[Sell me] Non-combat GURPS titles? - Page 2

lugaid · 11-20-2021, 10:01 PM

The entire Social Engineering series is exactly for situations of character interactions that don't involve violence. As mentioned, Low-Tech Companion 3 includes a bunch of crafting rules, and Low-Tech Companion 1 covers social organization and economies in more detail than you will probably ever need, along with some good information on low-tech medicine, music, art, and similar topics. Related to that, there's an article in Pyramid 3/56 Prehistory that goes into detail about how gifting economies work, including very useful game information. Speaking of Pyramid, Pyramid 3/54 Social Engineering has an article on using Social Engineering with City Stats to cover the events involved in running a city.

EDIT: Almost forgot! GURPS Adaptations discusses how to adapt works like Pride & Prejudice into gaming terms. So that's another route toward noncombat gaming.

Dr. Beckenstein · 11-21-2021, 05:43 AM

But isn't it up the group if they want to run a campaign without combat or a slaughter party?

For example, take Traveller. You can run a mercenary campaign with battles in every session or a scout campaign where the pc just explore unknown worlds.

Refplace · 11-21-2021, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Beckenstein

But isn't it up the group if they want to run a campaign without combat or a slaughter party?

For example, take Traveller. You can run a mercenary campaign with battles in every session or a scout campaign where the pc just explore unknown worlds.

Yes, but the GM is part of the group, they get to decide too.
And if the GM is not happy with certain things or feels certain things aren't working for his/her group - well changing focus seems a good move.

whswhs · 11-21-2021, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Beckenstein

But isn't it up the group if they want to run a campaign without combat or a slaughter party?

Well, yes and no.

When I'm offering new campaigns to players, I hand out a list of possible campaigns, and the players rate them. If they rate a campaign at 0 I don't put them in it, and I probably don't run it. I try to see that players end up in campaigns that all of them rate high. So in that sense it's up to the players to choose, for example, a high-combat or a low-combat campaign.

But if the winning campaign is a low-combat one, then I will tell the players that they need to design characters who fit such a campaign, and I will offer scenarios that don't call for combat to resolve them. And I think I'm entitled to say that a character, or an action, doesn't suit the theme of the campaign. And normally my players will design characters who fit the theme and the premise.

And I think that, as a GM, I'm entitled to offer to run things that I want to run and will enjoy running. The players can say they don't want to run in a campaign, or even that they don't find any of my proposals appealing and will sit this cycle out; and if none of my proposals was viable I might try to come up with a new round of proposals. But I don't feel obligated to run something I won't enjoy running. GMing is a hobby, not a moral obligation of public service. What I do I do because I like to do.

SilvercatMoonpaw · 11-21-2021, 08:07 AM

Also I deal exclusively in Play-by-Post, and in that environment usually what happens is the GM comes up with the game they want to run first and then recruits players who want to play that kind of game.

Refplace · 11-21-2021, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilvercatMoonpaw

Also I deal exclusively in Play-by-Post, and in that environment usually what happens is the GM comes up with the game they want to run first and then recruits players who want to play that kind of game.

Also play by post can take a very long time to resolve combats!

baakyocalder · 11-21-2021, 12:36 PM

Using the GURPS Campaign Planning Form or another tool will help the players know what's a reasonable character for the game.

And if some players are told there's supposed to be a certain level of violence in the game and they respect the approach and can use the tools given to them to achieve success, they are more likely to play along. There are players who always want combat, but hopefully, they stay away.

I've found that even in games such as HackMaster that have a lot of combat rules and encourage combat, my more strategic players will avoid combat if it looks like there are better options.

And I concur with whswhs that GMing is part of our fun hobby. The GM doesn't always get what they want, but they are putting in a lot of effort to create fun. As the GM sets the game's tone, if no or low violence is what they feel comfortable running, the players will need to accept that or find someone else to GM.

I'd actually like to play in and GM games where it's more player versus environment and long-term thinking than thinking we need fights and players automatically getting major changes in the campaign universe they want socially by being PCs and making rolls than having relationships with NPCs and actual having to spend a little time thinking through a plan.

Good luck, Silvercat Moonpaw!

SilvercatMoonpaw · 11-21-2021, 03:57 PM

Over on RPGnet, in the thread that inspired me to ask this one, someone made a good point which can be summarized as "Players may resort to violence because they don't trust the non-violent solution will meet their impatience."

RyanW · 11-21-2021, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilvercatMoonpaw

Over on RPGnet, in the thread that inspired me to ask this one, someone made a good point which can be summarized as "Players may resort to violence because they don't trust the non-violent solution will meet their impatience."

It is also usually easier to turn a non-violent encounter violent than vice versa.

