[Q&A] Darrell Hayhurst (Torg Eternity)

[19:25] <+TorgDarrell> Hi everyone. I’m Darrell Hayhurst, one of the designers for Torg Eternity.

[19:26] <+TorgDarrell> For the few who don’t know, Torg Eternity is the new update to the classic 90’s game of the Possibility Wars, where High Lords have invaded our reality and are carving it up and transforming it into theirs piece by piece. 🙂

[19:26] <+MonkofLords> Huzzah!

[19:26] <+MonkofLords> <- Is backer

[19:26] <+JohnK> You’re lucky, Will.  All of my TORG stuff burned in a house fire back in 1997. 😦

[19:26] <+TorgDarrell> Hopefully that’s enough intro, and we can get down to questions or talking about Torg! 😀 (done)

[19:27] <~Dan> Oh, I didn’t know you were already starting!

[19:27] <~Dan> ************

[19:27] <~Dan> There we go. Just flagging the start. 🙂

[19:27] <~Dan> The floor is open to questions!

[19:27] <+JohnK> Hey, TorgDarrell, just want to say “Thank you!” for reenvisioning and reinvigorating the game. 🙂

[19:27] <~Dan> And please mind calls for question pauses. I expect that we’ll have an active bunch tonight!

[19:27] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, MarkHope!)

[19:28] <~Dan> So let’s see, where to begin…

[19:28] <+TorgDarrell> I got confused by GodNet. Darned thing. Our pleasure! Really Markus Plotz and Shane Hensley are the two guys who moved mountains to make this happen. 🙂

[19:28] <+JohnK> I’d like to start with a simple question:  for the Ulisses Spiele folks, can you tell us what some of the central differences are between old TORG and the new TORG: ETERNITY?  Please? 🙂

[19:28] <~Dan> What can you tell us about the game’s core mechanic and how it has or hasn’t changed?

[19:30] <+TorgDarrell> Those two are kinda the same question, so I’ll start in on that. The same: we still use the exploding d20, we still use the drama deck and interactions.

[19:30] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Nsolo!)

[19:31] <+TorgDarrell> Different: The bonus die. Its an exploding d6 that adds to damage. So instead of tracking how much you hit by, if you got it by 5+ you roll a bonus die of damage, if 10+ you roll two. That seems like it’d be an extra step, but it actually takes some load off, solves some issues, and opens up some super cool tricks.

[19:31] <+JohnC> Are there plans for published novels,comics, and other items to contribute to the lore like the original Torg had?

[19:32] <+TorgDarrell> Different: the cosm cards, pretty much our favorite new thing. They’re like a destiny card that is attached to the cosm, so it reinforces the world laws rather than being general.

[19:32] <+TorgDarrell> (done)

[19:33] <+JohnK> Thanks, TorgDarrell.  Much appreciated. 🙂

[19:33] <+Will> Still have the log table?

[19:33] <+TorgBacker> You and your co-developers have indicated that future books (cosm books and adventures) will be kickstarted in “waves.” Can you elaborate? For example, do mean like a future Kickstarter for Torg will be for (hypothetically) 4 to 8 Cosm books?

[19:33] <+TorgDarrell> JohnC, plans is a strong word. I’m very focused on the game. We intend to have fiction with each release, and the archetype characters are designed to lend themselves to different kinds of stories.

[19:33] <+MarkHope> The bonus die sounds like it will be fun in play. How much will it break the game if you don’t use it and just use the original Torg method of carrying the action bonus over? Asking for a friend.

[19:34] <+JohnC> Thanks

[19:34] <+MarkHope> Also, yes – waves! Are you able to spill more details on them yet?

[19:35] <+TorgDarrell> Will, if you mean the Value Chart, yes it’s still there. If not, we tried to simplify things as long as it still felt like Torg when we were done.

[19:35] <~Dan> I really appreciate the way you’ve dealt with the infamous Glass Ninja, btw. 🙂

[19:36] <+JohnK> I’m not a newcomer to Torg by any means, but there must be a few of them out here tonight, so…  what about this game will attract new gamers to TORG: ETERNITY?  Thanks.

[19:36] <~Dan> (Quick aside: I played Torg Eternity at GenCon last year, and it is seriously slick.)

[19:36] <+Will> I do mean the value chart, cool

[19:36] <+JohnK> Dan, now I’m jealous! 🙂

[19:36] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Guest20! You can set your name with the /nick command; e.g., /nick Dan 🙂 )

[19:36] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Rod!)

[19:37] <+TorgDarrell> Waves: this part of the plan is liquid, and is based on how fast we can produce books. A wave will have at least one sourcebook (about 144 pages) and one large adventure (128 pages), plus lots of extras and goals. More if we can handle it. I’d estimate 4-5 months between two waves, since we don’t want to exhaust our team or your wallets.

[19:37] <+JohnC> Being stuck in the living Land waiting for my mobile to go out 🦏🕷️

[19:37] <+TorgDarrell> All of that is subject to change and hard cold reality.  😀

[19:37] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, TSE!)

[19:39] <+TorgDarrell> Mark, it’ll cause some weirdness not using the bonus die, because some of the abilities add a bonus die of damage, and if you went with fixed values you’d be losing out on some of the potential for great success. Not catastrophic, but you’d definitely feel it.

[19:39] <~Dan> TorgDarrell: The original sourcebooks had a notorious tendency to invalidate the core rules (I’m looking at you, Orrorsh). Have you planned in advance to avoid that situation on this go-round?

[19:40] <+TorgBacker> Well, the waves should be less of an cost outlay than the core rules (maybe?). Which is not a bad thing.

[19:40] <+JohnC> For those of us that can’t make Gen Con will the adventures you are doing there be made available later?

[19:40] <+JohnK> Dan, did TorgDarrell see my question above about newcomers to the game and what will attract them to it?

