GURPS Power-Ups 6: Quirks

[Joe]

Originally Posted by whswhs

I'm amused to see that the volume didn't come out as GURPS Power-Downs 1: Quirks. I suppose that would have been really terrible marketing!

Originally Posted by Kromm

We definitely did worry that "GURPS Power-Downs" would put people off

Chortle. Great decision to go with Power-Ups, I think.

On a vaguely related note, I sometimes wonder whether GURPS Low-Tech would perhaps have sold better if it had been called something a bit less deflating. The phrase "Low-Tech" has the virtue of accuracy, but it doesn't really get the pulse racing in the way that High- or Ultra-Tech does. GURPS Sharp Swords, Gleaming Armour, and Other Amazing Medieval Stuff, anyone?

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by Joe

On a vaguely related note, I sometimes wonder whether GURPS Low-Tech would perhaps have sold better if it had been called something a bit less deflating. The phrase "Low-Tech" has the virtue of accuracy, but it doesn't really get the pulse racing in the way that High- or Ultra-Tech does. GURPS Sharp Swords, Gleaming Armour, and Other Amazing Medieval Stuff, anyone?

I'm not unhappy with its sales. Not only is it one of my top selling books, but all three of the Companions are excellent sellers also. I don't think the title has deterred that many people.

Bill Stoddard

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by PK

Same here. Such was actually my first argument in favor of us putting this book in the Power-Ups series -- yes, we're talking about drawbacks, but from a purely game-mechanical standpoint, the reason you take them is the tradeoff of +5 character points for the "onus" of having to roleplay a more interesting adventurer. That's pure win-win, and hence, a clear "power-up" to me.

I'm actually not buying either of those. The enhanced roleplaying is a characterization-up, not a power-up. And if you call getting the +5 character points for taking quirks a power-up, we ought to call spending character points to get perks a power-down, which is just wrong.

The basic logic of GURPS is that power is assets and characterization is liabilities.

Bill Stoddard

[PK]

Originally Posted by whswhs

I'm actually not buying either of those.

I'm okay with that. There's nothing to "buy" as I'm not trying to "sell" the inclusion, merely explaining my own reasoning. I'd hope that the fact that this book happens to be bundled into the Power-Ups series won't cause anyone who would have purchased it to decide not to. :)

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by PK

I'm okay with that. There's nothing to "buy" as I'm not trying to "sell" the inclusion, merely explaining my own reasoning. I'd hope that the fact that this book happens to be bundled into the Power-Ups series won't cause anyone who would have purchased it to decide not to.

Oh, hell, no. I grabbed it immediately. It was exactly what I'd been wishing I had.

Bill Stoddard

[Otaku]

This... looks like a good example of "I didn't know I wanted it until someone pointed out it was available."

Can't get it right now, sadly, but eventually.

[b-dog]

If people buy a product with a name like GURPS it is obvious that power-ups or downs is not very important.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Joe

On a vaguely related note, I sometimes wonder whether GURPS Low-Tech would perhaps have sold better if it had been called something a bit less deflating. The phrase "Low-Tech" has the virtue of accuracy, but it doesn't really get the pulse racing in the way that High- or Ultra-Tech does. GURPS Sharp Swords, Gleaming Armour, and Other Amazing Medieval Stuff, anyone?

I have players that have a problem with the title of of High-Tech, actually.
"Why is this book called 'High-Tech' but the cover is all stuff that isn't?"
:)

[Humabout]

I cant wait to get home and throw money at Sean! This will be an excellent addition to my library.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

I have players that have a problem with the title of of High-Tech, actually.

Yeah, 'High-Tech' being 'TL 5-8' is fairly terrible. Having trouble thinking of a much better name, though (in 3e, calling it 'GURPS Guns' would have worked, but 4e is a bit broader than that).