GURPS 4e Entry Point

[Doktor Teufel]

Originally Posted by Than

Doc I think the key point here isn't whether people can learn GURPS, it's whether they wish to be bothered. Two immediate comparisons come to mind.

First, Digren's OS comparison. Linux is a much more flexible OX than Windows, and with a skilled user can do a lot more. But many people, including highly intelligent people (college graduates even) choose windows for it's simplicity and easy learning curve. Second, meals. Pretty much anybody can learn to make themselves an edible meal working from basic produce. However again people are lazy, as seen by the huge sales of prepackaged meals and fast food.

By definition people play games to have fun and relax. If they don't enjoy reading and/or maths (doesn't matter whether they can do it, it's whether they enjoy it) then GURPS, at least as currently presented, isn't for them.

*shrug* I do know what the main point is, though at times that may not be clear. The point is that to grab new players in the biggest tabletop roleplaying market (casual, style-heavy, easy, less crunchy), you have to make the system easier and faster for them to use (though at what cost?), add pick-up-and-go scenarios and/or modules, and perhaps concoct a prettier, more eye-catching layout for the books.

Well, I'm not in that market, and I never will be. SJG could make a lot more money catering to the "casual/easy" crowd, that's for certain; but what incentive would they then have to continue producing the books that I (and many others) like to see? I like options, details, flexibility, and high-quality, reliable sourcebook support. Changing to a d20-style scheme comes at the cost of certain valuable features, and would certainly lose SJG at least one customer.