GURPS Key Feature - Page 2

Pursuivant · 06-01-2023, 08:05 PM

The rules for most real world stuff, like how much you can lift, how fast you can climb, or how far can you jump, is based on physics and research.

GURPS is, or can be, a fairly realistic melee or small arms skirmish combat simulator.

Those bases make it one of the best "sandbox" systems if you want to add something new.

Paradoxically, for all that GURPS has a reputation for scary math, I also find it very easy to track experience points for characters once they're designed. XP come in single digit numbers which can be immediately applied to character traits if you want.

From the GM's point of view, lack of class- or level-based restrictions on character advancements makes it easy to keep players happy. There are lots of ways the GM can use the rules to say yes rather than no and lots of little ways the GM can reward good play on the spot. ("Congratulations, you just boggled the GM/made everyone laugh/whatever. You get 1 XP to apply to a Perk or skill or which you can use as an Impulse Point.")

mburr0003 · 06-03-2023, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pursuivant

From the GM's point of view, lack of class- or level-based restrictions on character advancements makes it easy to keep players happy.

Inversely, it's makes predicting how a PC will end up more difficult. So if you like "preplanning" your final End Boss set pieces around PCs of "certain levels and abilities"... well... that's not a key feature of GURPS, indeed, it's rather a key feature that you can't make those predictions.

Donny Brook · 06-03-2023, 02:53 PM

Seconding Pursuivant --

Verisimilitude - GURPS starts with a fundamental basis in the real world, and provides tools for simulating that (falling, lifting, jumping, healing, tricking, persuading...).

Verisimilitude is what makes GURPS capable of delivering its other claims: Generic and Universal which I also value highly.

Willy · 06-04-2023, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donny Brook

Seconding Pursuivant --

SNIP

Verisimilitude is what makes GURPS capable of delivering its other claims: Generic and Universal which I also value highly.

Yes, that´s the main reason why I love GURPS so much.

06-01-2023, 08:05 PM	#11
Pursuivant Join Date: Apr 2005	Re: GURPS Key Feature The rules for most real world stuff, like how much you can lift, how fast you can climb, or how far can you jump, is based on physics and research. GURPS is, or can be, a fairly realistic melee or small arms skirmish combat simulator. Those bases make it one of the best "sandbox" systems if you want to add something new. Paradoxically, for all that GURPS has a reputation for scary math, I also find it very easy to track experience points for characters once they're designed. XP come in single digit numbers which can be immediately applied to character traits if you want. From the GM's point of view, lack of class- or level-based restrictions on character advancements makes it easy to keep players happy. There are lots of ways the GM can use the rules to say yes rather than no and lots of little ways the GM can reward good play on the spot. ("Congratulations, you just boggled the GM/made everyone laugh/whatever. You get 1 XP to apply to a Perk or skill or which you can use as an Impulse Point.")

06-03-2023, 02:53 PM	#13
Donny Brook Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Snoopy's basement	Re: GURPS Key Feature Seconding Pursuivant -- Verisimilitude - GURPS starts with a fundamental basis in the real world, and provides tools for simulating that (falling, lifting, jumping, healing, tricking, persuading...). Verisimilitude is what makes GURPS capable of delivering its other claims: Generic and Universal which I also value highly.