[19:40] <~Dan> Not sure. Did you, TorgDarrell?

[19:40] <+TorgDarrell> I did, there’s a string of em now, trying to hit them one at a time.  😀

[19:40] <~Dan> And let’s have a question pause regardless to give TorgDarrell a breather for a bit. 🙂

[19:41] <~Dan> (Please hold questions until we get a (done) from TorgDarrell indicating that he’s caught up. 🙂 )

[19:42] <+TorgDarrell> Re: attract new players: The big hook is the Possibility Wars and the chance to play in a setting where the rules change to enforce the type of reality you’re in. The other thing imo is there’s a ton of people who bought Torg or heard of Torg, but not as many who got to really PLAY Torg. We’re hoping to get those people to see what the fuss is about.  😀

[19:42] <+MarkHope> Darrell, thanks 🙂

[19:43] <+JohnK> Thanks, Darrell. 🙂  Hopefully some of the newcomers will ask some questions now. 🙂

[19:43] <+Alukar42> I’m new and i want to know what the fuss is about.  Lol

[19:44] <+TorgDarrell> Sourcebooks invalidating Core: We planned very meticulously on this front. Sourcebooks have new options, but not new rules. We won’t add skills. We won’t add entire subsystems (unless they’re HIGHLY modular and don’t affect anything in Core). Core was developed for all the cosms, and we took the most needed stuff for it.

[19:44] <~Dan> Alukar42: The fuss is that Torg is one of the coolest RPGs EVAR!! 😉

[19:44] <+Will> So no ‘woops, I designed a spell that’s 100x as powerful as everything teehee’?

[19:45] <+TorgDarrell> Future waves being less expensive: Yes, the books are smaller than the 280 page core book, plus people won’t need the Drama deck all over again.

[19:46] <+TorgDarrell> Re: GenCon adventures, eventually everything will be available on the site or in books, but there’s some extra impact to getting to play in GenCon. Example, this year’s mission lets the Storm Knights choose what to go after, ripping a stela, solving a mystery, or protecting a hardpoint. What the majority chooses will affect the next sourcebook. 😀

[19:46] <~Dan> (wb, Nsolo)

[19:47] <+JohnK> That’s cool, TorgDarrell, and makes me wish I’d gotten in to one of the GenCon adventures. *Le sigh*

[19:47] <+TorgDarrell> Will: not designing a spell that’s 100x too powerful: no promises! But we definitely have both eyes on game balance. 😀  (done)

[19:47] <+Will> How are the Axioms and their effects different?

[19:47] <~Dan> (Questions may resume!)

[19:47] <+TorgBacker> Thanks, I wasn’t trying to say anything negative about the cost, but manageable updates will be welcome.

[19:48] <+JohnK> Umm, TorgDarrell, that raises a question:  How are you providing balance in the game? 🙂

[19:48] <+TorgDarrell> Effects are very similar, some tweaks in the chart here and there, and the scale goes 0-30 now instead of 0-32.

[19:48] <+MarkHope> Will there be a spell design system? Or a system for casting spells on the fly? That doesn’t, you know, make your brain come out of your ears.

[19:49] <+JohnC> Nice,wish I could have made Gen Con but major medical stuff this summer.

[19:49] <+JohnK> Alukar42, think of this as a game where you can play characters from eight different genres, including Core Earth, and the game rules actually support playing *all* of those genres without giving the players, or the GM, any real headaches. 🙂

[19:49] <~Dan> TorgDarrell: Would you like to say a bit about how you made the Living Land actually fun this time? 🙂

[19:50] <+TorgDarrell> Balance: We play. We play a lot. We do analysis too, but it’s too easy to fool yourself into thinking something feels good when it doesn’t, even if the numbers work right. One tricky thing about balance too is Torg has lots of options beyond combat, so damage is great, but high interaction can be just as valuable even though its not equal.

[19:50] <+TorgBacker> Darrell, do you know what Cosms you would like to see come out first? (Oh, Product Line Manager)

[19:50] <+JohnC> I saw in today’s video core Earth is essentially the action movie universe,they used die hard as a example.

[19:50] <~Dan> (Question pause after TorgBacker’s question.)

[19:51] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, DracoStrife!)

[19:52] <+TorgDarrell> Mark: no plans for a spell design system. This is something we fought about, actually. A design system is a really handy crutch, but imo the spells it produces can come out kind of samey, and any miss in the internal balancing gets exploited hard. As for improvised casting, I just have to say “stay tuned” for that one.

[19:53] <+MarkHope> Thanks, Darrell. I’d much rather see a cool improvised casting system than spell design, if I had to choose. Will stay tuned… 🙂

[19:53] <+TorgDarrell> Making the Living Land fun: A few things. The Law of Wonders is a world law that goes across the whole cosm now, and it means UFO’s, lost civilizations, and especially secrets Baruk Kaah wants buried bubble up all over the place. So you’re not just trying to survive in a savage environment, you have a reason to go in looking for treasure!

[19:53] <+JohnK> DarrellTorg, does that mean there will be a goodly amount of spells of various types and from various Cosms/Realms in the main rulebook?  (Sorry, Dan, had to ask.) 🙂

[19:54] <+JohnK> Oops, that last should have been to TorgDarrell.  Stupid fingers!

[19:55] <+TorgDarrell> Re: Core Earth. Yes, CE is the best. That action movie feel is why the whole game is infused with cinematic action, that’s what you get when you invade an 80’s action film. It also makes Mixed Zones amazing because Core Earth’s world laws and cosm cards kick in and give the heroes a big boost.

[19:56] <+TorgDarrell> For number of spells, its about 30 in the core book. We tried to stick with the big stuff that people will need and use regularly. No “summon fish”. Same when we expand spells in sourcebooks, we’ll focus on stuff you’ll use in game sessions, with a few flavorful oddballs just for fun.

