Torg

Torg is a role-playing game released by West End Games in 1990.

Contents

1 Game description 2 Notable features 3 Game history 4 External links

Game description

Torg is a cinematic multi-genre RPG which at the time of its release used several innovative techniques. Players take the role of Storm Knights, deliberately larger-than-life heroes engaged in fighting the invasion of Earth, to prevent it being conquered by several invading dimensions (called cosms), each with its own separate reality; cosms largely correspond with popular roleplaying genres.

Notable features

• Deriving enjoyment from how characters, equipment, and environments of the various realities interact, such as having Terminator-style futuristic cyborgs adventure alongside Dungeons & Dragons-style mages in an Indiana Jones-style pulp setting.
• Playing a game with an explicitly epic or 'cinematic' overtone (as in Star Wars or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as opposed to RPGs like Vampire The Masquerade or Dungeons & Dragons).
• A unified mechanics system suitable for any setting; character attributes and game mechanics use a single sliding scale ('18' can equally mean an hour of time, a truckload of weight, an expert markman's skill, or $4,000) and a unified method of task resolution involving a d20.
• The game's backstory involves 'possibility energy', which can be used by Storm Knights to achieve heroic feats. In the game mechanics a spent possibility gives a player a chance to make an additional role, and higher achievement is expected. A deck of cards helps players to role their character dramatically, too. Some of these cards can be used instead of Possibility energy.
• Emphasis on groupwork and character interaction by exchange and giving of cards.
• Of note at the time of its release was Torg's 'Infiniverse' campaign, an ambitious attempt at creating an interactive campaign setting. Infiniverse subscribers were sent response forms, through which they could inform WEG of the progress of their campaigns. Player input actually influenced the campaign setting through a 'rumor' system ('rumors' were introduced in Infiniverse updates, and the majority of responses would determine whether that rumor was 'true' or not). While unquestionably innovative, the Infiniverse campaign ultimately floundered after the first year or so.

Game history

Torg initially achieved some success in a saturated market. However, various factors such as poor quality control in new products, a large amount of required game material to purchase, and unwillingness to use the Internet as a medium, meant that by 1994 only a few hardcore fans remained. Various sales of the property and failed attempts at resurrecting the game ensued. As of 2004, Torg is again under ownership of West End Games (although WEG itself is under new ownership) and a new version is under development.

From an announcement by WEG's current owner on the official Torg forums:

"To that end, we are beginning our "countdown to the new Torg" event at GenCon 2005; at this event we will have at least two products designed for established Torg fans, but which will hopefully be approachable enough for new people who would want to get started in the grandeur of the Torg universe early.

"Without giving too much away, this will be the beginning of a grassroots effort to get people excited and thinking about Torg again. Those waiting for next year's second edition will get a well-tested system and a universe ready for multi-genre action, and fans who want to come along for the ride through the coming year will learn more about the secrets and mysteries of the Torg universe than they've ever known before."

In addition to the upcoming second edition ("Torg 2.0"), WEG is releasing a Revised & Expanded rulebook (dubbed Torg 1.5), in order to invigorate interest among longtime fans and to generate interest in backstock of first edition Torg merchandise. This book was released in May of 2005 as a PDF file, and is slated to be released as a limited-edition hardback in June of 2005.

External links

• Official site (http://www.westendgames.com/html/plytorg.html)
• Product list (http://www.westendgames.com/html/torgcat.html)
• Definitive fan site by Torg aficionado Kansas Jim (http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/~jogle/TORG/index.html)
• The pioneering Torg fan site by Jasyn Jones. (http://darleyconsulting.com/games/stormknights/)

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Torg is also the name of the protagonist of the long-running webcomic Sluggy Freelance.