GURPS - Basic Set 3rd Edition.pdf - GURPS - kucfilm

INTRODUCTION.....................5

How to Learn GURPS .............................5

Materials Needed for Play .......................6

About the Author...................................... 6

MORE FOR GURPS...................7

WHAT IS ROLEPLAYING?........8

QUICK START...........................9

A Note on Dice.........................................9

CREATING A CHARACTER ..10

Character Types................................... ..10

Individualizing Your Character...................11

Beginning Point Levels ..........................11

Game-World Adaptations and

Nonhuman Races.............................. 11

Sample Character Sheet .........................12

1. BASIC ATTRIBUTES...........13

Beginning Attribute Levels and

Their Meanings.................................13

How to Select Basic Attributes............... 13

Handedness............................................13

Your Speed Score...................................14

Children.......................................................14

Example of Character Creation............ .14

Listing Attributes on Your

Character Sheet.......................... ......14

2. PHYSICAL APPEARANCE ..15

Height and Weight.................................15

Height/Weight Tables............................. 15

3. WEALTH AND STATUS......16

Wealth..........................................................16

Starting Wealth................. ......................16

Reputation.................................................... 17

Literacy .................................................. 17

Status ........................................................... 18

Example of Character Creation

(Continued)....................................... 18

4. ADVANTAGES.....................19

Advantages ..................................................19

Allies............................................................23

Patrons.........................................................24

New Advantages..........................................25

Example of Advantage Selection ................25

5. DISADVANTAGES…..............26

Social Disadvantages...................................26

Physical Disadvantages ...............................27

Mental Disadvantages .................................30

Dependents ..................................................38

Duties...........................................................39

Enemies .......................................................39

Notes on Disadvantages ..............................40

New Disadvantages .....................................40

Example of Disadvantage Selection............40

6. QUIRKS................................41

Example of Character Creation

(Continued)......................................41

7. SKILLS..................................42

Index of Skills...................................... ...42

Learning Skills.............................................42

Improving Your Skills............................ .42

Free Increases in Skills..................... .....42

Choosing Your Beginning Skills ...........43

Prerequisites...........................................43

Specializing........................................... .43

Familiarity............................................. .43

Point Costs for Skills...................................43

Physical Skills ........................................44

Mental Skills ..........................................44

Skill Defaults: Using Skills

You Don't Know.......................... ......44

Defaulting to Other Skills...................... .44

Improving Skills with Defaults...............45

Meaning of Skill Levels ..............................45

List of Skills ................................................46

New Skills ..............................................46

Animal Skills...............................................46

Artistic Skills...............................................47

Athletic Skills..............................................48

Combat/Weapon Skills................................49

Craft Skills...................................................53

Hobby Skills ................................................54

Language Skills ...........................................54

Magical Skills..............................................55

Medical Skills..............................................56

Outdoor Skills..............................................57

Professional Skills .......................................58

Psionic Skills...............................................59

Scientific Skills............................................59

Social Skills.................................................62

Thief/Spy Skills...........................................65

Vehicle Skills...............................................68

Example of Skill Selection ..........................70

8. EQUIPMENT AND

ENCUMBRANCE ................71

Money..........................................................71

Buying Equipment.......................................71

Clothing and Armor ...............................71

Do You Need Armor?.......................... ...71

Listing Armor on Your Character Sheet...12

Layering Armor...................................... 72

Choosing Your Weapons .......................73

Weapon Effects....................................... 73

Basic Weapon Damage ..........................74

Weapon Tables.......................................74

Weapon Quality............................... .......74

Improvised Weapons........................... ...75

Minimum Strength..................................75

Choosing Your Shield ............................75

Drawbacks of Shields......................... ....75

Types of Shield ......................................76