[19:56] <+TorgDarrell> Let me check and see if I missed any questions above…

[19:57] * ~Dan nods

[19:58] <+TorgDarrell> Looks like I’m caught up, if I missed your question please yell. (done)

[19:58] * +TorgBacker clears throat

[19:58] <+JohnC> If I were to guess sounds like living Land will be first sourcebook?

[19:58] <~Dan> (Questions may resume!)

[19:58] <+Will> Torg is one of the few games I’ve played where a ‘face’ guy can actually, really, be useful in combat or other avenues without being forced to the sideline. How is that true in Torg Eternity?

[19:58] <+TorgBacker> Missed mine

[19:58] <+TorgDarrell> oh, order of sourcebooks! Living Land is first up. Then Nile Empire, then Aysle. In general we plan to go in the same order as the first invasion.

[19:59] <+JohnC> Hoping to see more players as NPC backer levels with cosm books, missed out on the council.

[19:59] <+TorgBacker> Cool, I didn’t expect you to be that specific! Whoohoo! Knowledge acquired.

[19:59] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  Is there any chance that we might see some additional Archetypes in the main rulebook as part of the Kickstarter stretch goals?

[20:00] <+MarkHope> Do you plan to include lots of cool props to go with upcoming adventure releases? I always thought that was really cool with old Torg – stuff like the cargo manifests, newspaper clippings, computer readouts etc from Destiny Map, that little folder for the Orient Express you could print out and make, art that matched scenes from the adventure, maps etc.

[20:00] <+TorgDarrell> Yeah, we had a few ideas we’re discussing, but we didn’t want to take any thunder away from the Delphi Council this wave. You guys tell me what you’d be interested in! Being a Storm Knight, being a Stormer? We have some cosm specific things we can get into with the waves.

[20:00] <+MarkHope> I want to be beheaded by the Master of the Wild Hunt again 😀

[20:01] <+JohnC> I would love to be something in the living Land since I am right across river from Philadelphia

[20:01] <+Will> NILE WOO

[20:01] <+TorgDarrell> More archetypes are in the queue for stretchgoals, but we’d need a pretty crazy last week to get to them. There will of course be more archetypes with the different sourcebooks too.

[20:01] <~Dan> TorgDarrell: IIRC, I read that there won’t be any difference between pulp powers that are intrinsic and those that are gadgets. Is that correct, and if so, what’s the incentive to have a gadget?

[20:02] <+TorgDarrell> Handouts and cool tactile things are a given, yes. Some adventures lend themselves to them better than others, but we’re definitely trying to keep that flavor.

[20:02] <+JohnK> That’s what I was hoping, TorgDarrell, and with Kickstarter you never know what the last week will bring (especially the last few days).

[20:03] <+TorgBacker> TorgDarrell how on track are you to have the Core Rule Book PDF ready after the Kickstarter? I see in the KS comments that a few folks are very hopeful.

[20:03] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  One of the new elements in TORG: ETERNITY are the Perks.  Can you tell us more about the reasoning behind them, how they work, and what differentiates them from other elements in the game?  Thanks. 🙂

[20:03] <+JohnC> Speaking of Kickstarter , since this my first, do additional purchase in the pledge manager of extra add one count towards the final stretch goals

[20:03] <+JohnC> ?

[20:03] <~Dan> (Question pause, please.)

[20:03] <+TorgDarrell> Dan, the pulp powers have limitations and enhancements. You can take the gadget limitation and get some free juice out of your power, or you can make it useless against the opposite sex, or only works in sunlight. Or it just works but you don’t get free upgrades out of it. 😀

[20:04] <~Dan> Gotcha, cool. 🙂

[20:05] <+TorgDarrell> The book index is going in right now. By the time backerkits go out we’ll have pdfs to send.

[20:06] <~Dan> (Howdy, EggEmbry!)

[20:06] <+MarkHope> Cool props – great. Thanks :). Loving how Google Maps are playing such a fun role as well.

[20:06] <+EggEmbry> Howdy, Dan. 🙂

[20:06] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Guest19! Please set your name with the /nick command. 🙂 )

[20:07] <+TorgDarrell> Perks! So perks came up when we wanted to make the archetypes feel more unique. To catch those special powers that only a certain character can do, or people from a certain cosm. Functionally they’re much like edges or stunts in other systems, but that’s where they came from, was that need to give characters something special and differentiating.

[20:08] <+TorgDarrell> John, good question about stretchgoals and after pledge. I actually don’t know how that works, but I’m inclined to think if we’re that close to a goal and would go over the top from purchases after we’d do something about it. We WANT to unlock all the stretch goals. We think they’re cool stuff everyone should have. 🙂

[20:09] <+TorgDarrell> Re:Googlemaps…you ain’t seen nothing yet.

[20:09] <~Dan> (Howdy, SirGene!0

[20:09] <~Dan> 0

[20:09] <~Dan> 0

[20:09] <+SirGene> Hey Dan, sorry I’m late.

[20:09] <~Dan> S’okay!

[20:10] <+TorgDarrell> I think I’m caught up, if that was too general on the Perks question let me know and I can drill down on a few specific ones, maybe a certain cosm or type people are interested in.

[20:10] <+TorgDarrell> (done)

[20:10] <+Will> Torg is one of the few games I’ve played where a ‘face’ guy can actually, really, be useful in combat or other avenues without being forced to the sideline. How is that true in Torg Eternity?

[20:10] <+Will> (missed mine)

[20:10] <~Dan> (Questions may resume!)

