GURPS Centauri Knights

marvin · 03-29-2011, 09:26 AM

Has anyone done a GURPS conversion for this excellent Pulver sci-fi setting?

I am working on a possible Pyramid article and now realize I need to bone up on my knowledge of GURPS 4th Edition, especially since I haven't played any GURPS since ~2000. To get to know the system better I've decided to do a conversion of an existing game. I've chosen the old GOO Centauri Knights by David Pulver. It's close enough to my other favorite setting, Transhuman Space, to be helpful in learning the system. So I think I'll do a big conversion/cross-over to get back into the game.

[This is being done chapter by chapter, as per Centauri Knights d20*]

Chapter One: Introduction

This chapter is primarily a timeline done in such a way as to resemble news broadcasts, historical archives and mission logs. Not surprisingly, given that both are by Pulver and cover somewhat similar themes, the Centauri Knights and Transhuman Space timelines have some similarities. There is the launching of the Terrestrial Planet Finder in 2011, habitable planet orbiting 61 Virginis, AI cybershells, and other similar technologies.

There are of course many differences as well. Most of these center on the Alpha Centauri system and the now "extinct" alien civilization that once resided there. The items pertaining to this part of the Centauri Knights setting can easily be inserted into the Transhuman Space timeline with only a few revisions. CK does not address the situation on Earth much beyond postulating a stronger UN that oversees the exploration and colonization of the Alpha Centauri system. Thus, the Solar system as described in TS can be imported into CK with few changes.

It's easy to see the UN's influence limited to Alpha Centauri and a few locations on Mars. The UN has jurisdiction in areas regarding Osiran technology and artifacts but has no further authority with regards towards the national sovereignty of its member states. This situation probably arose in order to prevent conflicts and while tolerated is not well liked by the major powers, especially China and America.

Another difference between the two games' timelines is that the CK timeline extends to 2150 while TS only goes to 2100. This too is not a problem. Pulver, Phil Masters and a few other TS gurus have said (given the unrealistically fast Martian terraforming) it would have been better to place the TS setting date in the year 2150. So its simple to justify stretching the TS timeline a bit to 2150. Just add a few years between events in the TS timeline and insert some of the events from the CK timeline as filler.

Finally, although my original intent was to build a straight up CK / TS conversion/cross-over, I have decided to borrow a bits from the Domed Mars and Terraformed Mars sections of GURPS Mars (pgs. 50-90). The nearly 500,000 people added to the Martian population (called the Free Republic of Mars) are there due to the efforts of the Mars Society, Zubrin Foundation and various corporations. Also, i am adding one bit of handwavium super-science...quantum blackhole FTL comms. Hawking Station, now controlled by the UN, is linked to a corresponding blackhole in Osiris orbit thus allowing instantaneous communication to Sol and the transfer of vast amounts of data. I'm doing this so that PCs have access to the entire Web in a manner similar to that available in the Sol system.

Any comments, concern or input? The next installment will be Chapter Two: Characters and Organizations.

Benjamin

* I've chosen Centauri Knights d20 over the Tri-Stat edition because the vehicle templates seem easier to reproduce in GURPS terms. Also, the d20 book is bigger and easier to work with (the little Tri-Stat version always wants to close on me).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cambias, James L. GURPS Mars. Steve Jackson Games Incorporated, 2002.

Pulver, David. Centauri Knights d20. Guardians of Order, Inc., 2003.

Pulver, David. Transhuman Space, 2nd Edition. Steve Jackson Games Incorporated, 2002.

---------

Transhuman Space and GURPS Mars can be purchased through either Warehouse 23 (hard copy) or e23 (PDF version). See links on this site.

Centauri Knights d20 can be purchased online as a PDF at rpgnow.com or used in hardcopy through other game sellers such Nobleknight.com.

03-29-2011, 09:26 AM	#1
marvin Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cydonia	GURPS Centauri Knights Has anyone done a GURPS conversion for this excellent Pulver sci-fi setting? I am working on a possible Pyramid article and now realize I need to bone up on my knowledge of GURPS 4th Edition, especially since I haven't played any GURPS since ~2000. To get to know the system better I've decided to do a conversion of an existing game. I've chosen the old GOO Centauri Knights by David Pulver. It's close enough to my other favorite setting, Transhuman Space, to be helpful in learning the system. So I think I'll do a big conversion/cross-over to get back into the game. [This is being done chapter by chapter, as per Centauri Knights d20] Chapter One: Introduction This chapter is primarily a timeline done in such a way as to resemble news broadcasts, historical archives and mission logs. Not surprisingly, given that both are by Pulver and cover somewhat similar themes, the Centauri Knights* and Transhuman Space timelines have some similarities. There is the launching of the Terrestrial Planet Finder in 2011, habitable planet orbiting 61 Virginis, AI cybershells, and other similar technologies. There are of course many differences as well. Most of these center on the Alpha Centauri system and the now "extinct" alien civilization that once resided there. The items pertaining to this part of the Centauri Knights setting can easily be inserted into the Transhuman Space timeline with only a few revisions. CK does not address the situation on Earth much beyond postulating a stronger UN that oversees the exploration and colonization of the Alpha Centauri system. Thus, the Solar system as described in TS can be imported into CK with few changes. It's easy to see the UN's influence limited to Alpha Centauri and a few locations on Mars. The UN has jurisdiction in areas regarding Osiran technology and artifacts but has no further authority with regards towards the national sovereignty of its member states. This situation probably arose in order to prevent conflicts and while tolerated is not well liked by the major powers, especially China and America. Another difference between the two games' timelines is that the CK timeline extends to 2150 while TS only goes to 2100. This too is not a problem. Pulver, Phil Masters and a few other TS gurus have said (given the unrealistically fast Martian terraforming) it would have been better to place the TS setting date in the year 2150. So its simple to justify stretching the TS timeline a bit to 2150. Just add a few years between events in the TS timeline and insert some of the events from the CK timeline as filler. Finally, although my original intent was to build a straight up CK / TS conversion/cross-over, I have decided to borrow a bits from the Domed Mars and Terraformed Mars sections of GURPS Mars (pgs. 50-90). The nearly 500,000 people added to the Martian population (called the Free Republic of Mars) are there due to the efforts of the Mars Society, Zubrin Foundation and various corporations. Also, i am adding one bit of handwavium super-science...quantum blackhole FTL comms. Hawking Station, now controlled by the UN, is linked to a corresponding blackhole in Osiris orbit thus allowing instantaneous communication to Sol and the transfer of vast amounts of data. I'm doing this so that PCs have access to the entire Web in a manner similar to that available in the Sol system. Any comments, concern or input? The next installment will be Chapter Two: Characters and Organizations. Benjamin * I've chosen Centauri Knights d20 over the Tri-Stat edition because the vehicle templates seem easier to reproduce in GURPS terms. Also, the d20 book is bigger and easier to work with (the little Tri-Stat version always wants to close on me). BIBLIOGRAPHY Cambias, James L. GURPS Mars. Steve Jackson Games Incorporated, 2002. Pulver, David. Centauri Knights d20. Guardians of Order, Inc., 2003. Pulver, David. Transhuman Space, 2nd Edition. Steve Jackson Games Incorporated, 2002. --------- Transhuman Space and GURPS Mars can be purchased through either Warehouse 23 (hard copy) or e23 (PDF version). See links on this site. Centauri Knights d20 can be purchased online as a PDF at rpgnow.com or used in hardcopy through other game sellers such Nobleknight.com.