Comments | whiskeyjack: GURPs 4e

whiskeyjack

GURPs 4e

Dec 02, 2009 22:04

Have any of you seen/played the 4th edition? I'm going to want to start some gaming with my kids soon and I was wondering if this is a good place to start. We plan to hit multiple genres so I like the flexibility that GURPs provides but I don't really know what is new and cool (or geared toward children) that may have come out in the last 15 ( Read more... )

Comments 8

wizardru December 3 2009, 15:09:56 UTC

GURPS remains THE game system for a wealth of source material...although quite honestly, the source books feature far less actual game mechanic material than you might expect. My impression is that this is intentional. It was widely known that GURPS sourcebooks sold far better than the game itself, since non-GURPS players would buy them for the wealth of material available and adapt it.

I would recommend hitting my pal Bill's Young Person's Adventurer's League website, too.

I've seen a lot of people also report a good deal of success using Green Ronin's "Mutants and Masterminds" RPG (based on the d20 system) for a variety of genres other than superheroes. I will say that the M&M system was about the only non D&D game we've played more than a single session of in many a year. Dread (an RPG that uses the game 'Jenga' for it's base) is fun, but really only suited for horror.

whiskeyjack December 3 2009, 16:11:45 UTC

I also have an ulterior motive. RPG + GURPs historical sourcebook = stealth history lesson.

I assume that the sourcebooks aren't completely accurate historically but it's been my impression that neither are history books written for children so no loss there.

I wasn't sure if I should be looking at 'rules light' systems like FUDGE but when I glanced at it I felt like it would require too much prep on my part. Maybe I wouldn't feel that way once I'd used it.

xerhino December 3 2009, 18:48:43 UTC

We could produce a "historical adventures for kids" module. "The Case of the Pharaoh's Snake Staff", "Hercules' Lesser Known Labors.",...

wizardru December 3 2009, 18:50:49 UTC

By and large, the GURPS books are pretty well researched. They're not always the most accurate things on paper, but they generally are labors of love to the authors and decent introductions to the subject material.

Stealth History is Good.

Thread 5

lynxreign December 3 2009, 15:36:41 UTC

I haven't seen any of the GURPS stuff since I was in college, but they do offer a huge variety not found in any other gaming system.

xerhino December 3 2009, 18:54:00 UTC

You are too right. There are more than a dozen just for WWII. For instance, GURPS WWII: Doomed White Eagle gives you everything you need to know to play Polish characters in a WWII roleplaying campaign.

freesia_fan December 4 2009, 04:44:15 UTC

The only thing I would add to what's already been said is that GURPS is quite user friendly. And since you're already familiar with the system, that will allow you to focus on the kids and the plot without having to 'learn the system' as you go, as well. (Some things can only be ironed out in practice, rather than theory)

I did a search and found this link. I know you're fully capable, but the examples made me smile...

http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/columns/soap07oct05.html

Here's also a few alternate sources for you:

http://rpg.geekdo.com/geeklist/47577

Knock yourself out. Let me know how it goes?