[20:10] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  One of the things I’ve seen mentioned several times in a couple of places (interview and live stuff) is that the world of TORG: ETERNITY is more “desperate” than the original game  Can you tell us what that means, exactly?  Thanks. 🙂

[20:10] <+DracoStrife> How much character customization is there among the archetype, particularly Core Earths?  I had an idea of a campaign for my gaming group to be Storm Knights themselves.  Being in Southern Cali, we’d be pretty close to the Living Land invasion.  🙂

[20:11] <~Dan> TorgDarrell: Would you like to say a bit about how you’ve made Core Earth interesting?

[20:11] <+TorgDarrell> The Face guy! Taunt and trick interactions gain you powerful destiny cards when approved by the drama deck. they also stymie or make foes vulnerable. Plus if you get a 10+ you might even take a foe out, or at least stun them with it. Between that, supporter, and card trading they’ve always got something to contribute.

[20:12] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  Yeah, I wouldn’t mind some more specificity about Perks, perhaps focusing on Core Earth Perks and Living Land Perks. 🙂  Thanks. 🙂

[20:12] <+MarkHope> Do you plan to do homages or similar to old adventures like Relics of Power, High Lord of Earth, Rek Stalek etc? Or are you planning to break new ground from the outset? Or a mixed zone?

[20:12] <+TSE> What kind of support does the game provide for people who have access to only dice (i.e. no drama deck)? One of my concerns with the original game was it seemed to depend on players having access to specialized accessories, and I can see that creating an accessibility barrier (especially if a group happens to lose a deck, or even a card)?

[20:12] <~Dan> (Question pause, please!)

[20:13] <+Alukar42> I have read that day one adventure book will include one story for each cosm.    Will it be possible to play them one after another or they are more like many ways to start the canpaign?

[20:14] <+TorgDarrell> Core Earth: since its got action movie world laws the Perks from there are powerful, and the cosm cards give you lots of support (that 4 wound shot hit your flask instead of you, you’re fine!) They also get the reality powers like Negation and Realm Runner, since CE is all about possiblity energy and staving off the invaders.

[20:15] <+TorgDarrell> Desperate: While there’s still humor in the game we’ve tried to keep the war front and center, so we avoid anything that seems silly and try to really deal with the consequences of what’s happening. Likewise though Core Earth is powerful, the High Lords have a plan, and some thigns that went wrong for them in the other invasions go better this time.

[20:16] <~Dan> (No more Skippy the Eidenos?)

[20:16] <+TorgDarrell> Example, Tharkold actually landing on Russia and not being turned away. The bad guys are on the move and in the heroes faces, so they can’t afford to just ignore the war. That’s also added a lot of priority to actions that help the war, glory, uprooting stela, freeing zones, etc.

[20:16] <+JohnK> *I* was about to say that, Dan! 🙂  And thank Goddess no more Skippy! 🙂

[20:17] <+TorgDarrell> Poor Skippy. He’s our anti-mascot.

[20:17] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  Okay, I gotta ask:  Who’s the mascot? 🙂

[20:18] <+MarkHope> I always wanted more Rex Able.

[20:19] <+JohnK> Thanks, Darrell, for explaining about the “desperate” business.  Puts things into a bit more perspective for me.

[20:19] <+TorgDarrell> Let me do a few Living Land perks since that was asked above: Beast Rider, lets you use your interaction and defenses for the beast’s, so no tricking that dinosaur while you’re in charge. Sabretooth Cat, you have one as a companion that does what you like. Vengeful, when someone has the gall to hurt you you get a bonus die when you hit them back.

[20:20] <~Dan> (wb, JohnC!)

[20:20] <+JohnC> Thanks living in the living Land does a number on cell coverage lol

[20:21] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  Now those are *cool* Living Land Perks! 🙂  Could you substitute another animal or creature for the sabretooth cat?

[20:21] <+TorgDarrell> No Drama Deck: We’re not planning to offer support for people playing without the deck. It’s just too crucial and central to all the gameplay experiences. We had to do without the deck for our Free RPG Day scenario and it changes things so much, and too much just doesn’t apply without it.

[20:22] <+TorgDarrell> John, in core its just the cat, but spoiler alert new pets and upgrades are available in the Living Land Sourcebook.

[20:22] <+TorgDarrell> We don’t really have a mascot at this point, we each have our own favorites.  😀

[20:23] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  So spill it, who’s your favourite? 😉

[20:23] <+TorgBacker> Dan are we unpaused?

[20:23] <~Dan> (Up to TorgDarrell, TorgBacker. 🙂 )

[20:23] <+TorgDarrell> My favorite is Leena, the primitive human of the Living Land. She actually came from the Day One, which I almost missed the question about…

[20:24] <~Dan> (Caught up, TorgDarrell?)

[20:25] <~Dan> (Oh, wait, n/m)

[20:25] <+TorgDarrell> So Day One is 7 different adventures, each happening during the first day. So they don’t really link together, they’re all happening in paralel. (We do link TO them quite a bit in the other adventures.) They could make great origin stories (if you live…some are tough, especially Pan Pacifica and Orrorsh).

[20:26] <+TorgDarrell> Some of the adventures are multi-session. They really put a different spin on the game. You get caught up in the war, and the “moment of crisis” becomes a bigger deal when you get to do it first hand. Strongly recommended. Some people keep their characters for later campaings…like Leena.

[20:26] <+TorgDarrell> I think I’m caught up, if I missed a question please let me know. (done)

[20:27] <+TorgBacker> TorgDarrell; Can you spill about the Cyberpapacy a little? We haven’t much about France. And as a bonus question, have you guys have thoughts about how real world technology has progressed since those sourcebooks were written?

[20:27] <~Dan> (Questions may resume!)

[20:27] <+TSE> Follow-up: how will the drama deck be made accessible to new players? I could imagine a potential Game Master picking up the core rule book from their local used book store, without a drama deck bundled.

[20:28] <+TorgDarrell> First the deck because that’s easy: pdf of the deck is available, and we’ll be selling the decks seprately as well, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get your hands on one.

