What would you change in your Gurps character
 

Hi,

I had an idea that I would like to share with the group.

Recently, I was thinking what I would like to change about my self. More handsome, less overweight, etc..

Then I thought: ok, suppose I want a different character, but in order to propose that... what traits do i want to trade in in order to get the points for the things that I want? What do i want to change in my Gurps-character sheet, while keeping the same point-total?

I couldn't really think of something. I would like to be a little bit taller, but since that doesn't change strength or reaction modifier, I doubt if my life would be much improved by that. Age would be something, but that sounds a bit unfair. I became old by living a life.

So it turns out that I'm actually very content with who I am. It turns out that I am a well-optimized well-rounded, very low-budget Gurps character. I couldn't ask for more given the point-total.

So I was thinking: Am I unique in that regard? Did I miss some loopholes that you alway should ask for given a chance to make changes to you character?

Now I agree that it is a silly thought-experiment, but I thought it would be fun to ask other people's thoughts on a forum dedicated to thought experiments. At least, it has made me draw a nice conclusion. I should be content. Asking for more points would be selfish and a sign that you want the world to be about you :-).

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

I would like another level of Wealth. I'll happily trade in a point of IQ for that.

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

Assuming I can't increase my point total....

Lower my physiological age by decades.

Shift some points from ST to IQ (without increasing Will) or maybe Talents. I can always work to get my ST back up.

Add Pacifism: Self-Defense Only (I can't think of a single time in my life that would have gotten in my way). Use the gained points to improve my Vision. And, if I could get away with it, put my personal Tech Level above that of the rest of the world. I might give up some points in games to increase it more--I can always relearn how to play games. (Won't give up GURPS, though). Then I can help the rest of the world.

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

I don't think that would be allowed. Then you're effectively getting free points. You won't be able to train your strength back. Otherwise it is valid,

That's a good one, although it might be the case that I already have it. I might go for combat paralysis, or post-combat shakes, since the chance that I will ever encounter violence is negligible. Still, I would be a bit worried, that the Game Master will include it in play for that moment on.

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

Hmm, looking back on my life and certain situations I'd gotten myself into... I think I'd drop two points from Bicycling and add them to Brawling.

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

I figured I'd buy it back up later with earned character points. But if not, I still might trade some ST for IQ or maybe Talents. (My ST isn't real high, but is above average and is higher than it was a few years ago.)

I don't have Pacifism: Self-Defense Only. I'm a Pacifist by choice, not by nature.

And as a journalist who's gotten death threats more than once, I personally would not go for Combat Paralysis. Although it might look like I do. When getting a face-to-face threat, my default is "non-violent resistance." Standing my ground, keeping eye contact with a neutral expression on my face, and saying nothing. That can get a potential opponent out of the "lizard brain" fight-or-flight level, and get them thinking as a human being.

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

I got a gritty low powered social survival campaign build with a lot of "free" disadvantages and it's pretty tight already. I managed to buy off a few big disadvantages recently, but I am far from done.

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

It's an easy answer for me. I'd trade a point of native DX to buy off a neurological illness that is preventing me from enjoying my full DX anyway.

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

I think I'm ok. I'm actually a fairly high point total, since I happen to have skill sets that GURPS treats with high granularity. I probably need to make judicious use of the rules for skill degradation since I retired from the Army, though. And I'm getting older- I doubt that I'm Fit any more.

On the other hand, would I be happier without those skills any more if the points were dumped into higher Wealth, Independent Income, and Unageing? Maybe. 'Cause I would have the points. Hell, I might be able to throw in Very Fit... or maybe even Unkillable 1 instead.

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

I'd trade most of it in for:

Affliction (Modular Points* +250%, Permanent +300%) [65]

*Modular Points: Modular Abilities (Cosmic Power) (Physical, Mental, and Social +150%) [25]

Then in a few days I'd have all of it back.

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

Independent Income, as it gives you 1% of the value of your total assets every month, after taxes, is point-for-point a ridiculously valuable trait to ensure a life without worries. If you received 12% of your net worth as annual income after all taxes, without doing any work, you'd most likely have a lot of free time for adventuring. Or roleplaying adventuring, more likely. But still.

Most of us should add a Quirk, like a new weird interest or something, and pick up Independent Income [1]. Then we can just do nothing but pursue our odd interests all day long.

