What is a Whale?

Alden Loveshade · 03-20-2020, 01:43 PM

I'm looking for GURPS stats on whales, especially the "killer whale" or orca (and yes, I know it's classified as a type of oceanic dolphin).

There's a template for the dolphin in GURPS Banestorm. Anyone know of a GURPS source for whales, especially killer whales?

ericthered · 03-20-2020, 01:49 PM

It's more official, but gurps animalia is a really good source for this sort of thing. It's got orcas.

Alden Loveshade · 03-20-2020, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericthered

It's more official, but gurps animalia is a really good source for this sort of thing. It's got orcas.

My hope is to find an official template, but that's certainly helpful--thanks!

johndallman · 03-20-2020, 03:58 PM

(applies regular expressions)

There's a cyborg orca in Reign of Steel: Will to live, but it's a submarine controlled by an orca brain. Transhuman Space: Shell-Tech has humpback whales and orcas as bioshells with computer brains, so you could assemble an orca out of the pieces.

In 3e material, the Bestiary has orcas and more generic whales, and Transhuman Space: Under Pressure has a comprehensive cetacean construction kit. It's necessary to re-figure ST and HT when converting 3e material about large animals.

RyanW · 03-20-2020, 04:01 PM

You could probably just use dolphin stats and scale up a bit. Or I think there's a template in one of the Transhuman Space books (Bioroid Bazaar?) for a killer whale bioshell (a robot made by implanting a computer in an organic body).

Also, dolphins are a family within the cetacean order, so orcas or any other dolphin can also be accurately described as a whale.

Edit: Ninja'd. Shell-Tech it is.

Pragmatic · 03-20-2020, 05:41 PM

GURPS Blue Planet (3e) has orca and dolphins, IIRC. (I could walk 15 feet to my bookshelf to check, but I'm too lazy. :) And sadly, I think it's licensed, so unless W23 has a physical copy, you're probably out of luck.)

Fred Brackin · 03-20-2020, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

GURPS Blue Planet (3e) has orca and dolphins, IIRC.

Blue Planet does indeed have orcas but you're right about the license.

I would have said that the best hope for an official orca would have been a 4e conversion of the Transhuman space material but a quick search faisl to turn up one.

Dalillama · 03-20-2020, 08:49 PM

The 3e Bestiary has whales in killer and regular flavors, although the stats will want some updates.

Alden Loveshade · 03-21-2020, 10:03 AM

Thanks for your help, GURPSians!

Donny Brook · 03-21-2020, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alden Loveshade

My hope is to find an official template, but that's certainly helpful--thanks!

Honestly, I'd trust GURPS Animalia for accuracy over most 'official' sources on this subject.

03-20-2020, 01:43 PM	#1
Alden Loveshade Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hmm, looks like Earth, circa CE 2020+	What is a Whale? I'm looking for GURPS stats on whales, especially the "killer whale" or orca (and yes, I know it's classified as a type of oceanic dolphin). There's a template for the dolphin in GURPS Banestorm. Anyone know of a GURPS source for whales, especially killer whales? __________________ GURPS Fantasy Folk: Elves My first GURPS supplement Top 12 Clues You're a Role-Playing Old-Timer My humorous (I hope) article that also promotes SJGames/GURPS Kerry Thornley: Dwarf Planet Eris, Discordianism, and The John F. Kennedy Assassination Without Thornley, there would never have been the Steve Jackson Games edition of Principia Discordia

03-20-2020, 01:49 PM	#2
ericthered Hero of Democracy Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: far from the ocean	Re: What is a Whale? It's more official, but gurps animalia is a really good source for this sort of thing. It's got orcas. __________________ Be helpful, not pedantic Worlds Beyond Earth -- my blog Check out the PbP forum! If you don't see a game you'd like, ask me about making one!

03-20-2020, 03:58 PM	#4
johndallman Night Watchman Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Cambridge, UK	Re: What is a Whale? (applies regular expressions) There's a cyborg orca in *Reign of Steel: Will* to live, but it's a submarine controlled by an orca brain. *Transhuman Space: Shell-Tech* has humpback whales and orcas as bioshells with computer brains, so you could assemble an orca out of the pieces. In 3e material, the *Bestiary* has orcas and more generic whales, and *Transhuman Space: Under Pressure* has a comprehensive cetacean construction kit. It's necessary to re-figure ST and HT when converting 3e material about large animals. __________________ The Path of Cunning. Indexes: DFRPG Characters, Advantage of the Week, Disadvantage of the Week, Skill of the Week, Techniques.

03-20-2020, 04:01 PM	#5
RyanW ☣ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southeast NC	Re: What is a Whale? You could probably just use dolphin stats and scale up a bit. Or I think there's a template in one of the Transhuman Space books (Bioroid Bazaar?) for a killer whale bioshell (a robot made by implanting a computer in an organic body). Also, dolphins are a family within the cetacean order, so orcas or any other dolphin can also be accurately described as a whale. Edit: Ninja'd. Shell-Tech it is. __________________ RyanW - Actually one normal sized guy in three tiny trenchcoats.

03-20-2020, 05:41 PM	#6
Pragmatic Ceci n'est pas une tag. Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Vancouver, WA (Portland Metro)	Re: What is a Whale? GURPS Blue Planet (3e) has orca and dolphins, IIRC. (I could walk 15 feet to my bookshelf to check, but I'm too lazy. :) And sadly, I think it's licensed, so unless W23 has a physical copy, you're probably out of luck.) __________________ I'm a collector, not a gamer. =)

03-20-2020, 08:49 PM	#8
Dalillama Join Date: Nov 2004	Re: What is a Whale? The 3e Bestiary has whales in killer and regular flavors, although the stats will want some updates.

03-21-2020, 10:03 AM	#9
Alden Loveshade Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hmm, looks like Earth, circa CE 2020+	Re: What is a Whale? Thanks for your help, GURPSians! __________________ GURPS Fantasy Folk: Elves My first GURPS supplement Top 12 Clues You're a Role-Playing Old-Timer My humorous (I hope) article that also promotes SJGames/GURPS Kerry Thornley: Dwarf Planet Eris, Discordianism, and The John F. Kennedy Assassination Without Thornley, there would never have been the Steve Jackson Games edition of Principia Discordia