[20:29] <+TSE> like, it’s an easy print out? 🙂

[20:29] <+JohnK> I’ll be quiet for a while now, Dan. 🙂

[20:29] <+TorgDarrell> Cyberpapacy is pretty much my favorite. The biggest change technologically is they didn’t JUST become tech 26, they’ve been cyber for awhile. They have repulsors, forcefields, and holograms now, which combine to bring all the stuff that used to just live in the virtual landscape out onto the streets.

[20:30] <~Dan> (No worries, JohnK! 🙂 )

[20:30] <+JohnC> Just print it on cardstock

[20:30] <+Will> Oh, it got missed. Axioms? Meep?

[20:30] <+Will> How are the different in function/if at all

[20:30] <+TorgDarrell> So anything you see might be a projection, and hacking and cyberware make you better at seeing the truth, rather than more vulnerable to attacks from the GodNet.

[20:31] <+TorgDarrell> I did answer on the axioms, not much has changed in funciton, the scale is 0-30 now, a few specific entries changed, and there’s no ‘blanks’ anymore.

[20:31] <~Dan> Obviously it’s early, but do we know yet if the Land Below and/or the Space Gods will be things?

[20:32] <+Will> Oh, my bad, in the confusion I didn’t realize that was to me. 😉

[20:32] <+TorgBacker> Thanks! (and no offense was intended JohnK, you go right ahead)

[20:33] <+TorgDarrell> I have to decide how coy to be here. You’ll see the Land Below very soon. The Space Gods may also appear sooner than you think, but not the way you expect.

[20:33] <+TorgDarrell> So…yes, both are things.

[20:33] <+TSE> Just a thought: it would be cool if there was some kind of “drama deck” app (kind of like a dice roller, but it pulls up a picture of a card). I’m sure a lot of folks would get into that.

[20:33] <~Dan> Awesome. 🙂

[20:33] <~Dan> Yes, I play a lot online, so that would be most welcome.

[20:34] <~Dan> re: app

[20:34] <+TorgDarrell> Oh, I missed one above asking about Rec Stalec. One of the next big adventure books coming is by Shane Hensley, who created the guy. I’ll let you guess if he puts in an appearance.  😀

[20:35] <+TorgDarrell> We want to do apps but I’ll be honest, its less likely because we’re focused on the tabletop side. If the right opportunity came along we’d jump at it, but there are no plans at the moment for apps.

[20:35] <~Dan> Rats. I’ll have to figure out a way to adapt, then, because I’m definitely playing this puppy and lack an IRL group.

[20:35] <+MarkHope> Excellent – thanks, Darrell. That adventure really blew me away back in the day 🙂

[20:36] <+TorgDarrell> I’ll pass that on to Shane, Mark!

[20:36] <~Dan> You mentioned already how you make the Living Land and Core Earth more interesting… Do you make Orrorsh someplace that people might actually choose to go now? 🙂

[20:36] <+TorgDarrell> Dan, we’re hoping to be very kind to people who do try to adapt it. There’s a potential goal for Virtual Table Top support coming up, but I don’t know if we’ll get that far unfortunately.

[20:37] <~Dan> (Other than to die, I mean. 🙂 )

[20:38] <+Will> There might be some flexible apps out there which could manage it. Something to look into

[20:38] <+TorgDarrell> So one of our design goals was to make sure every realm had a reason to go there. Orrorsh is brutal and dangerous, but its the castle you’ve got to storm to set things right. You can only put an end to monsters where they live.

[20:38] <+TorgBacker> Roll20 has the infrastructure to manage the cards (not apps, but related)

[20:39] <+TorgDarrell> Roll20 is on our radar. So is Fantasy Grounds.

[20:39] * +Will nods cool

[20:40] <~Dan> TorgDarrell: Oh, certainly. I’m just wondering if the Power of Fear will still work the same way.

[20:41] <+JohnC> So are the two kanawas the same person?

[20:41] <+TorgDarrell> Not quite. Fear mostly makes itself known in the cosm cards now. The mechanical effects are eternal corruption…which DOES offer power for a price, and perseverance, which affects how Storm Knights soak damage there. (they’re more likely to take a wound and get hurt.)

[20:41] <+TorgDarrell> Kanawas: that would be telling.

[20:42] <~Dan> TorgDarrell: Ah. That’s much better. Cool.

[20:42] <+JohnC> I tried lol😛

[20:42] <~Dan> TorgDarrell: Will martial arts appear in the core rules?

[20:42] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  I’m wondering if the She Kanawa is a clone of the He Kanawa, or vice versa.  Or something even darker and twistier.

[20:43] <+TorgDarrell> Pay lots of attention to the Kanawas. That’s exactly what they’re counting on. (Law of Intrigue.)

[20:43] <+JohnK> Re: The Kanawas.  Figures. 🙂

[20:43] <+TorgDarrell> Yes, we have some martial arts in core. There’s just plain old fisticuffs anyone can take a perk to use, and then more advanced Ki Powers which are Pan-Pacifica perks.

[20:44] <+JohnC> Love the looks of the miniatures now to find someone to paint em.

[20:44] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  Does that mean that Core Earthers can’t use martial arts?

[20:45] <+TorgDarrell> They can use the vanilla version that improves unarmed attacks, but not the wuxia style powers.

[20:45] <+TorgDarrell> I love the minis too! They knocked those outta the park!!

[20:45] <~Dan> Which cosms feature psionics?

[20:45] <+TSE> What guidance will the core rulebook give to Game Masters interested in creating their own Cosms?

[20:45] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  Ah, okay, that makes it good.  I want to see some David Carradine Kung Fu stuff in the game! 🙂

[20:46] <+TorgDarrell> Core Earth has some, Pan-Pacifica has more, Tharkold has the most. The race have been quietly working on their minds for a loooong time.