Listing Your Shield on Your

Character Sheet ................................76

Encumbrance...............................................76

Encumbrance Levels ..............................76

Don't Let the Encumbrance Rules

Weigh You Down ..............................76

Recording Encumbrance on Your

Character Sheet .................................77

Example of Equipment and

Encumbrance.................................... 77

Your Move Score ........................................77

9. COMPLETING YOUR

CHARACTER......................78

Dai Blackthorn's Story...................... .....79

The Character Illustration............................80

Things Not Shown on the Character Sheet ...80

Character Stories .........................................80

Jobs..............................................................80

10. CHARACTER

DEVELOPMENT .................81

Unspent Points.................................... ...81

Improvement Through Adventure............... 81

Disadvantages Gained During Play ......81

Improvement Through Study.................. 82

Age and Aging.............................................83

11. RANDOM

CHARACTERS.....................84

Skin, Hair and Eyes...................... ..........84

Instant NPCs........................................ ..85

12. SUCCESS ROLLS .…..............86

Default Rolls ..........................................86

Critical Success and Failure.................. 86

Automatic Success .................................87

When the GM Rolls ................................87

Contest of Skills ..........................................87

Examples of Contests of Skills. ............... 87

Physical Feats ..............................................88

Running..................................................88

Jumping..................................................88

Jumping During Combat....................... .88

Jumping with Encumbrance ................... 88

Climbing.................................................89

Lifting and Moving Things ....................89

Shoving Things and Knocking

Them Over...................................... ...89

Throwing Things....................................90

Throwing Distance Table.................. .....90

Examples of Throwing Things....... .........90

Digging...................................................90

Digging: Some Comparative Holes .......91

Swimming ..............................................91

Holding Your Breath......................... .....91

Sense Rolls..................................................92

Vision.....................................................92

Hearing...................................................92

Smelling and Tasting..............................92

Repeated Attempts on Success Rolls ......92

Influence Rolls........................................93

Long Tasks .............................................93

WillRolls.....................................................93

Fright Checks...............................................93

Fright Check Table.................................94

13. BASIC COMBAT................95

Combat Turn Sequence ...............................95

Turn Sequence........................................95

Maneuvers..............................................95

Move ......................................................95

Change Position .....................................95

Ready......................................................95

Aim.........................................................95

Flails ................................................ ......95

Attack.....................................................96

Ail-Out Attack........................................96

Feint........................................................96

Reloading Time ......................................96

"My Weapon's Stuck!" -

The Problem with Picks....................96

Wait........................................................97

Ail-Out Defense ...................... ...............97

Concentrate ............................................97

Long Action ...........................................97

Free Actions ...........................................97

Making an Attack ........................................97

Example of Combat................................97

Adverse Combat Conditions:

Hit Penalties .....................................98

Critical Hits......................................... ...98

Defense........................................................98

Active Defense.......................................98

Dodging..................................................98

Blocking.................................................98

Parrying..................................................99

Passive Defense... ...................................99

Basic Weapon Effects.............................99

Effects of Injury......................................99

Damage and Injury ....................................100

Ranged Weapons.......................................100

Thrown Weapons .................................100

Special Ranged Attacks....................... .100

Missile Weapons ..................................101

Unarmed Combat....................................... 101

Carrying Weapons

(and Other Things).......................... 101

Animals in Combat............................... 101

14. ADVANCED COMBAT ...102

MOVEMENT ...........................................102

The Combat Map.......................................102

"Reach" of a Weapon.......................... 102

Facing........................................................102

Forward Movement and Facing.......... .103

Maneuvers .................................................103

Change Position ...................................103

Changing Position in Armor:

An Optional Rule ........................... .103

Aim.......................................................103

Step and Ready.....................................104

Step and Attack ....................................104

When is a Weapon Ready?................... 104

The Fast-Draw Skill............................. 105

Ail-Out Attack................................... ....105

Wild Swings.........................................105

Step and Feint.......................................105

Knockback............................................ 106

Step and Concentrate............................106

Step and Wait....................................... 106

"Wait" Maneuver Strategy.............. ....106

All-Out Defense ...................................106

Long Action .........................................106

Move .................................................... 107

Costs for Movement.............................. 107

Free Actions .........................................107

Attacks.......... .............................................108

Quicker Combats..................................108

Defense......................................................108

Passive Defense in the Advanced

Combat System............................ ....I08

Dodging................................................108

Blocking...............................................108

Parrying................................................108

"Runaround" Attacks ...........................108

Retreating......................... .....................109

HIT LOCATION .....................................109

Hit Penalties for Different Body Parts... 109

Deciding Where To Attack.................. .109

Massive Damage: "Blow-Through ".... 109

Critical Hits ...............................................109

Stunning...............................................110

Advanced Injury Rules .........................110

Striking at Weapons............................. 110

Critical Misses...........................................110

Critical Misses on Defense Rolls .........110

Choosing Your Armor - Advanced Rules... 110

CLOSE COMBAT...................................111

Maneuvers in Close Combat .....................111

Step and Attack Maneuver...................111

Weapons for Close Combat.................. 112

Step and Ready Maneuver ................... 112

Change Position Maneuver.................. 112

Move Maneuver................................... 112

Evading ................................................ 113

Free Actions......................................... 113

Other Maneuvers.................................. 113

Dropped Weapons................................ 113

Broken Weapons................................... 113

Defense in Close Combat.......................... 113

Multiple Close Combat.............................. 114

Striking Into a Close Combat............... 114

Shields in Close Combat...................... 114

Modifying Dice + Adds:

An Optional Rule ............................ 114

RANGED WEAPONS.............................114

Thrown Hand Weapons........................ 114

Scatter...................................................119

Guns...........................................................119

Single-Shot Weapons...........................119

Automatic Weapons.............................119

Counting Shots: An Optional Rule....... 119

Stunners................................................ 119

Shotguns............................................... 119

Power Supplies..................................... 119

Damage to Shields: An Optional Rule ... 120

Area Effect...........................................121

Explosions .................................................121

Concussion Damage............................. 121

Molotov Cocktails and Oil Flasks....... .121

SPECIAL SITUATIONS ........................122

Suffocation.. .......................................... 122

Subduing a Foe..........................................122

Surprise Attacks and Initiative ..................122

Mass Combat....................................... .123

Dirty Tricks .......................................... 123

Attacking with a Shield.............................123

Combat at Different Levels .......................123

Attack from Above....................................124

Torches and Flashlights....................... 124

Attacking Inanimate Objects.....................125

Damage Resistance and Hit Points

for Some Typical Objects ...............125

15. INJURIES, ILLNESS

AND FATIGUE..................126

Injuries....................................................... 126

General Damage (Lost Hit Points).......126

Example of Injury.................................126

Instant Death........................................126

Effects of Crippling Injuries................. 127

First Aid ...............................................127

First Aid Table .....................................128

Starvation and Dehydration.. ............... 128

Natural Recovery .................................128

Medical Care........................................ 128

Medical HelpTable..............................128

Accumulated Wounds:

