GURPS resources for a Vietnam War adventure

[Johan Larson]

Definitely useful:
- base rules
- High Tech
- SEALs in Vietnam

Is that it? There doesn't seem to have been a source-book specific to the whole Vietnam War. There also doesn't seem to have been a GURPS Soldiers or GURPS Military book written. Everything is either more specific (like the WWII books) or more general (like High Tech).

I'm a bit surprised I'm not finding more material. Did I miss something?

[Tomsdad]

Originally Posted by Johan Larson

Definitely useful:
- base rules
- High Tech
- SEALs in Vietnam

Is that it? There doesn't seem to have been a source-book specific to the whole Vietnam War. There also doesn't seem to have been a GURPS Soldiers or GURPS Military book written. Everything is either more specific (like the WWII books) or more general (like High Tech).

I'm a bit surprised I'm not finding more material. Did I miss something?

Well SEALS in Vietnam is pretty comprehensive.

I guess the question is what are you looking for, that your currently missing?

[Ulzgoroth]

Tactical Shooting could be a really good idea.

[Tomsdad]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

Tactical Shooting could be a really good idea.

Oh, good point!

[Johan Larson]

Originally Posted by Tomsdad

Well SEALS in Vietnam is pretty comprehensive.

I guess the question is what are you looking for, that your currently missing?

The plan is to have the players be raw recruits, assigned to an experienced sergeant (an NPC). They'll start out hunting VCs in a quiet sector.

It would be good to know what skills the players should have coming out of Infantry School, and how to stat the sergeant and the VCs. I could invent something myself, but leveraging existing material is good.

[Imion]

If you scratch away the Technomancer parts, GURPS Technomancer: Funny New Guys should be pretty useful. (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/funnynewguys/)

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Johan Larson

There also doesn't seem to have been a GURPS Soldiers or GURPS Military book written.

There hasn't, sadly. However, GURPS Template Toolkit 1: Characters uses soldiers as an example, and finishes with a modern soldier template and NCO and Officer lenses. It's TL8 rather than TL7, but that doesn't present any major difficulties if you have SEALS in Vietnam.

[lachimba]

Originally Posted by Johan Larson

Definitely useful:
- base rules
- High Tech
- SEALs in Vietnam

Is that it? There doesn't seem to have been a source-book specific to the whole Vietnam War. There also doesn't seem to have been a GURPS Soldiers or GURPS Military book written. Everything is either more specific (like the WWII books) or more general (like High Tech).

I'm a bit surprised I'm not finding more material. Did I miss something?

GURPS Special ops?

[Phantasm]

Originally Posted by lachimba

GURPS Special ops?

Maybe, except the bulk of the war was fought by squads of regular soldiers - Army and Marines - in their first few years of service (most right out of boot camp) rather than elite strike teams like the Rangers or SEALs. Special Ops leans more towards the latter than the former. (From what I could piece together, the majority of US casualties in 'Nam came from those in their first tour of duty.)

Also, what period of 'Nam are you focusing on? The start of the war in '56, when the US didn't have as big a presence? The LBJ and Nixon years, when the fighting was fiercest (what most people think of when referencing 'Nam)? The '71 to '75 pullout era?

[Johan Larson]

Originally Posted by Phantasm

Also, what period of 'Nam are you focusing on? The start of the war in '56, when the US didn't have as big a presence? The LBJ and Nixon years, when the fighting was fiercest (what most people think of when referencing 'Nam)? The '71 to '75 pullout era?

I'm thinking they start during the era of heavy US presence, maybe in early '67. That lends itself to a climax of the adventure during the Tet offensive, which would be just perfect.

Finding something appropriate for the team to do is a bit of a challenge because a lot of the US strategy focused on large-unit operations, which doesn't really lend itself to RPG play. (It would be a better fit for wargaming.)

I'm thinking the players start off as a small squad that's part of the security contingent of a firebase. That involves a lot of patrolling the countryside, and could lead to fighting off infiltrators, snipers, mortar units, and maybe even a full-sized attack. They might also pull some convoy duty and have to rescue some downed airmen.