GURPS Centauri Knights

[marvin]

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.

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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.

[Tzeentch]

-- Probably a straightforward conversion, but CK is quite a bit less transhuman than Transhuman Space is. The only hard thing to balance is probably the fog witch powers, but even that's fairly straightforward. Might want to build the servopanzers as Gadgets but that's not for everyone :)

[marvin]

Originally Posted by Tzeentch

-- Probably a straightforward conversion, but CK is quite a bit less transhuman than Transhuman Space is. The only hard thing to balance is probably the fog witch powers, but even that's fairly straightforward. Might want to build the servopanzers as Gadgets but that's not for everyone :)

I figured since there wasn't too much info on the Sol system and Terra it meant I had some wiggle room. For the Fog Witches I was going to use Psionics with the power modifier Nanotech (-15%) from Supers (pg. 34) as well as some other limitations, like only works through nanite swarms. The Servo Panzers seem to be Powered Combat Armor (GURPS Ultra-Tech, pgs. 182-183) or at least close enough. CK has a bit more reliance on powered armor, but it also has AI Cybershells. I'll chalk it up to the 5 year travel lag and a general lack of ultra-tech industry in the Centauri star system.

CK's cyborgs could just be cybershells that are inhabited by Ghosts. Of course we could add some really old models that actually have detached brains in bio pods as their pilots. Imagine the surprise of a new arrival who sees the ruined brain of some luckless soul seeping out of a cybershell. It will be a harsh revelation to some when they realize that for their dead comrade there is no infomorph back-up.

Thanks for the thoughts. The good thing I am finding is that GURPS Space has a number of character templates that seem near matches for the character classes listed in CK.

Benjamin

[vitruvian]

Originally Posted by marvin

I figured since there wasn't too much info on the Sol system and Terra it meant I had some wiggle room. For the Fog Witches I was going to use Psionics with the power modifier Nanotech (-15%) from Supers (pg. 34) as well as some other limitations, like only works through nanite swarms. The Servo Panzers seem to be Powered Combat Armor (GURPS Ultra-Tech, pgs. 182-183) or at least close enough. CK has a bit more reliance on powered armor, but it also has AI Cybershells. I'll chalk it up to the 5 year travel lag and a general lack of ultra-tech industry in the Centauri star system.

CK's cyborgs could just be cybershells that are inhabited by Ghosts. Of course we could add some really old models that actually have detached brains in bio pods as their pilots. Imagine the surprise of a new arrival who sees the ruined brain of some luckless soul seeping out of a cybershell. It will be a harsh revelation to some when they realize that for their dead comrade there is no infomorph back-up.

Thanks for the thoughts. The good thing I am finding is that GURPS Space has a number of character templates that seem near matches for the character classes listed in CK.

Benjamin

Supers also had an Improviser template with a lense where the flexible power was based on a nanofog, might want to look at that. What kinds of things can the Fog Witches do in the source material?

[marvin]

Originally Posted by vitruvian

Supers also had an Improviser template with a lense where the flexible power was based on a nanofog, might want to look at that. What kinds of things can the Fog Witches do in the source material?

Good catch. This may be the best way to handle their powers. Though I would add the Environmental limitation (Common on Osiris and the in the Osiran habitats, -10% and Very Rare in the Sol system, -80%).

Fog Witch powers consist of d20 Magical powers Environmental Control, Extra Defenses, Force Field (Wall), Heightened Senses (Vibration Sense), Insubstantial, Mind Control (Xenotech), Mind Shield, Personal Gear, Projection, Sensory Block, Sixth Sense (Fog Manipulation), Telekinesis, and Telepathy (Xenotech). All of these are limited in that they require mental contact with the alien nanite aerostats.

In GURPS terms these nanites are Utility Fog (Ultra-Tech pgs. 70-71) with aerostat chassis. Power for the nanites I think comes from a combination of RTG, Solar Cell and perhaps Broadcast Power. This Utility Fog can also act as other types of swarms such as surveillance. See descriptions of Swarmbots in Ultra-Tech (pgs. 35-37 & many other pages for descriptions of the different types of swarms). I'm inclined to give the Osiran nanites the ability to become nearly any type of swarm but with higher difficulties in controlling them when asking them to perform more esoteric functions.