[20:46] <~Dan> The Race have a lot on their minds?

[20:47] <~Dan> (Howdy, Crazy-Cabal!)

[20:47] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  That’s just sick, but in a good way! 🙂

[20:47] <+TorgDarrell> No advice in core book for creating cosms, it’s filled to the brim covering the basics on the seven invading cosms and Core Earth itself, which as you’ve noticed is a little bit weirder and more over the top than “Real Earth”

[20:47] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Guest09!)

[20:48] <+TSE> Makes sense! What are your plans for “creating cosms support” in the future?

[20:48] <+JohnC> Will core Earth have a sourcebook or is it covered on the core book, since the video mentioned cryptids and such?

[20:48] <~Dan> TorgDarrell: I saw in your video today that Core Earth has cryptids…?

[20:48] * ~Dan high-fives JohnC!

[20:48] <~Dan> (Howdy, Craig!)

[20:48] <+Craig> Hello Dan

[20:49] <+TorgDarrell> We followed a pattern that’s pretty easy to hack. Set your two world laws that have a rule effect, set a third that establishes flavor, compose a set of cosm cards either by picking appropriate existing ones or making your own and you’re ready to rumble.  😀

[20:49] <+MonkofLords> I may have missed it, but how simple would it be to design your own Cosms?

[20:50] <~Dan> MonkofLords: See above. 🙂

[20:50] <+MonkofLords> (I did miss it! Darn you exercise day!)

[20:50] <+Alukar42> The core rulebook will cover the first 90 days.  First Cosm book, the rest of the year.   Am i right?  Seems that war will be going on for a long time!

[20:50] <+Rod> Any chance of published pocket domains?

[20:50] <~Dan> TorgDarrell: Seems like I read that both Pan Pacifica and Tharkold will feature mutants. Can you say a bit about that?

[20:50] <+TorgDarrell> Yeah, Core Earth is cinematic and overflowing with Possibilities. In dark corners lots of stuff that shouldn’t exist does. That’s exacerbated by the Law of Wonders in the Living Land, which makes anything that was lost turn up there. So you can get dodos, sasquatches, and chupacabra.

[20:51] <+Alukar42> Will it be a living world like dark eye?

[20:51] <~Dan> (Question pause, please.)

[20:51] <+Crazy-Cabal> How are we handling the various splat books? Will there be a much bigger metaplot focus or are we going for a more neutral timeline?

[20:51] <+MarkHope> Goatsuckers in Torg. My life is complete.

[20:51] <+TorgDarrell> Alukar, yes that’s the timeline. Core is day 90, sourcebooks year 1.

[20:52] <+TorgDarrell> There are psychics, but whether that’s a mutation or a side effect of the rising social axiom is yet to be established. Pan Pacifica HATES psychics. Mind readers are not good for the Law of Intrigue.

[20:53] <+TorgDarrell> It’s definitely a living world. No matter how much of Infiniverse we unlock in the Kickstarter there will always be a connection between what the community does and how the war is fought. Some of that has to stay behind the curtain, but it’s definitely a two way street.

[20:55] <+TorgDarrell> Sourcebooks give new character options and update the setting and timeline. The published adventure that comes with it lets you play through those changes, and perhaps change the course of year 2 and beyond.

[20:55] <~Dan> (wb, TSE)

[20:55] <+Alukar42> That’s nice!  Newcomer here getting excited.  Haha

[20:56] <+TorgDarrell> Pocket Domains: minor examples exist in the first wave of adventures thanks to the Law of Wonders, but they’re not really full domains. They’re not a focus, but they are a thing.

[20:56] <+JohnC> If we miss a unnanounced stretch goal will they be added to next Kickstarter goals?

[20:57] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Guest47!)

[20:57] <+TorgBacker> Clarification, all of the cosm books together will be the first year?

[20:57] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, DavidS!)

[20:58] <+TorgDarrell> It depends on how applicable it is going forward. If it’s a cool idea, then we’ll make it happen somehow.

[20:58] <+TorgDarrell> The intent is for the sourcebooks to all be year 1, yes. If the schedule goes sideways we may revisit that, but that’s the plan.

[20:59] <+JohnC> The Mist tv series on now kinda giving me a torg invasion feel

[20:59] <+TorgDarrell> Events start to accelerate once we cover all the cosms.

[21:00] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  Out of curiosity, how many beasties and the like are being included in the main rulebook?  I assume they’ll cover all Realms?

[21:00] <+TorgDarrell> I hear that! I’ve been seeing Torg in all sorts of things. Kong Skull Island is sooooo the Living Land in every way!

[21:00] <+Crazy-Cabal> So what happens when you flip a cosm? Is it still lethal to regular folks without any power points?

[21:00] <+MarkHope> Will later waves also feature red and blue leather versions or books, or was that just for the KS/core?

[21:01] <+MarkHope> *of books

[21:01] <+TorgDarrell> Yeah, there’s 28 foes in the core book, a few that apply to all cosms, then a set for each cosm.

[21:01] <+MarkHope> (oh, we’re a pause – sorry)

[21:02] <+TorgDarrell> Flipping a zone: Great question! Because this is what Storm Knights do. This is how they fight the war. What keeps people from dying is when they’re filled with Possibility Energy. And that happens when glorious deeds (Glory Card) are done, and the tales spread far and wide.

[21:02] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  Oh, thank Lanala for that!  A good selection, but hopefully one can add to that?  No beast creation rules, I’ll assume, though.

[21:02] <+TorgDarrell> So Storm Knights, fight the bad guys, do great things, spread your tales, then go rip stela. That’s how we win this thing! /Quinn Sebastian voice.

[21:02] <~Dan> 🙂

[21:03] <+JohnC> Is Quinn Sebastien the original from the original Torg?

