Converting material from other systems

[Dragondog]

When converting settings to GURPS, I try to keep as much of the setting as possible, but some things are so different that it's easier to use GURPS as is then to figure out a way to do it the other way.

Converting systems vary in difficulty. Some mechanics are quite similar while other mechanics in the same system can be quite dissimilar.

I'm running a Dragonlance adventure right now, as is, with GURPS instead of DnD3.5. So far I've only needed to convert a racial template (Baaz Draconian) and some NPCs of that race.

Most of it was fairly straight forward, but some traits were resolved so differently in DnD then in GURPS that I had to tweak them to GURPS resolution.

[Kage2020]

Originally Posted by Dragondog

When converting settings to GURPS, I try to keep as much of the setting as possible, but some things are so different that it's easier to use GURPS as is then to figure out a way to do it the other way.

This, for me. I try to come to converting a setting to another system, not converting a system to another system. Thus, for example, in "converting" 40k RPG over to GURPS I would ask how might the setting (as filtered through my interpretation*) be reflected in GURPS rather than, say, how did the Dark Heresy system handle "psykers" and "sorcerers." Rather than, "Oh, that's how Dark Heresy/Rogue Trader/Deathwatch handled bolt guns!" it became an issue of, "Okay, what is the closest approximation and what are the implications?" (For example, say that I select a "shaped charge gyroc" as the standard for the micro-missiles those things fire. Does that feel right from the perspective of the setting and, using GURPS as a consistent basis, what does the selection of a TL 8 technology imply for other aspects of the setting.)

Of course, you get "powered by" approach rather than a direct conversion. That's usually acceptable to me since I'm comfortable with many of the assumptions and options of GURPS. Then again I'm not uncomfortable breaking a bit of GURPS if it suits the setting (which is usually just a case of my being lazy and inelegant in crafting the GURPS interpretation than the fault of the system).

Kage

* This can in my experience be an important bone of contention in my experience, but to others it is less so. YMMV.

Edit: In retrospect it seems that I could have just said, "I agree for the most part" to the first post as well. :D