GURPS - a matter of style and setting.

[ColonelHardisson]

IMPOV Mostly this rules are style of play changes, cinematic vs realistic, hardcore SF against Space Opera.
Or options to finetune the rules to your taste, and enviromental rules.

Although Joshua addressed this, I also have to say that it is hypocritical to criticize d20 for this, but to give GURPS a free ride. The basic game mechanics of GURPS is no more or less suitable for all the different genres it covers than is d20. Each system changes something, or at least modifies elements of the basic system, in order to accomodate different milieus.

As I've asked in the past, why is it OK for GURPS to try to cover every genre, but not d20?

Another thing, related to this, is why do so many seem against d20 versions of any given game or genre? This has never made sense to me. Chaosium uses its house system for everything from Runequest to Pendragon to Call of Cthulhu, and nobody complains. GURPS does the same thing, but to a much huger extent. These universal systems haven't crowded any other game out of the market, and neither will d20. I think there is plenty of room for multiple universal systems on the market. Well, maybe not plenty of room, but some. d20 and 3e have given the RPG industry a shot in the arm, if not raised it from the dead. People are buying d20 products because they want them, and like the system. So why all the fuss when another game or genre is covered by a d20 product? It won't invalidate your favorite game, and it may draw in new players to a game they might otherwise have had no experience with - Deadlands or Stormbringer are examples.

EDIT: Joshua - I have to admit I haven't checked out the Middle Earth story hours(s) yet. I keep meaning to, and I will, soon.

 

[Henry]

First, an apology to Psionicist for the hijacking of this thread.

Second, I've always wondered why the chaosium system is called the "BRP" system. I assume its an acronym of three games (---------, Runequest, and Pendragon), but if that's right, what does the "B" stand for?

I haven't seen any input from Psionicist lately in this thread. I wonder what he thinks of the One Thousand and One Genres we've thrown at him???

 

[sword-dancer]

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Be my Guest, I have tickets on a safe and very luxury Cruiser trough the galaxy it `one the wellknownMechanoid Motherships

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IMPOV the same is true for the rules changes you disparaged amongst d20 games. This has to be done to accomodate different genres. To complain about it in d20 and say of course it's done in GURPS isn't exactly kosher. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. A rolling stone gathers no moss. Whoops! Got carried away there in figures of speech!

IMPOV the rules changes of d20 SW and WoT are another kind of rules changes.
Vitality points/Wound Points in SW, defense rating in WoT, are a difference you hadn`t in GURPS, maybe I overestimated this.

The rules for the force, one Power, the different classes for WoT are adaptions on the setting, magic system etc, and this is one kind of the gurps cchanges, the other is a change to the style of campaigning, the same thing i found in the DMG

Although Joshua addressed this, I also have to say that it is hypocritical to criticize d20 for this, but to give GURPS a free ride. The basic game mechanics of GURPS is no more or less suitable for all the different genres it covers than is d20

Please CH see above

As I've asked in the past, why is it OK for GURPS to try to cover every genre, but not d20?

I´ve no Problem with it.
I´m not so sure If D20 is able to fit tem all well, without to much change in the core rules, ,but that`s the point or I´m Wrong.

EDIT: Joshua - I have to admit I haven't checked out the Middle Earth story hours(s) yet. I keep meaning to, and I will, soon

Itr`s definitely worth to read.

 

[Voadam]

I think Chaosium's BRP rules were an acronym for "Basic Role Playing" system, not B___, Runquest, and Pendragon.

 

[The Traveler]

Aieee! We tried to shoo them away, but they came back! They must be breeding! See, this is what you get with the OGL!

Not all things will convert well to d20 until the system matures more. Until then, I still enjoy, and will likely continue to enjoy GURPS. Which is what this thread is about. I mean, the poor boy (Psionicist) outright asked us to recommend some GURPS books.

I mean, isn't that a bit rude? Would it be acceptable to sneak into a thread about In Nomine or Vampire the Masquerade and say "You know, you could do that in d20. Try d20. You'll love it"

Bah!