[21:03] <+TorgDarrell> Leather versions: I honestly don’t know. We wanted something special for the core book, tbd if we’ll do that for the cosm books too.

[21:03] <~Dan> (Were you caught up, TorgDarrell?)

[21:04] <+TorgDarrell> There’s not specific rules for creating new creatures, but we do list the special abilities, I think even a few abilities that aren’t used by the core foes but we wanted to have the base rules there for when it came up later. It’s pretty simple to put together a stormer or a creature and have it come out right.

[21:04] <+JohnC> Edinois skin living Land book would be nice. A pulp novel look for Nile and Aysle a spell grimoire look I would pay for.🤐

[21:05] <+MarkHope> The Premium Skippy Edition? 😉

[21:05] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  Excellent news, that!   I can see a few beasties in my head already. 🙂

[21:05] <+JohnC> Yep flay Skippy

[21:05] <+TorgDarrell> Quinn from original Torg: Who knows. He sure seems to know an awful lot about the invaders…but he also has big blind spots.

[21:06] <+TorgDarrell> JohnC: noted.

[21:06] <+TorgDarrell> I think I’m caught up, again if I missed a question please call it to my attention! (done)

[21:07] <~Dan> TorgDarrell: Did you see my question about the feasibility of mixed groups by Day 90?

[21:07] <+TorgDarrell> No, let me find it…

[21:07] <~Dan> (Not sure if it got through, actually…)

[21:07] <+TorgDarrell> Yeah, I don’t see it

[21:08] <~Dan> I was just wondering whether your classic mixed-up Torg group  would be feasible by Day 90 of the invasion.

[21:08] <+JohnC> Blame the cyberpapacy

[21:08] * ~Dan blames the Cyberpapacy.

[21:08] <+MarkHope> Can you say more about easing up on restricting perks by cosm as the campaign progresses? I know it will come up if we convert our Torg game over to Torg Eternity. Is it just a flavour thing, or are there mechanical or balance issues if you ignore the restriction?

[21:09] <+TorgDarrell> But yeah, by Day 90 a ‘regular’ mixed party of Storm Knights is the standard. The good guys get off to a much quicker start this time because some Quinn Sebastian guy is gathering up Storm Knights from where ever he can find them almost from the jump. All the Day One adventures end with the survivors being recruited by him.

[21:09] <~Dan> Ah, cool. 🙂

[21:10] <+GenoFoxx> (g’night)

[21:11] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  Is it feasible to run a TORG: INFINITY campaign without the Delphi Council as one’s mentors/suppliers/etc.?  What would be the impact of such a set-up?

[21:11] <+TorgDarrell> Re: cosm restrictions. It’s a bit of both. There are different “Clearance Levels” of Storm Knight, alpha is the first. Some perks will have clearance level minimums, and it’s just possible that the beta perks let you do things like take powers from a single other cosm. Delta could add another layer to that, and so on.

[21:12] <+TorgDarrell> Running without the Delphi Council is certainly possible. We wanted them as part of our story engine to keep things focused on the war. They’re there to help keep things focused, and give a simple way for GMs to introduce plots and get things started, and also grant support when the heroes need it most.

[21:12] <+JohnK> Oops, that should have read TORG: ETERNITY.  My tiredness is creeping in. 🙂

[21:12] <+TorgDarrell> 😀

[21:12] <+Crazy-Cabal> Infinity is kind of like eternity.

[21:12] <+JohnC> Wonder how up and up the Delphi Council’s motives are compared to the original?

[21:13] <+MarkHope> Darrell, thanks – that’s an interesting setup. The clearance levels are like xp ranks, right?

[21:13] <+JohnK> Crazy-Cabal: There is that, and there’s that Infinity symbol on the d6s. 🙂

[21:14] <+JohnC> I could picture Quinn trying to be High Lord of Earth

[21:14] <+MarkHope> At least we have a good name for 3rd edition…

[21:14] <+JohnK> MarkHope:  LOL! 🙂

[21:14] <+TorgDarrell> I won’t be as coy here: Delphi is Quinn’s group, and they are good guys. They’re in it to save Core Earth.

[21:14] <+JohnC> Cool

[21:14] <~Dan> TorgDarrell: To what degree will you cover the effects of the war on non-invaded areas? I recall the Torg comic back in the day making life outside the invaded zones pretty much fine.

[21:15] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  Ah, but *which* Core Earth? 😉

[21:15] <+TorgDarrell> Yes, clearance levels are blocks of xps. 50+ (10 sessions) is when you hit Beta.

[21:16] <+MarkHope> Nice one – our characters reach Beta clearance next session, in that case 🙂

[21:17] <+TorgDarrell> We talk about some of the effects, and it goes into our adventure design as well. You can’t lose as much of the Earth as we do and not have extreme effects on the rest of the planet. The cables that do most internet connectivity between continents…gone. Ability to fly from either cost to europe or asia? Gone. The world economy would be ruiined, and that’s

[21:17] <+TorgDarrell> just the start.

[21:17] <+TorgBacker> Yikes!

[21:18] <+TorgDarrell> Plus Core Earth is just more fun to play in with the action tropes and weirdness, so you’ll definitely see adventures set there.

[21:18] <~Dan> Given the presence of hopping vampires in Pan Pacifica, do people still really not associate it with the invasion?

[21:18] <+Crazy-Cabal> How crazy is core? Does it have a low level action movie quality or is it more Feng Shui mayhem?

[21:19] <+JohnK> Dan:  Ords will do anything to explain away the extraordinary.