The Telepathy related powers work only against Osiran robots, nanites and those with an embedded Dream Jewel (an alien artifact that acts to give the person whose forehead it is implanted into the power to communicate with Osiran tech). Within the TS universe I am inclined to allow high-powered Fog Witches to buy off the, only works with Osiran technology (-50% in Osiran space, -80% in Sol system), limitation. This can be justified by treating the Dream Jewel as if its a Virtual Interface Implant (TS: Changing Times, pgs. 57-58) harboring a SAI or in some cases a Ghost or Fragment (Changing Times, pgs. 52-53). Over time the Osiran SAI/Ghost could learn to manipulate human equipment as well, though some sort of hacking rule will need to be implemented.

What do you think?
Benjamin

[Tzeentch]

-- Geez, I'm the one who drafted the d20 classes in that book and I don't remember anything what I gave them :)

-- Fog witches require proficiency with the Osiran language, but that is probably a special effect in GURPS.

-- In BESM they have a somewhat limited ability set:

Environmental Control (partial darkness) --> Obscure (Vision) w/ Area Effect

Force Field (wall) -- DR (Force Field) with Directional, Affects Others and Area Effect.

Meld (solid fog only) --> Permeation (nanotech)

Mind Control --> Mind Control

Sensors (indirect) --> Probably best modelled as increased Perception with the nanotech limitation.
Telepathy (other fog witches and xenomechs)

All fog witches have Magical Restrictions (requires ghost fog), Marked (live dream jewel implant), Skeleton in the Closet (Fog Witch). --> REquires nanotech (same as Biological, -10%), Distinctive FEature (live dream jewel), Secret (Fog Witch, imprisonment).

[vitruvian]

Originally Posted by Tzeentch

-- Geez, I'm the one who drafted the d20 classes in that book and I don't remember anything what I gave them :)

-- Fog witches require proficiency with the Osiran language, but that is probably a special effect in GURPS.

-- In BESM they have a somewhat limited ability set:

Environmental Control (partial darkness) --> Obscure (Vision) w/ Area Effect

Wouldn't this be an Obscure based on fog/smoke rather than darkness per se?

Originally Posted by Tzeentch

Force Field (wall) -- DR (Force Field) with Directional, Affects Others and Area Effect.

Maybe Innate Attack (Rigid Wall) instead so it's semipermanent barriers with some HP as well as DR, until dissolved? Start off with Crushing (the worst that happens is you take collision damage from running into it; No Wounding if it's cushy and yielding so you get stopped without harm), then add other damage types as AAs or linked Wall effects - Burning w/Surge for an electrified barrier, Corrosive for a nanofog barrier that tries to eat what impacts it, etc.

Originally Posted by Tzeentch

Meld (solid fog only) --> Permeation (nanotech)

And this would then cleanly allow Permeation that lets you pass through your own and other's nanofog barriers.

Originally Posted by Tzeentch

Mind Control --> Mind Control

Do the targets need to have nanotech of some kind in them already, or can this involve sending fog nanites out to infiltrate their brains? Quick Contest vs. Will, or vs. HT since it's neurological? Is there a Resistance available?

Originally Posted by Tzeentch

Sensors (indirect) --> Probably best modelled as increased Perception with the nanotech limitation.

Could this extend to include vision in other spectra, or even Clairsentience, i.e., remote viewing using sensors at long distances? 360 Vision or Vibration Sense?

Originally Posted by Tzeentch

Telepathy (other fog witches and xenomechs)

Can you have the fog infiltrate 'fresh' brains so you can read and send thoughts with them as well?

Originally Posted by Tzeentch

All fog witches have Magical Restrictions (requires ghost fog), Marked (live dream jewel implant), Skeleton in the Closet (Fog Witch). --> REquires nanotech (same as Biological, -10%), Distinctive FEature (live dream jewel), Secret (Fog Witch, imprisonment).