An Optional Rule ............................ 129

Last Wounds: An Optional Rule........... 129

Dying Actions.................................... ...129

Assorted Hazards .................................129

Bleeding: An Optional Rule .................130

Hit Location from a Fall...................... 131

Poisoned Weapons............................... 132

Examples of Poison Gas....................... 132

Illness.........................................................133

Disease .................................................133

Contagion......... ....................................133

Immunity and Susceptibility .................133

Infection...............................................133

Fatigue.......................................................134

Fatigue Costs ....................................... 134

Recovering from Fatigue......................134

16. MOUNTED AND

VEHICLE COMBAT ..........135

Mounted Combat.......................................135

Movement ............................................135

Losing Control of Your Mount

and Other Equestrian Disasters ..... 135

Cavalry Weapons .................................136

Lance Combat: Thrusting Damage

for ST 21-50....................................136

Weapon Fire from a Moving Vehicle or

Howdah ...................................... 136

Vehicle Weapon Mountings.. ................137

Defense................................................. 137

Combat Results ....................................137

Vehicular Combat......................................138

The Human Target...............................138

Shots Penetrating an Automobile........ .137

Thrown Objects....................................114

Missile Weapons..................................114

Ranged Weapon Stats ..........................115

Arc of Vision......................................... 115

Fast-Draw for Archers......................... 115

Shooting Blind...................................... 115

Ranged Attacks on Human Targets..... .115

Attacking with a Ranged Weapon.............116

Pop-Up Attacks.................................... 116

Aiming.................................................. 116

Thrown Weapons.................................. 116

Firing on the Move............................... 117

Firing Through an Occupied Hex ........ 117

Hitting the Wrong Target..................... 117

Cover and Concealment....................... 118

Opportunity Fire.................................. 118

Other "Opportunity" Actions .............. 119

Overshooting........................................119

17. FLIGHT............................139

Movement ............................................139

Combat Maneuvers ..............................139

Attacks and Defenses...........................139

18. ANIMALS.........................140

Combat................................................. 140

Biting Damage ..................................... 140

Animal Descriptions............................. 141

Multi-Hex Creatures............................. 141

Pets and Trained Animals ....................143

Riding and Draft Animals ....................144

Individualizing Animals....................... 145

Fantasy Creatures................................ 145

19. MAGIC.............................146

Learning Magic .........................................146

Prerequisites......................................... 146

Finding a Teacher................................146

Hiring a Wizard.................................. ..146

Casting Spells............................................146

Caster and Subject................................147

Time Required to Cast Spells............... 147

Mana .................................................... 147

The Ethics of Magic ........................... ..147

Magical Terms..................................... 148

Distraction and Injury ..........................148

Energy Cost for Casting Spells ............148

Duration of Spells and

Maintaining Spells ..........................148

Casting Spells While Maintaining

Other Spells.....................................149

The Mage's Touch................................ 149

Wand and Staff.................................. ...149

Magic in the Basic Combat System...... 149

Different Kinds of Magic ..........................149

Colleges of Magic ................................149

Spell Classes.........................................149

The Area of Effect................................ .150

Hints for Spellcasting............... ............ 150

Ranged Attack Modifiers......................150

Limits on Protection............................. 150

Long-Distance Modifiers..................... 151

Ceremonial and Group Magic ...................151

Alternate Systems of Magic........... ....... 151

Magic Items............................................... 152

Enchanting: Creating a Magic Item...........152

Value of Magic Items ........................... 152

Power of a Magic Item......................... 152

Success Rolls when Creating

M agic Items ....................................152

Quick and Dirty Enchantment..............152

Slow and Sure Enchantment ................153

Using a Magic Item ...................................153

"Always On" Items ..............................153

Making Magic Items in a Campaign.... 154

Controlling PC Enchantment............... 154

Magical Entities........................................ .154

Spell List.................................................... 154

Animal Spells ............................... .............155

Communication and Empathy Spells ........155

Elemental Spells........................................ 156

Earth Spells................................................ 156

Elemental Spirit Spells.........................156

Air Spells...................................................157

Fire Spells..................................................158

Water Spells...............................................159

Enchantment Spells ...................................160

Weapon Enchantments.........................160

Armor Enchantments ...........................161

Spells for Wizardly Tools ....................161

Healing Spells............................................162

Knowledge Spells......................................162

Light and Darkness Spells......................... 163

Making and Breaking Spells .....................164

Mind Control Spells ..................................164

20. PSIONICS .........................165

Notes for the GM.................................. 165

Power and Skill..........................................165

Using Psi Abilities.....................................165

Fatigue Cost......................................... 165

Concentration and Time Required .......166

Repeated Attempts.............................. ..166

Default Use...........................................166

Latent Powers.......................................166

Critical Success and Failure with Psi ... 166

Extra Effort...........................................166

Telepathy................................................... 166

Active and Passive Skills...................... 167

Multiple Feats ......................................161

Glossary...............................................168

Two-Way Communication.................... 169

Three-Way Communication .................169

Psionics and Magic........................... ...170

