07-19-2016, 03:10 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Sydney
|
GURPS as a convention game
As an effort to do something that I can do to make GURPS more popular as opposed to something that SJ Games should do, I've decided I want to try running GURPS at a convention.
The recent big two gaming convention in Sydney had a ton of D&D, but not much else in the way of RPGs. What do those with experience think would work best as a convention game? I'd like to have the whole game done in less than five hours. Ideally about three would be great. So I'd ideally have characters made and take some short cuts. Any other advice would be appreciated. |
07-19-2016, 03:20 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
|
Re: GURPS as a convention game
Don't try to compete with D&D in the Fantasy market. Run an After the End game instead.
__________________
“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ...” Marcus Aurelius |
07-19-2016, 03:39 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New York
|
Re: GURPS as a convention game
I fully believe gurps is a much better system than DnD
But not in a convention setting. It usually takes time to fully appreciate gurps
__________________
This is my setting: www.enniya.net Its open for anyone to run if they like fantasy campaigns! E-mail me if you have questions enniya.questions@gmail.com |
07-19-2016, 03:56 PM | #4 | |
Hero of Democracy
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: far from the ocean
|
Re: GURPS as a convention game
Your biggest problem will be time. RPG's take time, and gurps is no exception. Combat in particular can be time consuming. Choose if you want to display combat or to display skills. I personally would go for a investigation plot with a fight at the end. Some social stuff, some looking around for information, and then a showdown.
Quote:
It takes time to fully appreciate the character building aspect, I'll give you that. Sadly, you don't have time to display that at a convention. I suspect that you can pick up people on mere simulationist/realism grounds though. As well as flexibility.
__________________
Be helpful, not pedantic Worlds Beyond Earth -- my blog Check out the PbP forum! If you don't see a game you'd like, ask me about making one! |
|
07-19-2016, 04:14 PM | #5 | |
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New York
|
Re: GURPS as a convention game
Quote:
Of course my bad guys aren't push overs but still
__________________
This is my setting: www.enniya.net Its open for anyone to run if they like fantasy campaigns! E-mail me if you have questions enniya.questions@gmail.com |
|
07-19-2016, 05:32 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Sydney
|
Re: GURPS as a convention game
Quote:
Last edited by lachimba; 07-19-2016 at 07:07 PM. |
|
07-19-2016, 05:39 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Feb 2014
|
Re: GURPS as a convention game
Dark Tower. You want magic and gunslingers and mutants? GURPS has rules for that.
|
07-19-2016, 11:10 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Lexington, KY
|
Re: GURPS as a convention game
Stick strictly to basic rules. If it can't be built or resolved using GURPS Lite, it's probably more complicated than you want to include in a short con game meant to introduce new players to the system.
|
07-20-2016, 04:18 AM | #9 | |
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Shropshire, uk
|
Re: GURPS as a convention game
Quote:
I would also agree with avoiding straight fantasy and downplaying combat. You want your game to stand out and you don't want it to bog down. The biggest thing you can do to make it work is to put in a bit of time in advance making sure that there is some support for your players. GURPS has a (somewhat deserved) reputation for being complicated which might work against you, however this can be countered by providing cheat sheets for the major rules (while it may not be practical for you I have given new players a modified copy of GURPS Ultra lite or one page GURPS as a reference) and by avoiding skill or ability bloat. On the subject of bloat I would personally stick with lower point characters with focused skill lists rather than the higher cost characters from the template driven series such as after the end. 5-10 major skills and a single ability (if possible purchased as a skill) if any will serve well enough for a one off. |
|
07-20-2016, 04:56 AM | #10 | |
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Sydney
|
Re: GURPS as a convention game
Quote:
You know what I would love to play GURPS Discworld and that's Lite. I don't know if the kids know what Discworld is but i think fun humourous fantasy might work. Or perhaps it's too close to D&D and better to do Call of Duty/ Walking Dead rip offs. |
|
Tags |
convention, gurps |
|
|