Is the use of the fog fatiguing? Maybe it would be possible to actually do the abilities with a subset of spells from GURPS Magic, with ghost fog substituting for Mana.

[Tzeentch]

Originally Posted by vitruvian

Wouldn't this be an Obscure based on fog/smoke rather than darkness per se?

-- I don't have the books in front of me, but the end effect is a Vision penalty, correct? The rest is a special effect.

Maybe Innate Attack (Rigid Wall) instead so it's semipermanent barriers with some HP as well as DR, until dissolved? Start off with Crushing (the worst that happens is you take collision damage from running into it; No Wounding if it's cushy and yielding so you get stopped without harm), then add other damage types as AAs or linked Wall effects - Burning w/Surge for an electrified barrier, Corrosive for a nanofog barrier that tries to eat what impacts it, etc.

-- I don't remember their walls doing damage. Is this an extrapolation?

Do the targets need to have nanotech of some kind in them already, or can this involve sending fog nanites out to infiltrate their brains? Quick Contest vs. Will, or vs. HT since it's neurological? Is there a Resistance available?

-- Every 'human' in Centauri Knights is a cyborg, so that's where I imagine it comes into play. Requries Osiran fog around to do anything though.

Could this extend to include vision in other spectra, or even Clairsentience, i.e., remote viewing using sensors at long distances? 360 Vision or Vibration Sense?

-- Certainly. Perhaps even stuff like Combat Reflexes and Perks like Back to the Wall.

Can you have the fog infiltrate 'fresh' brains so you can read and send thoughts with them as well?

-- It's not clear. I think Mind Control is more like you are only hijacking the electronics of their cyborg bodies or using solid fog around them to direct movements.

Is the use of the fog fatiguing? Maybe it would be possible to actually do the abilities with a subset of spells from GURPS Magic, with ghost fog substituting for Mana.

-- It does cost energy in BESM.

[vitruvian]

Originally Posted by Tzeentch

-- I don't have the books in front of me, but the end effect is a Vision penalty, correct? The rest is a special effect.


-- I don't remember their walls doing damage. Is this an extrapolation?

Yeah, pretty much, although I would think that any rigid wall would do collision damage if you ran into it full-tilt. The other effects were just me thinking about what else you could maybe order a nanofog to do. They've got to have energy storage (or transmitted power) at a pretty high density, so electrification doesn't seem unlikely, 'disassemble' seems like a pretty easy order to give, and so on.

Originally Posted by Tzeentch

-- Every 'human' in Centauri Knights is a cyborg, so that's where I imagine it comes into play. Requries Osiran fog around to do anything though.

They're all cyborgs? Wow. Maybe they just all have Reprogrammable, and the witches are the only ones with a Perk equivalent to Access Jack and the knowledge of how to do programming...

Originally Posted by Tzeentch

-- Certainly. Perhaps even stuff like Combat Reflexes and Perks like Back to the Wall.


-- It's not clear. I think Mind Control is more like you are only hijacking the electronics of their cyborg bodies or using solid fog around them to direct movements

If Mind Control is hijacking, it doesn't seem unlikely that Telesend could be accounted for by sending messages to their sensory input.

And if it's conceivable that the fog could physically move them, does that imply some level of Telekinesis in GURPS terms is possible, where you actually use the fog to manipulate macroscopic objects rather than just impede them?

Originally Posted by Tzeentch

-- It does cost energy in BESM.

Then GURPS Magic might actually be a good fit, were it not for the lack of 'Wall' type spells with a limit as to ther DR, as opposed to Force Dome and Force Wall.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Tzeentch

-- I don't remember their walls doing damage. Is this an extrapolation?

I believe they're treated as solid objects, so if you ram into one and don't break it, you take damage, and that's how rigid walls work in GURPS. Force walls in BESM are breakable, so I'd probably go with IA, Crushing, Area (+50% or more), Wall x1, Rigid (+30%), and maybe No Wounding (-50%) or some sort of Range limitation (by default, can be created at 10 yards range with full strength, 100 yard ranges with half strength). A 2d wall that's 3 hexes long would thus be DR 6, HP 1, and cost 18 points (or less, depending on other limitations).