ayslish human, using a Tech 8 mundane sword, and disconnect in the Living Land, why is my Magic axiom the base DN for my reconnection attempt? My Magic had nothing to to do with the contradiction or the reconnection, so why is my base DN an 18? A Space Gods character, using that same sword, has a base DN of 23. Same tool, same reason for disconnection but different DN's because of why? At least the Space God's DN is because of their Tech axiom, not Social or Spiritual. That makes marginally more sense.

According to the Torg Rulebook, characters disconnect from and reconnect to the Everlaw of Two, so why is an axiom that is entirely unrelated to the tool relevant at all?

Seriously, think about it. Since I disconnect from the Everlaw of 2, which is everywhere, and reconnect to the Everlaw of 2, why does which reality I am in even matter?

Proposal:

The difficulty to reconnect to the Everlaw of Two is based on how strong the Everlaw of One is in an area (because the Eo1 is what disconnected the character and is, presumably, the obstacle needed to be overcome while reconnecting). The strength of the Everlaw of One is reflected in the type of zone: Pure, Dominant, or Mixed.

Pure: 13
Dominant: 10 
Mixed: 8

This DN is modified as per the “Bonus Modifier” rule on pg. 157, the Revised & Expanded Torg Rulebook or pg. 100, Torg Rulebook . (This rule applies to reconnection already, I’m just clarifying that it still applies.)

This modifier means that if the tool was higher than your axiom, i.e. a 4-case contradiction, a penalty applies (reconnection is harder) and if it was lower, a bonus applies (making it easier).

That's it. Simple, clear, metaphysically congruent.

> You may already have done so, in which case I apologise for not being attentive :-)

It was 4 or 5 years ago. No worries. I don't even remember everything I posted 5 years ago.
--
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/