Pursuivant · 11-21-2021, 11:52 PM

Other "nice to have" books which are chock full of rules for non-violent activities are Biotech, High Tech, Low Tech (and companions), Steampunk: Steam & Shellfire, & Ultratech.

While these are mostly "gear books" there are plenty of useful little rules for detailed skill use scattered throughout, like deciphering codes, sending & receiving messages, setting up wiretaps/surveillance, rendering medical aid, and operating in hostile environments.

For specialist campaigns, Martial Arts, Space, Underground Adventures, and the "Disasters" series are also sources for non-violent or less-than-lethal adventuring activities.

Finally, while they are GURPS 3E supplements, GURPS Atlantis &/or Blue Planet are still useful for underwater adventuring.

11-20-2021, 10:01 PM	#11
lugaid Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Seattle, WA USA	Re: [Sell me] Non-combat GURPS titles? The entire Social Engineering series is exactly for situations of character interactions that don't involve violence. As mentioned, Low-Tech Companion 3 includes a bunch of crafting rules, and Low-Tech Companion 1 covers social organization and economies in more detail than you will probably ever need, along with some good information on low-tech medicine, music, art, and similar topics. Related to that, there's an article in Pyramid 3/56 Prehistory that goes into detail about how gifting economies work, including very useful game information. Speaking of Pyramid, Pyramid 3/54 Social Engineering has an article on using Social Engineering with City Stats to cover the events involved in running a city. EDIT: Almost forgot! GURPS Adaptations discusses how to adapt works like Pride & Prejudice into gaming terms. So that's another route toward noncombat gaming. Last edited by lugaid; 11-20-2021 at 10:07 PM.

11-21-2021, 05:43 AM	#12
Dr. Beckenstein Join Date: Sep 2013	Re: [Sell me] Non-combat GURPS titles? But isn't it up the group if they want to run a campaign without combat or a slaughter party? For example, take Traveller. You can run a mercenary campaign with battles in every session or a scout campaign where the pc just explore unknown worlds. __________________ ""The origin of everything good is due to games." - Friedrich August Wilhelm Froebel, creator of the kindergarten.

11-21-2021, 08:07 AM	#15
SilvercatMoonpaw Join Date: Jun 2017	Re: [Sell me] Non-combat GURPS titles? Also I deal exclusively in Play-by-Post, and in that environment usually what happens is the GM comes up with the game they want to run first and then recruits players who want to play that kind of game.

11-21-2021, 12:36 PM	#17
baakyocalder Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Sacramento metro, California	Re: [Sell me] Non-combat GURPS titles? Using the GURPS Campaign Planning Form or another tool will help the players know what's a reasonable character for the game. And if some players are told there's supposed to be a certain level of violence in the game and they respect the approach and can use the tools given to them to achieve success, they are more likely to play along. There are players who always want combat, but hopefully, they stay away. I've found that even in games such as HackMaster that have a lot of combat rules and encourage combat, my more strategic players will avoid combat if it looks like there are better options. And I concur with whswhs that GMing is part of our fun hobby. The GM doesn't always get what they want, but they are putting in a lot of effort to create fun. As the GM sets the game's tone, if no or low violence is what they feel comfortable running, the players will need to accept that or find someone else to GM. I'd actually like to play in and GM games where it's more player versus environment and long-term thinking than thinking we need fights and players automatically getting major changes in the campaign universe they want socially by being PCs and making rolls than having relationships with NPCs and actual having to spend a little time thinking through a plan. Good luck, Silvercat Moonpaw! __________________ Currently Running: Without Number family games which use a lot of GURPS material for details when the players start asking(online, sporadically) Waiting For: Schedule Sanity to Play Car Wars and my Fnordcon special alt Car Wars cards!

11-21-2021, 03:57 PM	#18
SilvercatMoonpaw Join Date: Jun 2017	Re: [Sell me] Non-combat GURPS titles? Over on RPGnet, in the thread that inspired me to ask this one, someone made a good point which can be summarized as "Players may resort to violence because they don't trust the non-violent solution will meet their impatience."

11-21-2021, 11:52 PM	#20
Pursuivant Join Date: Apr 2005	Re: [Sell me] Non-combat GURPS titles? Other "nice to have" books which are chock full of rules for non-violent activities are Biotech, High Tech, Low Tech (and companions), Steampunk: Steam & Shellfire, & Ultratech. While these are mostly "gear books" there are plenty of useful little rules for detailed skill use scattered throughout, like deciphering codes, sending & receiving messages, setting up wiretaps/surveillance, rendering medical aid, and operating in hostile environments. For specialist campaigns, Martial Arts, Space, Underground Adventures, and the "Disasters" series are also sources for non-violent or less-than-lethal adventuring activities. Finally, while they are GURPS 3E supplements, GURPS Atlantis &/or Blue Planet are still useful for underwater adventuring.