GURPS: Basic Set [Paperback]

Yet despite its universal adaptability, it's still easy to learn to play and run. The basics of GURPS can be explained in about 15 minutes. There's even a "GURPS: Lite" available =free= online that has an even simpler version of the basic system. The entire system lets you design and build whatever and whenever and whomever you want. There are no classes or levels - you create exactly the type of character you want. You use character points to decide what you want to build. The only limitation is in how many points you want to spend.

GURPS uses only standard six-sided dice that anyone can get almost anywhere. What's even better, you only need three to play. You roll three dice to hit - if you roll low, you generally hit, and if you roll high, you generally miss. What could be simpler?

Then, to add to your enjoyment of your new RPG system, GURPS Worldbooks are something that describes a specific universe to adventure in, such as "GURPS: Discworld" or "GURPS: Lensmen". GURPS Sourcebooks are something that helps you build a specific genre, such as "GURPS: Old West", "GURPS: Fantasy", or "GURPS: Space". There are enough Worldbooks and Sourcebooks for GURPS for anyone to build just about any universe their hearts desire, and, what's even better, you only buy what you need. Not planning a fantasy adventure? Then you won't need "GURPS: Fantasy". Not adventuring in the Final Frontier? Don't buy a copy of "GURPS: Space". Hate Super Hero campaigns? Forget the "GURPS: Supers" book. But if you do need additional background material, it's there. Many of the Sourcebooks have a related Worldbook. For example, the recently released "GURPS: Castle Falkenstein" already has a world building supplement - "GURPS: Castle Falkenstein: The Ottoman Empire". Even more player and game master support is available online thru the "Pyramid" newsletter - which also covers other gaming systems besides GURPS.

Steve Jackson Games continues to licence popular games and worlds for use in their system, including the currently available "GURPS: Traveller", (based on Marc Miller's original game) which already has many supplements, "GURPS: Myth" (based on the popular computer game), "GURPS: Alpha Centauri" (another computer game to RPG conversion), GURPS: Planet Krishna (based on some of L Sprague DeCamp's SF books), "GURPS: New Sun" (based on Gene Wolfe's SF series), and others are coming. Older books have covered such diverse material as Philip Jose Farmer's "Riverworld", and White Wolf's very popular "Vampire", "Werewolf", and "Mage".

Other companies are jumping on the bandwagon. The "Powered By GURPS" line started with a new game from Steve Jackson Games called "Transhuman Space". Eden Studios released a GURPS version of their popular "Conspiracy X" game. Amarillo Design Bureau has satisfied one of my dreams by using GURPS for RPG's set in their "Star Fleet Battles" universe (which basically gives us "GURPS: Star Trek") and is promising more role-playing supplements for the Final Frontier.

Steve Jackson Games currently makes over 150 different supplements for GURPS, and over 70 of those are currently in print, making it one of the most comprehensive sets of rules for role-playing available. GURPS has my highest recommendation for anyone interested in trying a system that has the flexibility of the new "D20" rules, and yet has been out longer and has a wider range of possibilities. I've been playing RPG's and game mastering for over 20 years and there's no system I've ever been more fond of, and I've used virtually all of them. Try it. You will not be disappointed. GURPS is truly the "Generic Universal Role Playing System".

Gurps has a point based character creation system. Players assign points to basic attributes (Strength, Intelligence, Dexterity and Health)which have a base line of 10. The lower the score, the worse the attribute and vice versa. These four "building blocks" serve as the basis for all skills. Skills are neatly arranged in an easy to use format. Aside from skills and attributes, points are assigned for advantages. Advantages are just what they sound like, those things which give a character an edge. Disadvantages and quirks can be taken to give the player more points to spend on attributes, skills and advantages. It is disadvantages and quirks which give personality to the characters. The list of skills, advantages and disadvantages in the basic book isn't exhaustive, but comes close. Quirks are left to the player's imagination.

Skill resolution is easy. Roll three d6. Matching the skill level or lower indicates a success. Going over will result in a failure. Rolling exceptionaly well (low) or exceptionaly bad (high) could result in either a critical success or critical failure. Crits add to the enjoyment of the game.

Rules for combat are easy in their simplest format; however, there is an advanced combat system to supplement the basic combat system. If the advanced combat system is used, expect long, drawn out battles. Steve Jackson has a rule for just about anything, and if used, they will slow down play. Another word of caution. Munchkins will take forever making a character as they min/max everything and tweak their points to get every last possible advantage.

Gurps offers a workable system for psionics (Gurps: Psionics is a worthy expansion to the "basic" system in the main rulebook) but magic is one of the game's weak points. Magic is built on the concept that easier spells must be learned before harder spells (with this I agree) and that casting spells is physically exhaustive. Spells cost fatigue points and this score is derived from the character's strength. Now this I have a problem with. I realize that there must be a controlling factor, but unless your mage is Arnold or has a butt load of mana stones (mana is the energy for spells)she isn't going to last long in a battle. Gurps: Magic and Gurps: Grimoire do not offer much to fix this problem. Most players of Gurps end up tweaking the magic system to suite their taste.

There isn't too much genre information in the main rulebook; however, the self-sufficient geek with plenty of time on his hands could get by with just the main rulebook. I'd recommend purchasing at least Compendium I & II along with Vehicles and Martial Arts (just because MA kicks butt).

Gurps is well supported. There are rules expansion books (Compendiums I & II, Vehicles, Psionics, Martial Arts, Magic). Gurps does offer world books ranging from Space, Horror, Supers and Fantasy. Some of these I like (Space is good, Horror isn't bad) some I do not (I've never been an IST or Yrrth fan) but all of them give enough information that the GM can adapt his or her favorite genre settings for play (most DnD worlds convert easily). In some cases this has been done for the GM. Gurps: Discworld for instance is based upon Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels. Gurps also has a number of their own world's (such as Cabal). Steve Jackson games have put out a number of "period" books such as Greece, Aztecs and Russia. Overall, there is a wealth of supplementary material offered.

The Skinny: The rules are usuable in any genre. There is very little genre information in the main rulebook. That is left to the creativity of the GM, or can be obtained by purchasing some of the vast supplementary books offered. Gurps offers a highly detailed character generation system. This can be bad, if you do not like long character creation. Skills resolution is simple. Combat comes in two forms: quick and dirty with no attention paid to realism, and long and detailed with lots of realism. The Magic system bites and is the only reason I won't give Gurps 5 stars. Overall, something for everyone.