GURPS 4th edition

[Celebrim]

From the sjgames website:

Steve Jackson Games Incorporated is pleased to announce that development of a fourth edition of their popular GURPS game is well under way. The redesign has been spearheaded by long-time GURPS Line Editor Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch, and by Transhuman Space Line Editor and über-popular GURPS author David Pulver.
"I have no fear about the direction Sean and David have taken the game," said GURPS creator and SJ Games President Steve Jackson. "They have really breathed new life into what was an increasingly creaky game, and I think this edition will revolutionize roleplaying for the next decade or more."

"Our mission statement is that there are no 'sacred cows' in GURPS. We re-examined everything about the game, and while we know that our new direction will be a shock to some fans, we think that once they give it a try, they'll be won over."

"We aren't ready to release full details of the new system yet," Jackson continues, "but I think we can safely let a few tidbits out of the bag. GURPS 4 will feature our new 'clicky-base' character design system, replacing the old point-buy-and-roll-3d6 system that has been holding GURPS back for so long. (Of course, those old rules will still be available as an option if you really want them!) Our miniatures department has been working overtime to produce these figures, and we think we've done it in a way that marries the long-term appeal of GURPS with the current hot miniatures combat system. Future GURPS 4 boosters will include GURPS Supers, Transhuman Stars, GURPS Survivor (by special arrangement with CBS), and of course GURPS Hot Lead. We expect booster sets to start appearing about three months after the core GURPS 4 game hits the market."

Hmmm....

I'm not sure what I think of the 'clicky-base' character design system. That seems to me to be jumping onto a fad that you can't gaurantee will continue. I never really considered the point buy and roll system itself to be what was holding GURPS back.

But what I find really interesting is how much of the press release could very well have been discussion on the ENWorld boards about the current state of GURPS relative to D20. Note particularly the references to 'sacred cows' and the fact that the GURPS system is 'increasingly creaky'. Alot of us have said in recent discussions that a system as old as GURPS was in desparate need of an overhaul and general house-cleaning. Do you think that some overhaul (even if thier is this side show regarding clicky-bases) is going to be good for the GURPS game?

 

[Harlock]

GURPS? Steve Jackson Games? Never heard of them.

 

[Storm Raven]

Hmmm....

I'm not sure what I think of the 'clicky-base' character design system. That seems to me to be jumping onto a fad that you can't gaurantee will continue. I never really considered the point buy and roll system itself to be what was holding GURPS back.

But what I find really interesting is how much of the press release could very well have been discussion on the ENWorld boards about the current state of GURPS relative to D20. Note particularly the references to 'sacred cows' and the fact that the GURPS system is 'increasingly creaky'. Alot of us have said in recent discussions that a system as old as GURPS was in desparate need of an overhaul and general house-cleaning. Do you think that some overhaul (even if thier is this side show regarding clicky-bases) is going to be good for the GURPS game?

Umm, check the date. I believe you have been had.

 

[WayneLigon]

I await the first 'Clicky-base Chargen is Broken!' thread

 

[Tsyr]

Re: Re: GURPS 4th edition

Umm, check the date. I believe you have been had.

Or you have.

 

[Celebrim]

I particularly like the GURPS Survivor part.

But, I'm a customer of SJGames, and in general a completely new and revised edition of the game isn't silly enough of a concept to be funny. On the contrary, a full overhaul is exactly what GURPS needs. If Steve thanks 'increasingly creaky' is supposed to be ridiculous hyperbole, he's abit out of touch.

 

[kengar]

I await the first 'Clicky-base Chargen is Broken!' thread

Well, it is!!

It's TOTALLY unbalanced towards ranged combatants like archers! I mean, they have an extra clicky-wheel to count ammo! It's COMPLETELY unfair to melee fighters! Not to mention the smaller bases for gnomes & halflings made the numbers harder to read at the reduced font size during playtesting, so they just reduced all their stats to fit the smaller clicky-wheels!!

AAAUGH!!! What was SJ smoking!?!