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Erling · 06-05-2018, 02:08 AM

I was tinkering with GURPS firearms and suddenly came up with an idea that some RPG systems remind me of handgun rounds. Here are my musings:

GURPS is 10mm Auto. While some people used to believe it would become mainstream, it didn't and perhaps never will. Nevertheless it has some undeniable attractive qualities and strong following. Other trends come and pass, but 10mm retains its point. It can be loaded as mild as .40 S&W for self-defense (casual gaming) or as hot as .357 Magnum for boar hunting (hardcore gaming with lots of simulation). Most people say it's too much of a round (steeper learning curve). Other people use it for their advantage (higher complexity gives its benefits).

Savage Worlds is .40 S&W. It was marketed as a compromise round which draws the best features from two worlds – that of 9mm (systems with mild rules complexity) and that of .45 (formidable rulesets with lots of options and capability of being generic systems) – while being tamer and smaller than 10mm, and some people believe it does. At the same time it's often shuned by all three aforementioned lobbies altogether. .45 proponents say it's only marginally bigger than 9mm (doesn't have enough subsystems and options for tinkering) and has excessive recoil (not as neatly made as D&D). 9mm proponents say it's, well, only marginally bigger than 9mm and has exessive recoil. 10mm proponents say that it's watered down to the point of uselessness. It was popular with some serious people (there are many RPGs and settings (re)published as SaWo conversions) for a pretty long timespan, but it looks like it will never climb any higher. Most people with either go with something more powerful and versatile (10mm) or with something long-established (.45 or 9mm). Still, it does its job and sometimes it does hit the sweet spot.

D&D 3.5 is .45 ACP. Formidable, venerated, respected. Has a cult following and lots of versatility. Spawned many derivatives, from .45 ACP +P (Pathfinder) to uncanny things like .41 Avenger (OGL-based homebrew monsters).

Fate Core is 5.7x28mm. Relatively new and strange guy in the town. Most people don't take it seriously since it has rougly half the diameter of more traditional rounds (very brief and streamlines rules). Nevertheless its designers claim that their concept's effectiveness is based on laws of physics (on core gaming and storytelling principles) and it can beat the new challenges like piercing body armor (like streamlining the gaming process without watering it down to Magic Tea Party).

I'm not really sure which system suits the role of 9mm Luger best. Obviously it should be D&D Next since it's the most popular RPG in the world, but it hasn't been around for enough time.

Well, that's how I see it. Maybe you have another associations?

06-05-2018, 02:08 AM	#1
Erling Join Date: Sep 2014	RPG systems as handgun cartridges I was tinkering with GURPS firearms and suddenly came up with an idea that some RPG systems remind me of handgun rounds. Here are my musings: GURPS is 10mm Auto. While some people used to believe it would become mainstream, it didn't and perhaps never will. Nevertheless it has some undeniable attractive qualities and strong following. Other trends come and pass, but 10mm retains its point. It can be loaded as mild as .40 S&W for self-defense (casual gaming) or as hot as .357 Magnum for boar hunting (hardcore gaming with lots of simulation). Most people say it's too much of a round (steeper learning curve). Other people use it for their advantage (higher complexity gives its benefits). Savage Worlds is .40 S&W. It was marketed as a compromise round which draws the best features from two worlds – that of 9mm (systems with mild rules complexity) and that of .45 (formidable rulesets with lots of options and capability of being generic systems) – while being tamer and smaller than 10mm, and some people believe it does. At the same time it's often shuned by all three aforementioned lobbies altogether. .45 proponents say it's only marginally bigger than 9mm (doesn't have enough subsystems and options for tinkering) and has excessive recoil (not as neatly made as D&D). 9mm proponents say it's, well, only marginally bigger than 9mm and has exessive recoil. 10mm proponents say that it's watered down to the point of uselessness. It was popular with some serious people (there are many RPGs and settings (re)published as SaWo conversions) for a pretty long timespan, but it looks like it will never climb any higher. Most people with either go with something more powerful and versatile (10mm) or with something long-established (.45 or 9mm). Still, it does its job and sometimes it does hit the sweet spot. D&D 3.5 is .45 ACP. Formidable, venerated, respected. Has a cult following and lots of versatility. Spawned many derivatives, from .45 ACP +P (Pathfinder) to uncanny things like .41 Avenger (OGL-based homebrew monsters). Fate Core is 5.7x28mm. Relatively new and strange guy in the town. Most people don't take it seriously since it has rougly half the diameter of more traditional rounds (very brief and streamlines rules). Nevertheless its designers claim that their concept's effectiveness is based on laws of physics (on core gaming and storytelling principles) and it can beat the new challenges like piercing body armor (like streamlining the gaming process without watering it down to Magic Tea Party). I'm not really sure which system suits the role of 9mm Luger best. Obviously it should be D&D Next since it's the most popular RPG in the world, but it hasn't been around for enough time. Well, that's how I see it. Maybe you have another associations? __________________ When in deadly danger, When beset by doubt, Run in little circles, Wave your arms and shout. Last edited by Erling; 06-05-2018 at 02:23 AM.