What's your opinion of GURPS?

[Conaill]

Cons:
1. Characters never really advance. You gain more skill points, which you can use to improve your combat skills, or attributes (attribute advancement has an insanely high cost.), but you never really gain power like in D&D. In D&D higher level characters have tons of hit points and can withstand a lot of damage, but in GURPS high point character don't really get much tougher.

True, GURPS characters don't really advance, they develop! I.e. the characters' stats and capabilities don't undergo drastic changes from level to level. But I've seen way more character development happening in GURPS than I've ever seen in D&D so far.

In D&D, you character essentially doubles in power every 6-8 sessions, because over that time said the character will gains two levels, with all the associated gains in BAB, spells, additional equipment from loot, etc. This is not a calculation that would even occur to a GURPS player! Said player might say "Yeah, my character probably could take on twice as many opponents after the first 6-8 sessions into a campaign. But that's because the party as a whole is starting to gel after that time, finding out each other's strengths and weaknesses, learning how to work together as a well-oiled team, gaining in trust and cooperation."

Which attitude do you think would tend to encourage more roleplaying, hmm?

 

[Macbeth]

Let me just say that I have found that both GURPS and D&D have strengths and weaknesses. I have found that GURPS characters can fell like they aren't advancing, but I also feel that D&D characters tend to make huge jumps in power. GURPS combat does not have to be slow, even using the advanced combat rules (with a good DM), but D&D combat does not have to be shallow (try using the parrying feats from Dragon #301). D&D magic is dramatic, GURPS magic is subtle (and maybe SLIGHTLY weak, but not very).
Each system has its uses. GURPS makes chracters feel human. Its great for games where the PCs shouldnt feel strong. Try playing the GURPS setting Reign of Steel. The PCs SHOULD feel weak compared to the robots, and this same feel is hard to achieve with D&D. D&D however, gives every adventure an epic feel. The PCs always seem to be growing in power. These inherent advantages and disadvantages make each system worthwhile.
My conclusion is: If at all possible, play both D&D/d20 and GURPS. You wont regret it.