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

I think you're overvaluing it. It doesn't give you 1% of total assets, it gives 1% of GURPS-defined starting money. For a SS0 person that's $30,000 x 0.01 x 12 for an annual stipend of $3600. If you take it a the max 20 levels, you get $72,000 which is in the range of a life without worries, depending on your CoL.

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

Well, starting money is basically how much you could get for your home and everything you wouldn't have any use for if you needed to run away that same day, to enter a wardrobe to a magical realm, plus the full price you bought anything you do take.

I guess Average Wealth people don't really own their homes, or, at least, don't have significant equity in them. It's the Average character being an 18-year-old ready for military service thing.

Plenty of mundane and actually real people in their forties* do own significant equity in their homes, though, so Independent Income would yield a lot more for them.

*My guess for the median age of forumites.

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

As Icelander suggested... due to my already low point total I would take one point each out of Hobby Skill (GURPS) and Writing (plus take a quirk) and put it into independent income. 36% of my starting wealth (assuming I am still at Wealth (Struggling)), means I get $3,600 per year! Not the worst, but $3,600 per year is not too shabby for free cash. Could always scrounge together some extra points for extra monthly income. I mean, hey, imagine all the GURPS PoD books I could get every month with $300! XD

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

I'm not giving up any hard-earned skill points. But if necessary, one is prepared to start referring to oneself in the third person.

And perhaps develop an adventurer's combination of Curiosity and Xenophilia, so that one would constantly find oneself interrogating irate strangers on how they came to be here, what their native lands are like, and if they've eaten any bugs, what do they taste like?

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

Can I presume we would be limited to mundane expenditures?

Starting wealth is the same for everyone in your setting's premise, there would be no variation in the output of the independent income advantage for your wealth level based on how you choose to distribute your starting resources.

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

No, I don't think you're unique. I'm pretty satisfied with myself as a character. Obviously if I was given more points to spend how I want I could add things. Magic powers or a couple more wealth levels. But I'm quite happy with my current character sheet.

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

I'd start with a simple change, one that doesn't cost with points in and of itself - rub out the age listed and write in a new age 20-30 years lower. Then look for a way to buy Longevity or Extended Lifespan (probably the former, as seems less likely to draw unwanted attention than looking only 50 when I'm 100 will).

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

Serendipity (Game Time +0%) is a great start. If I need to get disads, I'd look at Mundane Background and Dependent (what's a Disadvantage for my Player isn't necessarily a disadvantage for me).

Never mind, I pick this. Maybe throw Aura on it or something to make it passively build up. And then once I have enough points from it, use MA to put Time-Spanning onto the Affliction and use it on my past self.

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

If I were a character in my own GURPS campaign multiverse I would want to pick up Regeneration (regular) and Unaging. Those two advantages are the pre-requisite traits for all other meta human powers within the setting and in the long run I will be far better off. I’m not sure what I would drop to acquire them though.

In a realistic setting I would probably stay the way I am, mainly because I can’t be bothered going through the thought exercise of trying to figure it out. 😝

Re: What would you change in your Gurps character
 

This needs Cumulative, +400% to be useful. And probably a power source to justify it. And probably an Unusual Background to justify that.

EDIT: Here's my munchkin plan: Damage Resistance 1 (Limited Use, 1/day, -40%; Unreliable 11, -20%; Costs Fatigue, 9 FP, -45%; Immediate Preparation Required, 1 hour, -75%; Accessibility, Useless under stress, -60%; Backlash, Euphoria, -30%; Limited, Crushing iron, -80%; Partial, Left hand only, -80%; Temporary Disadvantage, ST -8, -80%; Absorption, +100%; Extended Duration (Absorption), Permanent, Irreversible, +300%; Cosmic, Can absorb own damage, +50%; No Signature, +20%; Tough Skin, -40%) [1] + Wild Talent 1 (Backlash, Unconsciousness, -200%; Cosmic, Can use absorbed points, +50%; Retention, +25%; Wild Ability, +50%; Costs Character Point, ×1/5) [1]. 2 points. — Spend a few days tentatively hammering at your left pinkie to work off all the limitations and add levels plus "Cosmic, Can improve skills". Absorbed points are cosmic and permanent so will never fade away and can never be taken away. Buying Unusual Background (Cosmic) [50?] will be challenging.

Longevity is a long slide into senility, something like 80 years below IQ 6.