So Which Is Better?.............................170

Using Psi with Other Skills................. .171

Psychokinesis ............................................172

Telekinetic Attacks ...............................172

Telekinetic Throwing............................ 173

Pside Effects.................................... .....174

ESP............................................................174

Teleportation..............................................175

Healing......................................................175

Antipsi .......................................................176

Limitations................................................. 176

21. GAME MASTERING .......177

Starting a Game Session............................177

Advance Preparation ..........................177

Campaign Style.................................... 177

Maps.....................................................177

Player -Made Maps.. ............................. 178

Mapping Overland Journeys................ 179

Running the Game.....................................179

Settling Rules Questions...................... .179

Playing the NPCs .................................179

Playing the Adversary ..........................180

Reaction Rolls......................................180

Predetermined Reactions .....................180

Second Reaction Rolls.......................... 180

Special Skills........................................ 180

Knowledge...........................................181

Keeping the Characters Alive ..............181

When in Doubt, Roll and Shout..... ......181

Dealing with the Players...................... 182

The Cinematic Campaign..................... 183

Game Time........................................... 183

Ending a Play Session ...............................183

Awarding Character Points........................184

Time Use Sheets ...................................184

22. GAME WORLDS .............185

Tech Levels ...............................................185

Tech Levels - General Historical

Comparison..................................... 185

Transportation...................................... 185

Weapons and Armor............................ .186

Power................................................... 186

Medicine...............................................186

Travel.........................................................187

Improving Skills in Alternate

Tech Levels.................................... .187

Terrain and Travel................................187

Weather................................................ 187

Laws and Customs.....................................188

Travel Etiquette.................................... 189

Law Enforcement and Jail....................189

Trials ....................................................189

Criminal Punishment.......................... 189

Economics .................................................189

Gold and Silver .................................... 190

Controlling Inflation...........................190

Buying and Selling...............................190

Social Level and Cost of Living........... 191

Moving Money Between Worlds. .......... 191

Making Your Own Goods..................... 191

Jobs.......................................................192

Income from Jobs.................................192

Defining New Jobs ............................... 192

Slavery................................................193

Sample Job Table (Fantasy/Medieval)... 194

Hirelings....................................................194

Finding a Hireling ................................194

Loyalty Checks..................................... 195

Religion and Politics..................................195

23. WRITING YOUR

OWN AD VENTURES........196

Where Do You Get Your Ideas? ...............196

Adventure Design......................................196

Dungeons..............................................196

Level of Difficulty................................196

Background.......................................... 196

Plot.......................................................197

Introduction.......................................... 197

Traps.................................................... 197

Maps.....................................................198

Characters (NPCs and Adversaries).....198

Encounters............................................198

Features of a Good Adventure........... ..198

Sample Encounter Table...................... 198

Finale.................................................... 199

Organizing a Continuing Campaign..........199

Shared Campaigns and Travel

Between Campaigns..................... ...199

Travel Between Game Worlds ..................200

World-Building.................................. ...200

We 're Professionals (Don't Try

This at Home)..................................200

CHARTS AND TABLES.........201

Ranged Weapon Attacks ...........................201

Ranged Attack Modifiers ..........................201

Size and Speed/Range Table .....................201

Critical Hits Table .....................................202

Critical Success and Failure ......................202

Critical Head Blow Table..........................202

Firearm Critical Miss Table.......................202

Maneuvers .................................................203

Parts of the Body .......................................203

Table of Positions ......................................203

NPC Reactions...........................................204

Reaction Table...........................................205

Ancient/Medieval Hand Weapon Table ....206

Ancient/Medieval Ranged Weapon Table...207

Modern and Ultra-Tech Weapons .............208

Ancient/Medieval Armor...........................210

Modern and Ultra-Tech Armor .................211

Areas for Parts of the Body..................211

Fantasy/Medieval Equipment....................212

Modern Equipment....................................213

Sample Characters ..................................214

ALL IN A NIGHT'S WORK...218

APPENDIX.............................232

ADVANTAGES .......................................232

DISADVANTAGES ................................238

SKILLS.....................................................242

OTHER RULES ......................................247

Power Cells ..........................................247

Vital Organs .........................................248

Super-Strength......................................248

Society Control Ratings .......................249

Weapon Legality ..................................249

GLOSSARY.............................250

INDEX....................................252

GURPS stands for "Generic Universal Roleplaying System." The name was originally

a joke ... a code-word to describe the game while we looked for a "real" name. Years

went by - literally! - as the game developed. We never found a better name. GURPS

may sound strange, but it really fits.

"Generic." Some people like quick, fast-moving games, where the referee makes

lots of decisions to keep things moving. Others want ultimate detail, with rules for every

contingency. Most of us fall somewhere in between. GURPS starts with simple rules,

and - especially in the combat system - builds up to as much optional detail as you like.

But it's still the same game. You may all use it differently, but your campaigns will all be

compatible.

