spontaneous abilities... weird

[Severion]

At the end of adventures characters receive character points that they can spend on advantages and attributes. I think its a little weird if after a few adventures the character grows claws or scales or time travel don't you?

[Severion]

Originally Posted by Severion

At the end of adventures characters receive character points that they can spend on advantages and attributes. I think its a little weird if after a few adventures the character grows claws or scales or time travel don't you?

also I would like a good place for home brew.

[jblalock77]

Not in some genres. ;) Experience expenditures generally have to be approved by the GM.

[Severion]

Originally Posted by jblalock77

Not in some genres. ;) Experience expenditures generally have to be approved by the GM.

well I am new to gurps but I have a lot of books that would be good for a future setting and it might get a little weird anyways

[lexington]

Originally Posted by Severion

At the end of adventures characters receive character points that they can spend on advantages and attributes. I think its a little weird if after a few adventures the character grows claws or scales or time travel don't you?

Not in a setting where people regularly grow claws and gain the ability to time travel. In a setting where that doesn't happen why are you letting the characters do it?

If you let human characters take Super Jump they're going to jump unrealistically. Thus in a setting where people are supposed to jump realistically Super Jump isn't allowed. It's exactly the same principle.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Severion

At the end of adventures characters receive character points that they can spend on advantages and attributes. I think its a little weird if after a few adventures the character grows claws or scales or time travel don't you?

Only if the character isn't the kind of character who could do such a thing. In other words, superhero or vampire yes. Human private detective no.

[talonthehand]

Keep in mind that it's rarely a good idea to just hand PC's the books and tell them to make a 150 point character, and that certainly applies to spending earned character points as well.

A simple rule that might help is saying that if an advantage is exotic or supernatural, then it needs GM permission. Many people go further, and write up templates or lists of appropriate traits.

[lexington]

Originally Posted by talonthehand

Keep in mind that it's rarely a good idea to just hand PC's the books and tell them to make a 150 point character, and that certainly applies to spending earned character points as well.

A simple rule that might help is saying that if an advantage is exotic or supernatural, then it needs GM permission. Many people go further, and write up templates or lists of appropriate traits.

Unless you're working with children or people hellbent on goofiness (in which case the game ought to be goofy) giving a setting outline is usually plenty to inform players what sorts of traits can be taken. Toss in a few details that aren't obvious.

"You are youthful (20-25yrs) human adventurers in a gritty fantasy setting. Skills limited to 13 unless you give me a good reason."

This does require a good deal of back and forth with players, though.

[Anaraxes]

It's been said -- up to the GM, and it should fit the setting.

Perhaps the character growing claws and scales is suffering from demonic possession. Or the curse on the dragon that put him in human form and gave him amnesia is starting to wear off. Little Johnny just hit puberty and his mutant powers are starting to show -- how cute!

As for time travel, wizards in a lot of D&D-style campaigns routinely go from young apprentice with the ink still wet on their 4-page spellbook to planar-hopping demigods. Why shouldn't someone learn how to time travel during the course of the game, if that sort of thing is possible at all?

These hopes for future development should come out in the pre-game player creation session/discussions with the GM. You should have the GM and players talk about their characters before the game starts. Not only does the GM have to approve the character, it's a chance to find out what the player wants to do and try to work that into the campaign plotlines.