[GURPS 4.5/5 ED] GURPS Kickstart ? (Answer: NO)

[4rc4num]

Originally Posted by Kromm

An unequivocal "no." We haven't even thought about a "Fourth Edition Revised," much less a Fifth Edition. If people are still playing pen-and-paper RPGs in 2017, ask again then. ;)

Okay, after the success of Dungeon Fantasy Kickstart and we are already in 2017 then its time to ask if we can have a:

1. GURPS 4.5 Kickstart;
2. GURPS 5ed Kickstart;
3. CABAL 4ed (with RPM inside) Kickstart;

Last,but not least, can we say that Dungeon Fantasy Kickstart was a success ? If yes, makes sense to have more GURPS KS campaigns, right ?

[GM Joe]

In this thread, CEO Phil Reed said that there are no plans for a 5th edition.

[johndallman]

It makes sense to have the right GURPS Kickstarters, not just to run them for their own sake. A Cabal book revised for the Infinite Worlds setting could indeed be a good thing, but there's no obvious need for a GURPS 4.5 or 5, and edition churn is a bad thing, IMHO.

[Refplace]

We probably wont hear if SJG consider the Kickstarter and published hard copy books a success for awhile yet. As for a 4.5 or 5.0 Edition it has been stated many times there are no plans at this time and liekly wont be until a new publishing medium appears they want to use.
So wishing for it is pretty much a waste of time.
That said......

An Alt GURPS collection, including things like the list Kromm posted of things he would have liked in Fourth Edition (I think it was the anniversary issue) and maybe some new material would be really cool and likely highly desired.
As for GURPS Cabal that could be part of a Horror RPG set and might happen if they felt the DFRPG was a good move.

[Refplace]

Originally Posted by johndallman

It makes sense to have the right GURPS Kickstarters, not just to run them for their own sake. A Cabal book revised for the Infinite Worlds setting could indeed be a good thing, but there's no obvious need for a GURPS 4.5 or 5, and edition churn is a bad thing, IMHO.

The reasons for new editions are sales and marketing. The fact is redoing something generates new interest and sales. This is true of any industry.
So many companies engage in this practice in order to generate buzz and new sales and hopefully attract new customers. However unless your new product is actually better than the old one you get bad press and push back afterwards.
Various editions of D&D, New Coke, some foods, movie sequels, and others come to mind.

Steve Jackson Games has a history that shows respect towards the customer base and does not try to sell us something "new" just for the sake of sales.
They are more in the artistic vein and wont make a new edition just for sales but only when they feel they can add enough value to make it truly worthwhile.

[mehrkat]

The truth is as far as kickstarters go and boxed sets I wouldn't be interested in getting a GURPS 5th edition (or a 4.5) set.

i'm more interested in getting sets that simplifies GURPS for other gamers and creates genre sets.
1. Maybe some sort of simplified Science Fiction genre that fits for the Star Wars crowd. I normally would call it Space Opera something that could be reskinned easily to give that same feel.
2. Maybe a 1920's Adventure with some rules to add Magical things to it.

i don't see RPM as adding to that simplification goal. I guess they could suggest something that isn't

I might join a kickstarter for the right computer tools. I would love to see a really good tool for helping to create a game. It would winnow down the rules and the skill list (where you could grab a few extra then allow you to download nicely formatted lists for the players to be able to just check the list so the players don't get bogged down.

[weby]

GURPS 5th edition is "projected" to be published in 2029.

[Tyneras]

I don't expect a 5th edition before a fully integrated Character Maker/Virtual Table Top/Personal Database is practical. That would open a lot of possibilities with releases designed for that integration from the start.

Now, I'd be all for a kickstarter for something like an official GURPS 4E Virtual Table Top if it had good support for setting switches and adventure modules (and imagine the E23 market for adventures or map packs).

[Tinman]

Originally Posted by mehrkat

1. Maybe some sort of simplified Science Fiction genre that fits for the Star Wars crowd. I normally would call it Space Opera something that could be reskinned easily to give that same feel.
2. Maybe a 1920's Adventure with some rules to add Magical things to it.

I would be on-board for either of those two. I can see getting a lot of value from both.

[PK]

Originally Posted by 4rc4num

Last,but not least, can we say that Dungeon Fantasy Kickstart was a success ?

It's too early to answer that question. "The KS campaign successfully funded" is not the same thing as "this decision was profitable and good for GURPS and SJ Games in the long term." Personally, I consider the real question to be what sort of impact this will have on GURPS in game stores and other traditional-distribution outlets . . . and we won't have those answers until some time after the Kickstarter orders ship out.

In other words, if I may liken the whole DF RPG campaign to childbirth, what you saw on kickstarter.com was the conception. Right now, we're still barely into the first trimester.

If yes, makes sense to have more GURPS KS campaigns, right ?

If yes -- and that is not a forgone conclusion right now -- then it may indeed make sense to do another GURPS-related Kickstarter campaign. Personally, I have my fingers crossed in hopes that projections are so rosy and wonderful that we can justify doing one soon! But if that happens, I will personally guarantee you that it will not be a 5th edition (or "4.5th" or whatever weird fraction you kids use). Because we have no desire, plans, or motivation to revamp the core system again.

(I just edited the thread title to drive that last point home.)