3rd and 4th editions compatible with each other

[Blasted Varmint]

Hello I have never played Gurps, I have played other systems, is 3rd and 4th editions compatible with each other, that is can I mix the 4th edition rules with the 3rd edition source books or 3rd edition rules with 4th edition source books or any other variation?

I can buy the 4th edition rule books and use 3rd edition source materials if I download the 4th edition update to make corrections, or even to make life simpler just use 3rd rules with 3rd source books and 4th rules with 4th source books.

Thanks for all your input.

[Anders]

There will be some conflict, especially in character creation. But I wouldn't say it's much more difficult than going from D&D3.0 to 3.5, for instance.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Blasted Varmint

Hello I have never played Gurps, I have played other systems, is 3rd and 4th editions compatible with each other, that is can I mix the 4th edition rules with the 3rd edition source books or 3rd edition rules with 4th edition source books or any other variation?

If you're starting from scratch, you can pick up 4e crunch but 3e fluff with little problem.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Blasted Varmint

Hello I have never played Gurps, I have played other systems, is 3rd and 4th editions compatible with each other, that is can I mix the 4th edition rules with the 3rd edition source books or 3rd edition rules with 4th edition source books or any other variation?

The differences are trivial as long as you ignore Passive Defense which no longer exists, and character point values, which are different.

[jacobmuller]

And download the 4th Edition Update; it's free and explains all the differences between 3rd & 4th.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

The differences are trivial as long as you ignore Passive Defense which no longer exists, and character point values, which are different.

Explosives are treated significantly different between the two editions, I believe, so 3e explosives can't be used straight with 4e.

[Captain Joy]

Originally Posted by Blasted Varmint

...or even to make life simpler just use 3rd rules with 3rd source books and 4th rules with 4th source books.

I recommend not getting any 3rd ed. rule books. You will find 3rd ed. source books easy enough to convert to 4th ed.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by copeab

Explosives are treated significantly different between the two editions, I believe, so 3e explosives can't be used straight with 4e.

When does that even come up?

[copeab]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

When does that even come up?

Fairly often in my campaigns, which tend to be set from 1875-2050.

Every other adventure seems to have the PCs using a satchel charge on something. Last adventure involved a couple of P-40's (one flown by a PC) dropping 500-lb bombs on Tiamat before it could reach Jerusalem.

This adventure ... probably just a couple dozen sticks of dynamite ...

[Kromm]

Explosives come up constantly in my campaign! To date, I've seen blasting caps, cutting cord, foamed explosive, and plastic explosive (C4 and SEMTEX); assorted fragmentation and stun grenades; M18A1 Claymores; sundry underbarrel grenade launchers; and both the RPG-7 (HEAT and thermobaric) and RPO-A. Oh, and also home-cooked explosives and at least one artillery shell modified into an IED. The differences between how editions handle explosives would be very important in such a game . . . especially one that features both traditional and thermobaric munitions.