Don't get me wrong, I like d20, and buy a lot of d20 stuff, but I don't think it's the one true way, so it's not like all gaming companies are destined to convert to it.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

originally posted by The Traveler

I mean, isn't that a bit rude? Would it be acceptable to sneak into a thread about In Nomine or Vampire the Masquerade and say "You know, you could do that in d20. Try d20. You'll love it"

I guess it's no more rude than to go to a message board labelled thus (see the top of the page):

EN World - d20 News & Reviews > D&D/d20 System Forums > General RPG Discussion > GURPS - a matter of style and setting.

and then complain when others tout the d20 system.

It's the reason we're here in the first place.

 

[Desdichado]

sword-dancer:
IMPOV the rules changes of d20 SW and WoT are another kind of rules changes.
Vitality points/Wound Points in SW, defense rating in WoT, are a difference you hadn`t in GURPS, maybe I overestimated this.

The rules for the force, one Power, the different classes for WoT are adaptions on the setting, magic system etc, and this is one kind of the gurps cchanges, the other is a change to the style of campaigning, the same thing i found in the DMG

I see what you're saying, and you do have a valid point. However, the changes that you say are system changes rather than setting changes are actually (IMO) less intrusive than the setting specific ones. Not only that, those changes are necessary to change the feel of the game (to capture a different genre) and if GURPS doesn't have those every so often, then it is a poor tool as a universal system, because it can only -- by design -- really only do one type of thing well. ALthough I'm not really familiar with GURPS, this is actually a common complaint I've heard about it: it doesn't do anything other than somewhat gritty and "realistic" very well.

The Traveler:
I mean, isn't that a bit rude? Would it be acceptable to sneak into a thread about In Nomine or Vampire the Masquerade and say "You know, you could do that in d20. Try d20. You'll love it"

First off, I think you're misrepresenting what I said. I merely said, since you seem to have missed the fact that the original post is really asking for different settings and styles, and that GURPS was hardly necessary to find different settings and styles. I have no idea if Psionicist is set on GURPS or not, but given the stated nature of his problem, GURPS is not necessarily the best solution for him.

Not only that, as ColonelHardisson, whom I'm agreeing with an awful lot today said, this is a d20 message board. If I can't jump in on a thread asking for how to get new styles and settings and say that d20 does indeed allow play in a variety of styles and settings without being called rude, then there's something fundamentally wrong with someone's (maybe mine, but I doubt it) interpretation of what a d20 message board is supposed to be about!

 

[The Traveler]

I guess it's no more rude than to go to a message board labelled thus (see the top of the page):

EN World - d20 News & Reviews > D&D/d20 System Forums > General RPG Discussion > GURPS - a matter of style and setting.

and then complain when others tout the d20 system.

It's the reason we're here in the first place.

Not my point. Fact is, the thread's been more or less hijacked from its original topic.

I have no idea if Psionicist is set on GURPS or not, but given the stated nature of his problem, GURPS is not necessarily the best solution for him.

...but in this case it's unsolicited advice. Read the first post. Psionicist said he was going with GURPS, and asked people to suggest GURPS supplements and settings to him. How is it your burden to convince him otherwise. He didn't ask if it could be better done in d20. He didn't ask for a debate on the comparative merits of either setting. That means, again, that to do so was a hijack.

 

[hong]

...but in this case it's unsolicited advice. Read the first post. Psionicist said he was going with GURPS, and asked people to suggest GURPS supplements and settings to him. How is it your burden to convince him otherwise. He didn't ask if it could be better done in d20. He didn't ask for a debate on the comparative merits of either setting. That means, again, that to do so was a hijack.

You say that like it's a negative thing.

 

[Kichwas]

If you don't know what you want to play you could try a mix...


Have each player make 3 or more PCs over the time between now and the next session.

Give them X points and declare nothing about the setting or style of the game.

When everyone shows up spend some time having each player pick one of their PCs so they get a group that look likes fun.

Then go with it.

Personally like Tsyr I'd probably choose BESM. Or Theatrix.

Other popular choices for this situation are Hero and FUzion. Or for the diceless crowd there's Theatrix.