"Universal." The basic rule system emphasizes realism. Therefore, it can fit any

situation - fantasy or historical, past, present or future. I've always thought it was silly for

game companies to publish one set of rules for fantasy, another one for Old West,

another one for science fiction and another one for super-powers. GURPS is one set of

rules that's comprehensive enough to let you use any background. There are world-

books and supplements that "fine-tune" the generic system for any game-world you

want. But they are still compatible. If you want to take your Wild West gunslinger and

your WWII commando and go fortune-hunting in Renaissance Italy ... go for it!

"Roleplaying." This is not just a hack-and-slash game. The rules are written to

make true roleplaying possible - and. in fact, to encourage it. GURPS is a game in

which you take on the persona of another character - and pretend, for a little while, to be

that character.

"System." It really is. Most other RPGs are not "systems" - they started out as a

simple set of rules, and then were patched and modified, ad infinitum. That makes them

hard to play. GURPS is a unified whole. We've gone to a great deal of effort to make

sure that it all works together, and it all works. GURPS will let you create any character

you can imagine, and do anything you can think of... and it all makes sense.

How to Learn GURPS

Most of you have some experience with

roleplaying games already. You should find

GURPS easy to pick up. But if this is your

first RPG, you'll have a little more to learn.

Relax; if you got this far, you'll be fine.

Don't be alarmed by the thickness of

the book. There's a lot of material here -

250,000 words, more or less - but we've

done our best to make it easy to use. Both

the Table of Contents and the Index are as

detailed as we could manage.

Several features have been designed

specifically to make the rules easier to

learn. These include:

The Quick-Start section (p. 9). This is a

one-page description of the basic GURPS

game mechanics.

The Glossary (p. 250). This is a listing

of definitions of the terms used in the

game, along with page references.

"All In A Night's Work, " the introductory

solo adventure, which starts on p. 218. This

adventure is designed for one player (no

Game Master is needed). You can play it as

one of the pre-generated characters (pp.

214-217). even if you don't yet know the

rules. It's written to help you learn as you

go; it can also be used by an experienced

GM to teach the game to friends.

Here's a good way to learn GURPS:

Start by skimming through this book, just to

get the flavor of the game. Don't worry about

the details yet.

Then read the Quick -Start section to

understand the basic game mechanics.

After that, read through the Characters

section, just to get an idea of the different

things characters can do.

Then play All In A Night's Work. Any

time something is unclear, use the

Glossary or Index to find the rule sections you

need.

Then try creating your own character, and

play again. Try to design a 100-point

character that can best survive the adventure.

Finally, read the rest of the rules in

detail, including Chapter 21, Game

Mastering. Now you can be the GM and

run a few of your friends through the solo

adventure . . . either one at a time, or all

cooperating at once to play the thief! You'll find

that you already know enough to get along,

and you'll learn fast. These rules were

designed to fade into the background and let

you play the way you want to.

Now you're ready to invent your own

advent ures - see Chapter 23. You can do

whatever you want . . . that's the whole

point of the system. Have fun!

I've wanted to do this game for a long, long time. Several years ago, I designed my

first fantasy roleplaying system.* It was good, but it had flaws. For one thing, like other

RPGs, it "grew" from a simple set of rules, and had many inconsistencies. And, though it

had the potential to be a universal system, it was never developed past the basic "fantasy"

game-world. When the publisher went out of business, the game went out of print. I was

disappointed ... but it motivated me to start on a new and better system.

I've never tried to design in a vacuum; every game builds on the ones that came

before. We learn from our successes - and from the successes of others. I think the best

games are those that are simple, clear and easy to read, and I've tried hard to make

GURPS "friendly." One important influence was Hero Games' Champions, for the

flexibility of its character -creation system. Another was Flying Buffalo's Tunnels &

Trolls, for its appeal to solitaire gamers. Finally. M.A.R. Barker's Empire of the Petal

Throne is noteworthy for the detail and richness of its alien game world.

But there's more to GURPS than trying to repeat past success. The failures of earlier

game systems are important, too. In GURPS. I've tried to achieve several things I think

earlier designs missed.

*The Fantasy Trip (Metagaming). comprising several products released from 19" to 1980.

