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Old 03-23-2019, 01:01 PM   #1
Michael Thayne
 
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Join Date: May 2010
Default A Bargain Action Template for modern campaigns

GURPS Action 4: Specialists makes it easy to create characters for modern campaigns with point values as low as 125 points. But it doesn't really work at levels below that. So I decided to create a variant of the Basic Action Template, call it the Bargain Action Template, that works for Allies built on 25% of the PC's value in a 250 point campaign. Here it is:

37 points
Attributes: ST 10 [0]; DX 11 [20]; IQ 10 [0]; HT 11 [10].
Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-2/1d; BL 20 lbs.; HP 10 [0]; Will 10 [0]; Per 10 [0]; FP 11 [0]; Basic Speed 5.50 [0]; Basic Move 5 [0].
Advantages: 25 points in Luck [15] or advantages from the Basic Action Template.
Disadvantages: -30 points in Disadvantages. See the Basic Action Template for suggestions.
Skills: Same as the Basic Action Template.
Slush Fund: 2 Points.

Combined with one 25 point skill set, this creates a 62 point character, suitable for a bargain price Ally. Sample usage with the Goon skill set:

Attributes: ST 13 [30]; DX 11 [20]; IQ 10 [0]; HT 11 [10].
Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d/2d-1; BL 34 lbs.; HP 13 [0]; Will 11 [5]; Per 11 [5]; FP 11 [0]; Basic Speed 5.50 [0]; Basic Move 5 [0].
Disadvantages: Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Bully (12) [-10]; Callous [-5]; Social Stigma (Criminal Record) [-5].
Quirks: Preferred Tactics (Punches rather than kicks) [-1].
Skills: Brawling (E) DX+1 [2]-12; Computer Operation (E) IQ [1]-10; Driving (Automobile) (A) DX [2]-11; Guns (Pistol) (E) DX [1]-11; Intimidation (A) Will+2 [8]-13; Knife (E) DX [1]-11; Stealth (A) DX [2]-11; Streetwise (A) IQ [2]-10; Wrestling (A) DX [2]-11.
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Old 03-23-2019, 01:16 PM   #2
AlexanderHowl
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Default Re: A Bargain Action Template for modern campaigns

I think that ends up being 'mediocre' character rather than 'action' character, though that is my own perspective. I have characters accumulating 2.5 CP every year above and beyond the growth according the characters under 15 years old, so the average character in my modern campaigns tends to be a 125 CP 50 year old professional, so a 67 CP character would be the average 27 year old retail clerk in my modern campaigns. Action characters in my campaigns (NPCs and PCs) tend to have a minimum of twice as many points (sometimes 5x as many points for especially talented people).
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Old 03-23-2019, 03:22 PM   #3
Michael Thayne
 
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Default Re: A Bargain Action Template for modern campaigns

Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl View Post
I think that ends up being 'mediocre' character rather than 'action' character, though that is my own perspective. I have characters accumulating 2.5 CP every year above and beyond the growth according the characters under 15 years old, so the average character in my modern campaigns tends to be a 125 CP 50 year old professional, so a 67 CP character would be the average 27 year old retail clerk in my modern campaigns. Action characters in my campaigns (NPCs and PCs) tend to have a minimum of twice as many points (sometimes 5x as many points for especially talented people).
Matter of taste I guess. I can see running an Action campaign where every NPC is a badass, but I like the idea of having mooks with skill levels in the 11-13 range for the PCs to show off in comparison to.
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Old 03-25-2019, 08:44 PM   #4
Infornific
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Default Re: A Bargain Action Template for modern campaigns

Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl View Post
I think that ends up being 'mediocre' character rather than 'action' character, though that is my own perspective. I have characters accumulating 2.5 CP every year above and beyond the growth according the characters under 15 years old, so the average character in my modern campaigns tends to be a 125 CP 50 year old professional, so a 67 CP character would be the average 27 year old retail clerk in my modern campaigns. Action characters in my campaigns (NPCs and PCs) tend to have a minimum of twice as many points (sometimes 5x as many points for especially talented people).
Seems a little high - 25-50 is normal, 50-75 is base level for "adventuring" professionals - e.g., competent soldiers, cops, etc.
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Old 03-25-2019, 08:49 PM   #5
Infornific
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Default Re: A Bargain Action Template for modern campaigns

Interesting concept. I've been playing around with trying to create Pointless Action/Space Opera and came up with some grunt level archetypes. These are worth 55 points each:

Agile Grunt

Attributes: ST 10; DX 13; IQ 10; HT 11. Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-2/1d; BL 20 lbs.; HP 10; Will 10; Per 10; FP 10; Basic Speed 5.00; Basic Move 6

Brainy Grunt.

Attributes: ST 10; DX 10; IQ 13; HT 10. Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-2/1d; BL 20 lbs.; HP 10; Will 12; Per 13; FP 10; Basic Speed 5.00; Basic Move 5.

Brawny Grunt

Attributes: ST 13; DX 11; IQ 10; HT 12. Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-1/1d+2; BL 32 lbs.; HP 13; Will 10; Per 10; FP 12; Basic Speed 5.00; Basic Move 5

Versatile Grunt

Attributes: ST 10; DX 11; IQ 11; HT 11. Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-2/1d; BL 20 lbs.; HP 10; Will 12; Per 12; FP 11; Basic Speed 5.00; Basic Move 6.


Add in 20 points of Advantages and a 25 point skill lens, and you're up to 100 points before Disadvantages. Add -40 Disadvantages and you're back to 60 points or so.
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Old 03-25-2019, 09:02 PM   #6
Infornific
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Default Re: A Bargain Action Template for modern campaigns

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Thayne View Post

37 points
Attributes: ST 10 [0]; DX 11 [20]; IQ 10 [0]; HT 11 [10].
Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-2/1d; BL 20 lbs.; HP 10 [0]; Will 10 [0]; Per 10 [0]; FP 11 [0]; Basic Speed 5.50 [0]; Basic Move 5 [0].
Advantages: 25 points in Luck [15] or advantages from the Basic Action Template.
Disadvantages: -30 points in Disadvantages. See the Basic Action Template for suggestions.
Skills: Same as the Basic Action Template.
Slush Fund: 2 Points.

Combined with one 25 point skill set, this creates a 62 point character, suitable for a bargain price Ally.
Not sure if I'm missing something.

Attributes: 30 points
Advantages: 25 points
Disadvantages: -30 points
Skills: 27 points (25 point lens plus 2 point slush fund)

That adds up to 52, not 62.
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Old 03-25-2019, 09:27 PM   #7
AlexanderHowl
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Default Re: A Bargain Action Template for modern campaigns

One question, why do you want a bargain price ally that mediocre? Characters 1/4 your CP value should probably be Ally Groups if they are not your Dependents. Anyway, 1/2 your CP allies are only 1-6 CP (6- to 15-), so they are already bargain price allies.
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Old 03-25-2019, 09:46 PM   #8
Michael Thayne
 
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Default Re: A Bargain Action Template for modern campaigns

Quote:
Originally Posted by Infornific View Post
Not sure if I'm missing something.

Attributes: 30 points
Advantages: 25 points
Disadvantages: -30 points
Skills: 27 points (25 point lens plus 2 point slush fund)

That adds up to 52, not 62.
The Basic Action Template has 10 points in skills like Computer Operation, Driving, and Guns, which almost any action hero will want.
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Old 03-25-2019, 10:35 PM   #9
Infornific
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Default Re: A Bargain Action Template for modern campaigns

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Thayne View Post
The Basic Action Template has 10 points in skills like Computer Operation, Driving, and Guns, which almost any action hero will want.
OK, that makes sense. Thought I was missing something.
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