[21:19] <+TorgDarrell> They think its a side effect of the invasion. After all there’s no maelstrom bridge, no maniac has taken over. Most things seem just the same. At least that’s what the tv tells everyone 24 hours a day. 🙂

[21:19] <+JohnK> Dan:  And those Kanawa folks are being pretty subtle and helpful about it this time around, aren’t they? 🙂

[21:19] <+JohnC> Like I Doctor Who when earthlings forget all the invasions lol

[21:20] <+TorgDarrell> Core is action movie, not Feng Shui…well until Storm Knights reach a certain level, then it’s anything goes. They big law there is “The Law of the Underdog” which lets you put an extra card in your action pool if you’re outnumbered or outclassed in a fight.  😀

[21:21] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  Now that is one *sweet!* Law, if ever there was one! 🙂

[21:21] <+TorgDarrell> It is. I love it when we have a battle in a CE mixed zone and that kicks in. The Storm Knights are always lke “Thanks Core Earth, you’ve got our back!”

[21:22] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  Almost like a sentient Cosm…  Hmm…

[21:22] <+TorgDarrell> 😀

[21:22] <+JohnC> We need a special Xmas adventure every year in honor of die hard

[21:22] <~Dan> Okay, question pause, folks! TorgDarrell, in the time remaining, is there anything we haven’t covered that you’d like to bring up?

[21:23] <+JohnK> How much time remains, Dan?

[21:23] <~Dan> Well, 10 minutes; however, that’s just “official” time. TorgDarrell is free to hang out with us as long as he likes. 🙂

[21:24] <+TorgDarrell> Just: thanks for your continued interest in Torg and your support. This is a game made by a bunch of people who love Torg hoping to share that love with a lot more people. There’s more to come, lots more!  🙂

[21:24] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, DeanGilbert!)

[21:24] <+DeanGilbert> <waves> Thought you guys were done but apparently not so I thought I’d jump in, even if it’s for a short time. 🙂

[21:24] <+TorgDarrell> I do joke that every Christmas the same building is attacked by terrorists there. Dean!!!

[21:24] <+JohnK> Dan, TorgDarrell, we haven’t talked about Possibilities…

[21:25] <~Dan> Oh, yes! What would you like to know, JohnK?

[21:25] <+DeanGilbert> Hey, I’ll make things easier and login again.

[21:25] <+TorgDarrell> Biggest difference is they’re not an XP currency anymore. They’re more like Bennies, use them or lose them. We want those chips to fly and people to enjoy using their powers, not horde them.

[21:25] <+TorgDean> There we go. 🙂

[21:25] <~Dan> (wb, TorgDean!)

[21:25] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  What are Possibilities used for in the new game?  How do you gain new Possibilities?

[21:26] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  What prevents players from hording them in TORG: ETERNITY?

[21:27] <+TorgDarrell> You use them to add up dice, soak damage, or in a few cases activate powers. You get them by doing awesome stuff (Core Earth and the GM reward good story fodder) and many cosm cards give them as a reward for taking on a complication.

[21:27] <+MarkHope> Are you still going to have Reality Bubbles as a thing?

[21:27] <+Alukar42> Kickstarter project almost at 280k as we speak.   Is it over what you thought it would be at the begining?

[21:27] <+TorgDarrell> Example, Law of Decay in Living Land is a cosm card now, rather than a rule you have to check for. If someone plays the card everyone picks an item to lose. You get 0-3 possibilities depending on how important that item is.

[21:28] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  Thanks for that info.  Much appreciated.  I like Possibilities better now. 🙂

[21:28] <+TorgDarrell> Reality Bubbles, the function they served is now kinda built into Storm Knights.

[21:28] <+TorgDean> Also, Pure Zones aren’t nearly as nasty.

[21:29] <+TorgBacker> Law of Decay is nice. Making a skill check for each piece of equipment would be tedious, and players hate losing stuff arbitrarily. Linking it to a valuable reward is cool.

[21:29] <+TorgDarrell> Kickstarter: Honestly we had no idea if it would be successful or not. We know people love Torg, but it’s hard to judge how many until you actually put something up and see what happens.

[21:29] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  Yeah, I saw the video where Ross Watson played that card, and the other players had a great time getting rid of a piece of equipment or an item to lose.  Shane’s using it to turn the Orrorshal Monster Hunter’s coat into tatters before it disintegrated was great. 🙂

[21:29] <+TorgDarrell> Yeah!!  😀

[21:30] <+TorgDarrell> And likewise my sister who had plenty of possibilites and plenty of junk was like…bye bye walkie talkie.

[21:30] <+MarkHope> Cool – thanks :). So great to see the KS doing so well. Just a great time to be a Torg fan 🙂

[21:31] <+Rod> Will Torg consider an Organized Play campaign, like AL, LFR, LG, PFS, etc.?

[21:31] <+JohnK> TorgDarrell:  Yes!  The walkie-talkie!  That was so neat! 🙂  (Just how much gear does the Nile Empire Inventor get?)

[21:31] <+Will> I like that approach to mechanicizing (sp?) ‘problems’. ‘Let’s have some dramafor points’

[21:31] <~Dan> Again, no need to run off, TorgDarrell! I’m just going to pause things here while I log the chat and get you the link. 🙂

[21:31] <+TorgDarrell> Hey, for those who don’t know it Dean is the guy behind the NearNowNews twitter feed. Which is AWESOME.  😀

[21:31] <~Dan> Thanks so much for joining us today!

[21:32] <+TorgDarrell> Thanks for having me!

[21:32] <+Will> I wish you guys the best, I have a LOT of happy gaming memories playing myself as a CE Prophet … 😉

[21:32] <+Will> There is no God, and Will is His Prophet

[21:32] <~Dan> Please feel free to continue if you can. I’ll be right back with that link…

[21:32] <+Will> By the way,. do you guys need artists?

[21:32] <+Crazy-Cabal> Any plans for a japanese version? I know it was huge there at the time.

[21:32] <+TorgDarrell> The archetype just blows lots of cash on random stuff, because that’s how she rolls. Plus she doesn’t need a gun or armor thanks to the perks that provide her inventions.