Materials Needed for Play

The GURPS Basic Set is a 256-page

book; its major sections, after the introduc-

tory material, are Characters, Adventuring,

Game Mastering and Charts and Tables,

plus the adventure.

Also included is a 16-page perfor ated

section in the back of the book. It is

intended to be removed from the book.

First is the "Instant Characters" play aid, a

reference for you to use in creating charac-

ters. Also supplied are two blank character

sheets.

There is a two-sided 11"xl7" map with a

hex grid (you'll have to tape two pages

together to form the map). One side of the

completed map represents a building inte-

rior; the other side shows an outdoor area.

Each hex on the map is a yard across.

Blank hex paper-is also provided in two

sizes.

Three forms for the GM to use are also

provided. They are explained in more

detail in the chapter on Game Mastering.

You will also need:

Photocopies of the Character Record

Sheet, and the other planning and record

sheets, for player use. Make as many

copies as you need (for your own use only-

not for resale) before you start to play.

Likewise, you may copy the various charts

and tables, and the Random Characters

section, for your own use.

Three six-sided dice.

Pencils and scratch paper.

Removable tape - to hold the maps

down on the table (optional).

The GM will need his maps, notes, etc.,

for the adventure you're going to play.

Second, and almost as important, is organization. Any realistic RPG has a lot of

detail. After all, life has a lot of detail! So RPGs should be well-organized. But few are.

Even, gamer has had the experience of hunting frantically through one book after another,

looking for a rule . . . and not finding it. GURPS is extensively cross-referenced, with Table

of Contents. Index and a Glossary of terms used in the game. I hope this helps.

Third is ease of play. In GURPS, most of the detailed calculations are done before

you start play . . . they are entered on the character sheet, and saved until you need them.

Once play actually begins, it should not be complex. I've tried to make GURPS as fast-

moving yet realistic as possible. It's up to you to decide whether I succeeded.

Most roleplaying systems depend for their success on a continual flow of "official"

supplements and adventures. GURPS is different. True, we've released a lot of material

already, and we plan to do much more: a totally universal system offers great leeway,

and we've got a supplement list as long as your arm. See the next page for details.

But GURPS is designed to be as compatible as possible with supplements written

for different games. The reason? Simple. Suppose that you're a GURPS player. You're at

the hobby shop, and you see a really interesting supplement package. But it's by another

publisher, for another game.

So what?

The GURPS system breaks everything down into plain English and simple numbers.

Distances are given in feet and miles, rather than arbitrary units; times are given in minutes

and seconds. That's what makes it generic. That also makes it easy to translate. If you see

an interesting supplement for another game, go right ahead and get it. You can use it as a

sourcebook for GURPS.

Likewise, if you really insist on playing another game once in a while (sigh). . . you

can still use your GURPS adventures. As long as that other game uses units that you can

translate into feet, minutes and other plain-English terms, you can use your GURPS ;

adventures in that system.

To be honest, we hope GURPS will become the "standard" roleplaying system. But

we don't expect to do that by driving everyone else out of the market, or even by forcing

them to conform to us. Instead, we are conforming to them - by producing a system that

will work with any clearly-written adventure.

At any rate, here it is. I'm satisfied that GURPS is the most realistic, flexible and

"universal" system ever developed. It was five years in the making, and this Third

Edition is the product of another two years of development and player comment after the

initial release. I hope you like it.

About the Author

Steve Jackson has been playing games

for entirely too many years, and designing

professionally since 1977. His other game

design credits include Ogre and G.E.V.,

the award- winning Illuminati, the best-

selling Car Wars and many others. He has

served as secretary of the Game

Manufacturers Association, and is the

youngest person ever inducted into the

Origins "Hall of Fame."

He is the founder of Steve Jackson

Games, in Austin, Texas.

Steve is an active member of the

Science Fiction Writers of America. He is

also an active science fiction fan, and

wastes a great deal of time writing for various

zines and attending (or helping to run)

conventions.

When he's not at a game or science fic-

tion convention, his hobbies include

BBSing, beekeeping, gardening (especially

water lilies) and tropical fish.

— Steve Jackson

GURPS - Basic Set 3rd Edition.pdf

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